Binod Behari Mukherjee Biography 
Binod Behari Mukherjee, also pronounced as Benode Behari Mukherjee was an artist from Bengal. He was one of the pioneers of Indian modern art, as a painter and as a celebrated muralist. He was one of the earliest muralists from India who took murals as a mode of artistic expression. Mukherjee was born with severe eye problems. He was myopic on one eye and blind in the other, and gradually lost eye sight completely. Yet he continued with his painting. Thus he is a real instance of artistic genius and dedication to art.
He was born on February 7, 1904 in West Bengal. In 1919, he took admission in Kala Bhavana as an art student. He was a disciple of Nandlal Bose. Ramkinkar Baij, the celebrated sculptor was his close associative at Shantiniketan. After completion of studies, he joined the same institute as faculty in 1925. Many great artists who became famous later, studied under him. Riten Majumdar, K.G. Subramanyan, Satyajit Ray, Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Somnath Hore were among his noted disciples. In 1949, he joined as a curator at the Nepal Government Museum in Kathmandu and later taught at the Banasthali Vidyapith in Rajasthan.
In 1952, he along with his wife Leela started an art training school in Mussoorie. He returned to Kala Bhavan in 1958 as its principal. In 1979, he published his collection of writings – Chitrakar. In 1974 Indian government honoured him with the Padma Vibhushan. Deshikottama by the Visva Bharati University in 1977 and Rabindra Puraskar in 1980 are other major honours received by him. His former student, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, made a documentary film on him titled "The Inner Eye". His daughter Mrinalini is also an artist.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 10, 2014
