Ravishankar Raval Biography 
Ravishankar Raval was a noted artist from Bhavnagar, Gujarat known as a painter, art critic, journalist as well as essayist. He was one of the leading painters from the state of Gujarat who lived during the period – 1892 to 1977. In 1965 Government of India honoured him with the title Padma Shri. He was a Fellow of the Indian Art Academy in the year 1970. Winner of several honours, he conducted art exhibitions and won many prizes as well. He has described his home town Bhavnagar and its cultural life through many of his works. He started a cultural magazine "Kumar" at Ahmedabad in 1924, which made a great impact on Gujarati arts. Gujarat Ma Kala Na Pagran – is his autobiography work, with a few illustrations in the recent edition.
Raval was born into a non-artistic family. Yet he credits the inheritance to his mother who was a cultured and well organised person. His father worked with British Communication Service and for the same reason his childhood was spent in various places. But it helped young Raval to come across the folk culture of Gujarat which inspired his works later.
While doing his graduation at a local Arts College, his talents were spotted by the college Principal who suggested him to go to Mumbai to study further. Though it was not first approved by his family, he got permission and thus he joined the famous J. J. School of Arts at Mumbai. During this period, though he got influenced by many great personalities like writers, thinkers and journalists of the time, he took determination to fully dedicate his life for the revival of art.
He won the Bombay Art Society gold medal and started his career as artist-illustrator for Hajji Mohammad Alarakhiya’s newly started cultural magazine Vismi Sadi. He was associated with the magazine for several years till the death of Haji Mohammad in 1921. His premature death shocked Raval a lot and he started a cultural magazine "Kumar" at Ahmedabad in 1924, which is still working. He also did illustrations in Chandapoli, for a children’s magazine Kailash ma ratri.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 06, 2016
