Summer in Himalaya – I

The Himalaya I engage with is not merely the majestic peaks that leave us awestruck but also the people who are “rooted” as it were in this time-space of the mountains. For me the Himalaya is a living entity, not a remote beauty to be gazed at but an experience to be lived. I love for the Himalaya was perhaps facilitated by my stay in Darjeeling for three decades, where I was the Former Chief Curator of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. Hence, Darjeeling was a work place for me where my creative energies coalesced into breath taking paintings. In my work you see the effortless blend of artistic freedom and rigorous discipline. Being a deeply creative individual, the art is an expression of my nature and inner self vividly expressed through the bold brush strokes. For I believe that paint in itself is replete with a joyous potential waiting to be unravelled, and to be able to use this material to portray a message is an ecstasy for me, more so as it translates into a medium to share that joy with others. As a restorer and a senior museum consultant profession, I hold a graduate degree from the Government College of Arts Kolkata, postgraduate degree from Italy, Heritage management (Level -4) under the Basingstoke college of technology, UK and an Associateship of the Museums Association, London. My fascination with the semiotics of museum display and art conservation has made me the first AMA holder from outside the UK in the field of Museology. I am also a qualified mountaineer. My paintings can be seen gracing the walls of the Rashtrapati Bhavan collection in India, Art Gallery, Edinburgh and other prestigious museums and galleries. I am the author of four books on Mountaineering and the Himalayas namely, Fabulous Collections of Darjeeling and Sikkim, Mountain and Mountaineering, Darjeeling: Down the Ages- Artist live sketches. I have to my credit several awards which include ‘senior Fellowship of Trevor Walden Trust” (UK) and “Senior Scholarship by Ministry of Higher Education” (Italy). Award of the General   officer Commanding Chief Eastern Command Commendation Card (Ministry of Defence) on Himalayan Art Expert. My brainchild The Himalayan range in a single frame has created the HARVARD WORLD RECORD.