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.

The Man of Dual Artistic Skill, “Sadanand Bakre”

“Sadanand Bakre, The man of dual artistic skills whose paintings are pioneers of Modern Arts in India.”


Co-founder of The Progressive Artist Group Sadanand Bakre (b. 10 Nov 1920 — b. 18 Dec 2007) his paintings were work of excellence. It's marked in the history as pioneers of modern arts in India. Charles Gerrard, director of Sir JJ School of Art who gave him admission quickly upon seeing his talent.

Krishna and the milkmaids (unknown Artist from British Museum)

His goal-oriented travel to Britain considered Bakre’s gave up on his one of the recognized talents as Sculptor. After his peaceful settled in the United Kingdom, Sada fully concentrated on developing his painting skill. In the year 1957, in moulding colours his unique skill found.

And, proved his excellence in one of his first one-man exhibition at Commonwealth Institute. There he received numerous prime recognition and appreciations. Thus, his successive other stand-alone exhibitions gave hits in the following years. Second time in 1959 at Gallery of Art and four times during 1969 – 1975 at Nicholas Treadwell Gallery.

Sadanand Bakre Achievement Lifetime Award

Famous for his independent emerging skills sudden got full stop on his return to India from British county (Britain travel). It made himself recluse. But, Indians know about his work and past flair for arts. The country and gave him a lifetime achievement awards from the Bombay Art Society.

In his active years at Mumbai, there were hardly people who could compete on his grasping skill. Bakre was the one who had dual skills (Sculptor and Painter) from the emerging Progressive Group of Artists.

The artistic person has no boundary beyond thinking skills of any object or material or beauty of nature. And always urges their brain on learning and exploring new things and unstoppable innovation. Hence, Sada was one of that kinds. He learned and mastered in radio repairing at the age of twelve. It was just beginning of listening to radio among the Indians. And simultaneously he was a student of The Sculpture Department.

The Progressive Revolution: Modern Art for a New India: Modern Indian art @AsiaSocietyNY World Socialist Web Site https://t.co/R2SnxfXszL pic.twitter.com/zG5S9WnTBc

— World Socialist Web Site (@WSWS_Updates) February 21, 2019

The Formation of Progressive Artists Group

The few days later when partition of great, multi-cultural India broke into two pieces, India and Pakistan. The colony of artists came together when K H Ara created a work of happiness on independence. A painting of the newly formed nation, and Sadanand sent it to The Bombay Art Society. It was rejected saying no place to keep in the gallery for their annual exhibition. Soon like-minded people gathered. The artists include D Souza, K H Ara, Raza, Gade and M F Husain and created The Progressive Artists Group.

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