NEW DELHI: Life has come a full circle. The illustrious journey of prolific painter S H Raza, one of India’s most celebrated modern artists, came to an end on Saturday. Even at 94, a few days before his death, Raza didn’t leave the company of his long-loyal brush.
His strokes don’t stride through the canvas anymore. As the Padma Shri awardee breathed his last at a hospital in Delhi, after a prolonged illness, the world came together in remembering the man who professed singularity in ideas, strength in their execution and willingness to explore different creative paradigms. He did that fearlessly and fiercely.
Born in Babaria in Madala district of Madhya Pradesh in 1922, he drew closer to art at the age of 12. He always knew his visions and aspirations could be expressed vividly through this medium, and something inside always vouched for his inner conviction. But even though he went on to become one of the greatest achievers in world, he was often plagued with self-doubt.
His famous Bindu symbol was a result of his self-realisations, which many consider his rebirth. It was a turning point, moving away from what he called “plastic art” to more meaningful, authentic work. He was an unassuming man who was also the country’s top selling artists, with works having been sold for as much as $3.5 million. While all that happened, he continued to sit causally in his room with paintings galore, and talk about the depth of creation for hours with anybody. After spending much of his life in France, he was conferred in 2015 with the Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur, the highest French honour.
The last rites will be conducted in Mandala in Madhya Pradesh. In 2010, his seminal work ‘Saurashtra’ was sold at a Christie’s auction for a whopping `16.42 crore. (With PTI input)