Nandalal Bose, Indian Painter & Artist
Indian Painter & Artist

Nandalal Bose

Born 3 December 1882 · Jharkhand — Died 16 April 1966

Created murals for the Indian National Congress session in 1921 at Ahmedabad.

Nandalal Bose was one of the pioneers of modern Indian art and a key figure of Contextual Modernism.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

Nandalal Bose personally visited the Calcutta Zoo for six months to study the lions that inspired the national emblem’s design, a detail few realize about the symbol’s creation.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1921, Nandalal Bose took charge as principal of Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, steering a revolutionary art school that blended Indian tradition with modern sensibilities.
2
🦁 Between 1947 and 1949, at Rabindranath Tagore's Vishwa Bharati, Bose meticulously studied live Asiatic lions at Calcutta Zoo to inspire the national emblem’s three lions design, later illustrated by his student Dinanath Bhargava.
3✊ In 1930, Bose created a striking black-and-white linocut of Mahatma Gandhi’s salt march, capturing the essence of non-violent resistance during the Dandi March that became an iconic image of the freedom struggle.
4In 1947–1949, Bose led the artistic team that illustrated all 22 original artworks of the Indian Constitution, embedding deep symbolism of dharma, justice, and unity into the document’s pages.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1954
Padma Vibhushan
—
Fellow of Lalit Kala Akademi

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1930, Bose crafted the iconic black-and-white linocut of Gandhi during the Salt March, which became a symbol for the non-violent independence movement.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Nandalal Bose painted Akbar’s image for the original Indian Constitution’s calligraphy (1949).
Nandalal Bose painted Akbar’s image for the original Indian Constitution’s calligraphy (1949).
1949

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Haveli Kharagpur, Bihar
Nandalal Bose was born into a Bengali family originally from West Bengal, with early interests in modeling and decorating Puja pandals.
1882
📚
Education
Joined Calcutta School of Art
After family opposition and academic struggles, Bose persuaded his family to allow art studies, enrolling at Calcutta's School of Art.
1905
⚡
Career
Became Principal of Kala Bhavana
Bose took leadership of Kala Bhavana at Santiniketan, shaping a new art pedagogy blending Indian tradition with modernism.
1921
⚡
Career
Created iconic Gandhi linocut
Bose produced the black-and-white print of Gandhi’s Salt March, which became an emblem of the non-violent freedom movement.
1930
⚡
Career
Illustrated Indian Constitution
Bose led the team that illustrated the original Constitution with symbolic artworks representing India’s core values.
1947
🕊️
Death
Death of Nandalal Bose
Nandalal Bose passed away, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with India's artistic and political history.
1966
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Bose’s artwork illustrating the Indian Constitution included 22 detailed illustrations that symbolized values like dharma and justice, making it one of the most beautifully decorated constitutions globally.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

The Archaeological Survey of India declared Bose’s paintings as 'art treasures' in 1976, a rare honor that placed his modern works alongside ancient Indian art legacies.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Despite early academic struggles and family resistance, Bose switched from commerce at Presidency College to art studies at Calcutta’s School of Art around 1905, marking a pivotal career change.

No quote recorded for Nandalal Bose yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
KG Subramanyan - Life at Santiniketan and Nandalal Bose (12/72)

🌱 What changed because of them

Nandalal Bose’s integration of Indian mythological imagery and village life into modern art influenced the Bengal School and Indian contextual modernism, redefining nationalist visual identity. His leadership at Kala Bhavana nurtured generations of artists who shaped Indian art education. Most enduringly, his illustrations for the Indian Constitution gave India’s foundational document a unique visual dignity and historical depth, blending art with political ideals.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Nandalal Bose?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Nandalal Bose...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?