Amarnath Sehgal, Sculptor, Painter, Poet
Sculptor, Painter, Poet

Amarnath Sehgal

Born 5 February 1922 · Pakistan — Died 28 December 2007

Created the iconic 'Martyrs' Memorial' sculpture in Delhi commemorating Indian freedom fighters.

Amar Nath Sehgal was an Indian modernist sculptor, painter, poet and art educator. He started his career as an engineer in Lahore, and later turned to art. He shifted to Delhi after partition of India in 1947, and in 1950 studied art education from New York University School of Education. Subsequently, became an art educator, teaching at College of Art, Delhi, and at the Modern School Barakhamba, New Delhi.

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A detail that
surprised us

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In 1980, the original bronze Gandhi bust Sehgal created in Luxembourg was stolen, prompting him to personally gift an exact replica two years later on Gandhi's 113th birth anniversary.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1947, amidst the violent chaos of Partition, Amar Nath Sehgal fled Lahore in May, witnessing brutal killings in Punjab and Kangra-Kullu Valley that left a haunting imprint on his art and psyche.
2
In 1950, he crossed continents to study art education at New York University School of Education, marking a sharp career shift from industrial chemistry and engineering to modernist art.
3🗿 By 1973, Sehgal had sculpted a bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi installed in Luxembourg’s Municipal Park, unveiled in a ceremony attended by foreign ministers and ambassadors, symbolizing his unique Indo-European cultural bridge.
4In 1980, after the original Gandhi bust was stolen, he personally gifted a replica in 1982, unveiled on Gandhi’s 113th birth anniversary, underscoring his commitment to preserving artistic heritage abroad.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Sehgal’s iconic bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi was first unveiled in Luxembourg in 1973 with attendance from Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Gaston Thorn and India’s Ambassador K.B. Lall, reflecting diplomatic cultural ties.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Amarnath Sehgal in a portrait from his private collection (2024)
Amarnath Sehgal in a portrait from his private collection (2024)
2024

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Campbellpur, Punjab (now Pakistan)
Amar Nath Sehgal was born in Campbellpur, a town in North Punjab which is now part of Pakistan, marking the start of a life that would bridge cultures.
1922
📚
Education
Graduated from Government College, Lahore
Sehgal completed his graduation in Lahore before pursuing industrial chemistry at Banaras Hindu University, blending science and art studies.
1941
🌟
Other
Fled Lahore during Partition violence
In May 1947, Sehgal left Lahore amidst the Partition riots, witnessing violent killings that profoundly influenced his later artistic themes.
1947
📚
Education
Studied art education in New York
He enrolled at New York University School of Education to study art education, a decisive shift from his engineering background.
1950
⚡
Career
Gandhi bronze bust unveiled in Luxembourg
Sehgal's bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated in Luxembourg Municipal Park with dignitaries present, symbolizing Indo-Luxembourg ties.
1973
⚡
Career
Replica Gandhi bust inaugurated in Luxembourg
Following theft of the original, Sehgal gifted a replica bust unveiled on Gandhi's 113th birth anniversary, reaffirming his dedication.
1982
🌟
Other
Filed legal suit over Vigyan Bhavan mural
Sehgal filed a landmark case against the Government of India for unauthorized removal of his bronze mural, initiating a 13-year legal battle.
1992
🌟
Other
Won damages in moral rights case
After lengthy litigation, Sehgal was awarded damages, establishing important moral rights protections for Indian artists.
2005
🕊️
Death
Passed away in New Delhi
Sehgal died in New Delhi, concluding a life that spanned the Partition, global art scenes, and legal battles for artistic rights.
2007
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

After the original Gandhi bust was stolen in 1980, Sehgal gifted its copy in 1982, which was inaugurated on Gandhi’s 113th birth anniversary, demonstrating his personal dedication to preserving his public art.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Sehgal fought a legal battle that lasted from 1992 to 2005 against the Indian government for the unauthorized removal of his bronze mural from Vigyan Bhavan, a landmark case for artists' moral rights in India.

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Born in Campbellpur (now in Pakistan) and educated in Lahore and Banaras Hindu University before Partition, Sehgal’s early life spanned multiple regions profoundly affected by the 1947 upheaval.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
In Conversation with Amarnath Sehgal | Sculptor and Painter
More from this archive
In Conversation with Amarnath Sehgal | Sculptor and Painter
01
In Conversation with Amarnath Sehgal | Sculptor and Painter
CONVERSATION - AMAR NATH SEHGAL
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CONVERSATION - AMAR NATH SEHGAL
In Conversation with Amarnath Sehgal | Sculptor and Painter
03
In Conversation with Amarnath Sehgal | Sculptor and Painter
CONVERSATION AMAR NATH SEHGAL
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CONVERSATION AMAR NATH SEHGAL

🌱 What changed because of them

Amar Nath Sehgal's 13-year legal fight for moral rights in copyright set a precedent protecting artists in India from unauthorized alterations or removals of their work, influencing Indian copyright law. His establishment of The Creative Fund created a sustained platform for artistic exchange between India and Luxembourg, bridging cultural narratives through art. His bronze sculptures, especially the Gandhi bust in Luxembourg, remain powerful symbols of cross-national heritage and remembrance.

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