Waman Thakre Biography 
Waman Thakre is an Indian creative photographer who hails from Maharashtra. He formerly served as the deputy director at the Directorate of Panchayat and Social Service. He is a recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri by government of India in 2007 and Shikhar Award by government of Maharashtra. He is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and the Photographic Society of America. Waman Thakre has conducted art exhibitions in the major cities of India.
Waman Thakre was born on 24 April 1932 in Ramtek, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. Currently he is settled in Bhopal. He spent his childhood days in his hometown where he completed his schooling, and later did his graduation in art subjects from Nagpur. After graduation he enrolled at Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, Mumbai and bagged top honours. After studies, he joined state government service. He rose to the ranks in his position and retired as deputy director at the Directorate of Panchayat and Social Service of the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Post retirement he settled in Madhya Pradesh, though he is a Maharashtrian.
Thakre is one of the most distinguished photo artists of present times. The veteran photographer is perhaps the country’s only creative photographer to be conferred with Padma Shri in the recent past. Madhya Pradesh government has never recommended this veteran artist’s name. The former MP Arjun Singh’s recommendation was enough for Thakre to bag the award almost 17 years after he gave up photography. He was all set to return his Shikhar Award given by the state in 1988, in protest against not being given the more prestigious Kalidas Award, when Padma Shri was announced. A portrait of Rani Lakshmi Bhai which he exhibited at World Photography Day exhibition at Bhopal in 2010 invited controversy for the authenticity of work.
Published: December 13, 2018
Updated: December 13, 2018
