Candid Moments

1991. Lady Ranu Mukherji (1907 – 2000), acclaimed Indian patron of art who founded the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata in 1930. There was a human nude drawing training class at the Academy where a professional artist was the trainer. She gave me a free of charge opportunity to participate in this class as I could not afford the fees. Here I could develop the skill of drawing to enter the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata. At a later stage she heard about my artistic activities in Paris and invited me to have an exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts in 1991 where she is viewing my paintings. 

INDIA’S BLOODY INDEPENDENCEIN 1947

When India was partitioned 1947 to create Pakistan, a new country for Muslims, about 20 million people of Bengal and Punjab were displaced and brutally victimized. Sen’s wealthy, literate family had huge landed property in erstwhile East Bengal, the present Bangladesh, which was carved out to be East Pakistan for Muslims. So for being Hindus Sen’s family was overnight evicted from their home. Without taking any possessions, they fled for their lives amidst people warring over religion, and so became squatted refugees in West Bengal.