Vijay Sharma Biography 
Vijay Sharma is an Indian painter and art historian from Himachal Pradesh who is associated with Pahari School of miniature painting. He founded Shilpa Parishad, a non-governmental organization, for promoting the genre of miniature painting. The organization promoted especially the Pahari School of art. Sharma received the Himachal Pradesh state award in 1980 for his Ragamala paintings. In 2012 he was honoured with Padma Shri by Government of India for his contributions to art. He follows Basholi and Kangra styles of Pahari painting and is also known an art historian. He has also published many books on Himachal Pradesh art and crafts.
He was born in the district of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh on 12 September 1962. His father worked as a transport driver at Himachal Road Transport Corporation. It was his father who identified his talents and sent him to Varanasi to learn painting. He was only 15 then and he returned very soon after one week stay at Varanasi. Later he learnt the art of painting from Mirza Ashgar Beg. He completed Master’s in History from Shimla. Then he moved to Varanasi where he joined Bharat Kala Bhawan to learn miniature painting under the tutelage of Ved Pal Sharma. In 1985 he attended a camp conducted by Archaeological Survey of India at Hampi.
He started his career as a painter for Himachal Road Transport Corporation, where his father was working. But he later joined as conservation assistant at Department of Language and Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh where he continued till 1988. After resigning his government post job, he became an accredited artist at the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba. He founded Shilpa Parishad to promote Pahari School of art and also attended workshops. He is also a founder member of the Kangra Arts Promotion Society.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 27, 2016
