Modernity/ Modernism posited by delhi silpi Chakra Mrinal Kulkarni elucidates how Delhi Silpi Chakra was one of the important movements forming the basis of a regime of modernity in post independent India.

The Independence of India brought new attention to New Delhi as a cultural city of the new nation. Calcutta and Bombay were already existing then as cultural centres of India; opposed to that the new capital of India only had the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) to boast of. There was only this place to exhibit works of art in the annual shows. Except AIFACS and Dhoomimal Gallery there were no patrons to promote new developments in the field of art. Delhi Polytechnic College (College of Art, Delhi) was established in 1940 and after independence due to the inflow of many of the artists from Lahore to New Delhi lot of activities developed in the field of art here. Presence of artists, art writers, educationists and various political developments in New Delhi brought in discussion about Modernity in general and particularly in the field of art. In this socio-cultural scenario, Delhi Silpi Chakra was founded by Bhabesh Chandra Sanyal, Kanwal Krishna, Dhanraj Bhagat, K. S. Kulkarni and Pran Nath Mago in January 1948 in the Jantar Mantar Lawn. The idea of the formation of a group came as a rebel against the AIFACS and provided the needed space for many young artists of that time to exhibit, for discourse and to have a sense of belonging to a creative society. In 1949 Delhi Silpi Chakra held its first Exhibition at Freemasons’ Hall at Janpath, New Delhi. It was not the only rebellious movement against the workings of AIFACS which also resulted in the formation of All India Association of Fine Arts in 1947. With all these developments the new nation was voicing the need to develop a new institute which would define the modernity in Indian Art separate from the colonial legacy.