Sudhir Khastagir

About Sudhir Khastagir

Sudhir Ranjan Khastagir was a versatile figure in the Indian art landscape of the 20th century. Born on 24 September 1907 and passing away on 6 June 1974, he was a master of both painting and sculpture, firmly rooted in the traditions of the Bengal School of Art. Khastagir was a portrait artist who brought dynamism and sensitivity to his subjects, creating vivid impressions of personalities of his time.

His sit-down portrait studies include a long list of Indian and international luminaries such as Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, J. Krishnamurti, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, Arnold Bake, Shamsher Jung Bahadur, and Prithviraj Kapoor, among many others. His portraits captured not only the likeness but also the essence of his subjects.

Khastagir's paintings featured swift, spontaneous linework and vibrant use of colour, which lent his compositions a sense of motion, emotion, and lyrical rhythm. His artistic expressions merged Indian classical aesthetics with modernist exploration.

In 1931, he studied stone carving under the sculptor Ganpat Kashinath Mahatre in Mumbai. His formal art education began at Santiniketan, where he studied under the guidance of Nandalal Bose of the Bengal School.

Sudhir Khastagir was awarded the Padmashri by the Government of India in 1958.

His paintings, sculptures, and role in shaping modern Indian art secured his legacy.