Fearless Self-Taught K H Ara And His Loneliness

“When unaccompanied man thinks, it evokes a passion in loneliness which brings up a timeless gift to own life”


K H Ara

Passion of life overcomes the any creepy path of thousands of miles. The one was K H Ara (b. 16 April 1914 — d. 30 Jun 1985) from India who was famous for his Black nudes paintings.

His full name was Krishnaji Howlaji Ara and considered one of the self-taught artist who ran away from his home at the age of 7. However, his most of the paintings symbol stillness and for the most part, focused on nude paintings.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.

John D. Rockefeller

By K H Ara (Credit: DAG)

Before he could join The “Progressive Artist Group” he was struggling with life, but never being hesitant on accepting as it is. He cleaned the cars, worked at houses as a houseboy. He also took part in Salt Satyagraha Movements conducted by M K Gandhi in the year 1869–1948. Not only that, but he was jailed for five months.

The struggling artist never give up even upon the desensitizing of the “Progressive Artist Group” when M F Husain, Souza, Gade, Raza and Bakre flew onshore with the passage of time. He did solo group shows during 1948–1955, his forward-looking travel was notable and reckoned a prime time in his life.

Whatever you are, be a good one.

Abraham Lincoln

Ara travelled to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Baroda and did successful unaccompanied exhibitions. Later, in 1963, he did his most awaited project, “Black Nudes Women” serials in Mumbai. As well as, it was also considered opening ceremony of contemporary Gallery of artist Pandole Art

Painting Of K H Ara

Water colour and gouache on paper (Credit: DAG available for purchase/inquiry)

Finally, a golden time came. Furthermore, Ara travelled to Europe, Japan, Germany and Russia for his alone exhibition. But behind all the success, his patron was Walter Langhammer who analysed his skill of representation of unique art. Walter was editor of illustrated Weekly India helped him get him enrolled in JJ School of ART.

K. H. Ara had sold the rights of his work to Kumar Gallery between 1955 and 1966. Throughout his life, he was a bachelor and adopted a daughter. He died in the same city of his dream and the place where his hard-working memories lay still young when we read K. H. Ara. As well as, the inspirational figure to a young artist.

The artist had strongly criticized: His paintings being “poorly executed”, “wrongly depicted female genitalia” and “not referenced from life”. However, those priceless paintings have greater lushness than unclothed forms. The speciality and uniqueness into his paintings seems given a more grandness to compasses of the single colour.

Nudity Possibly was to overcome his loneliness.

Introduction of K H Ara From DAG World

The dedication of his work while canvassing beautiful ideas were like celebrating his body in bachelor ways. Furthermore, such dedication in K. H. Ara came after when life settled alone without woman in his life. It clearly shows in his uneven representation.

Finding truth is difficult, but Ilya Repin uncovered the truth in his life. Sadanand Bakre was one of the Indian artists who had dual skills. One who confessed how beautiful India is, read Raza on his factors of inspiration.

Raza: “inspiration in my life was the beauty of India.”

S H Raza had travelled almost all the parts of India while being an artist, he was in love with the nature of India and its culture. The man who said, “Painting for me is like meditation.”

S H Raza who born in Babaria, (22 Feb 1922) central province of British India was one of the great artists from India. He had set foot in Mumbai in 1943, studied art at J. J. School of Art, but destiny failed but had soon joined Block Maker’s Studio for his daily earning. He never had wasted his spare time. In Mumbai, at a congested rented house, he could peep out through the window and see the crowded streets and draw something.

Whenever I used to see animals in my village, I could feel ease of happiness and always wanted to bring it on the page.

S H Raza

Sayed was fond of watching doings, nature and culture. Soon he approached Progressive Writer’s Group (members including F. N. Souza, K. H. Ara, H. A. Gade and S. K. Bakre) The specialities of the group of painters had mostly focused on Historic, Geographic (habitat), and human nature into their paintings. These paintings usually explained emerging Non-Euro American modernism.

When I look at canvas, I see beauty of nature, women, culture of my nation and the entire making of the world and thus I get ideas and inspirations.

S H Raza

This talented and uplifting group of artists from India had well coordination among themselves. Going out to one of the tea shops and discuss the future of their work, and questioning on how something different they could give to this world out of their talents.

When Raza was in Mumbai, the partition of India recently had finished and India had supreme power, a newly born republic country. Every individual of the group had spirit doing something good and unique work for the newly formed nation. Raza’s reason behind leaving the country was simpler.

He became of the those lucky who got a scholarship from the government of India. Sayed wanted to move in France, he studied in 1950–1953 studied in Paris on Gov. of France scholarship. After his education, he explored Europe and its parts.

However, he was a man who very mysterious and in love with his artistic skill, he painted till his last day except his hospitalization in Delhi. Yes, it is true that, Mr. Raza had returned to his homeland in 2011 and had settled in Delhi. Moreover, he stayed in Paris for almost 55 years. Sayed had become God to many Indian students of very young Indian painters who got good platform to showcase their talents. Their works were promoted through Raza Foundation.

Further, Raza took part in almost more than 70 exhibitions and those were around the world. India had always been top in art, total 225.7 crores estimate had offered for Morden and Contemporary art in March 2019.

The factor of inspiration in my life was the beauty of nature of India.

S H Raza

In one of the interviews, he narrated a childhood story when he used to go to school, and he was found him one of the dumb students. Once, when he returned home from his class, he straight went to his mother and said, “why do you send me to school?”

He himself said that how poor he was in his school studies. The artist had deep interest looking at flowers, mountains, animals, culture, women, and anything which had beauty.

Anytime when a question hit him with, who was the most contributed in your success? And each time his answer was the same. He had been said without taking a pause, placed the first his supportive parents and then God gifted blessings of his teachers.

One of his teacher’s lines he said,

Art is a product of brilliant brain, but also if it comes straight from the heart it means you are giving your 100% and success would no longer be waiting for you.

हे मनुष्य राख पाग पंखज पर ध्यान. —  O man! Meditate on the chosen field once you settled your feet on.

S H Raza