Surendranath Kar

Surendranath Kar
Born5 March 1892
British India
Died2 August 1970
Occupation(s)Artist, architect
Years active1917-1990
Known forIndian architecture
SpouseSurama Kar
ChildrenSumit Kar (son)
Sukirti Kar (son)
Parent(s)Dinanath Kar (father)
Mokhada Kar (mother)
RelativesNandalal Bose (cousin)
AwardsPadma Shri

Surendranath Kar (5 March 1892– 2 August 1970)[1] was an Indian artist and architect,[2] known for amalgamating the Indian architectural style with western and eastern styles of architecture.[3] Born in 1892 in British India, Kar did his primary learning of art under his cousin, renowned Bengali painter, Nandalal Bose, and Abanindranath Tagore,[3] the nephew of Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.[4] Later, he joined Vichitra Club, founded by the Tagore family,[5] as a teacher of art.[3] In 1917, when Tagore set up Brahmacharyasrama, the precursor of later day Shantiniketan,[6] he joined the institution and worked as an art teacher.[3] Two years later, he moved to Kala Bhavana of Tagore as a faculty member.[3]

Kar, who was a companion of Tagore in many of his overseas visits,[3] used the exposure he received to western and eastern architecture, to evolve his own style and, later, designed many buildings for Shantiniketan.[4]

He also designed the assembly hall for Rajghat Besant School (then under J. Krishnamurti and now run by Krishnamurti Foundation) in Varanasi, besides the Ganges, after being sent by Tagore upon special request.

The Government of India honoured him in 1959, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his services to the nation.[7]

Untitled (Santhal Couple), Chromolithograph on paper, c. 1940s, 13.2 x 8.5 in., DAG Museums

Surendranath Kar died in 1970 at the age of 78.[3]

  1. ^ Subodhchandra Senguta & Anjali Bose (2016). Sansad Bengali Charitabhidhan Vol.I. Sahitya Sansad, Kolkata. p. 810. ISBN 978-81-7955-135-6.
  2. ^ Samit Das (2013). Architecture of Santiniketan: Tagore's Concept of Space. Niyogi Books. p. 180. ISBN 978-9381523384.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Viswabharati University". Viswabharati University. 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Business Standard". Business Standard. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. ^ Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (2011). Rabindranath Tagore: An Interpretation. Penguin Books India. p. 306. ISBN 9780670084555.
  6. ^ Academia. Academia.
  7. ^ "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2014.