A Many Splendoured Personality : Prodosh Dasgupta

Ajit Kumar Dutta

An artist essentially, yet by other counts Pradosh Dasgupta (1912- 1991) was many things rolled into one. A sculptor reputed for skill and pioneering zeal, he proved himself an inspiring teacher and able art commentator, yet no less known for his administrative acumen. For the kind of versatility as his, surely he came close to the version of a Renaissance man. Born in Dacca to a family that was artistically inclined, Dasgputa graduated from the Calcutta University. Recognizing the boy’s talent at an early age, his enlightened father encouraged him to pursue his passion. Accepting the advice, the young art aspirant picked up sculpture for his purpose, receiving initial training from two distinguished sculptors of the time- Hiranmoy Roy Chowdhury of Lucknow and Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury of Madras. He subsequently went to London for undergoing an advanced course (1937-1939) in sculpture at the Royal Academy.

One of his teachers happened to be W. Macmillan R.A. Later he studied for a while in the Ecole De Grand Chaciere, Paris. He came back to India in 1940. On his return he set up studio in Calcutta. While his grounding in academic tradition helped him, the liberal Parisian trend too encouraged him to gain a broader view and this came to be reflected henceforth. Parallel to commissioned works (portraits mostly), there could be seen a reflective sort of a search on the part of the artist. More than a matter of duality More than a matter of duality, here lay dormant the seed of a new development. It is something quite significant from the point of view of Indian sculpture which was languishing despite its glorious heritage. In the West, already an emphasis on pure form of sculpture could not only be noticed but in its own way, no longer an adjunct to architecture attained a stature of its own. In India, compared to painting, sculpture needed more time in receiving its dues.