The award, comprising a purse of Rs. 5 lakh, will be presented to the artist at Ujjain on Nov. 12

Mysuru: Renowned artist Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat of Mysuru has been selected for the prestigious ‘Kalidas Samman’ award presented annually by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Raghupathi Bhat has been unanimously chosen for the National ‘Kalidas Samman’  for the year 2023 in recognition of his Lifetime Achievement in the field of Ancient Indian Culture and Art for more than 50 years.

The award, comprising a purse of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation, will be presented to Raghupathi Bhat at a ceremony to be held at Ujjain on Nov. 12.

Profile: Raghupathi Bhat, born in 1957 in Karnataka, is an artist with a deep-rooted passion for painting and ancient Indian culture. His artistic inclinations were nurtured from a young age, influenced by his upbringing in a spiritual environment — his grandfather was a manuscript writer, who prepared palm leaves and transcribed Sanskrit scriptures like Sri Durgasaptashati.

Growing up, Bhat spent considerable time in temples, where he was captivated by the sculptures and the chanting of mantras, which deeply influenced his artistic vision.

 As Bhat continued to develop his skills in sketching and painting, his talent garnered attention. His quest for knowledge and mastery of ancient Indian culture and art led him to travel across India, learning from various gurus.

The sculptures he observed in his formative years became the foundation of his artistic style, which is evident in his works.

Bhat is renowned for his pioneering work in reviving the Karnataka Ganjifa Painting, a nearly extinct form of miniature paintings. In recognition of his efforts, he earned the prefix “Ganjifa” before his name.

His work in this field has been instrumental in revitalising this traditional art form. He also revived another endangered Art from coastal Karnataka called ‘Kaavi Kale’ and wrote a book named ‘Kaavi Chitra Kale Rachana Vidhana’ about the techniques of the same art.

Bhat has received numerous accolades for his contributions to art, including the National Award presented by the then President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1993.

He has exhibited his works nationally and internationally in prestigious venues such as   Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London and also demonstrated the preparation of natural colours at Victoria and Albert Museum, London Indian Embassy, Tokyo; Chayamachi Gallery, Osaka; World Peace Conference Centre, Hiroshima World Peace Conference, Kyoto and many more.

Raghupathi Bhat has engaged himself in restoration of wall paintings and gold leaf work in Durbar Hall, Kasagi Durbar Hall and Kalyana Mantap of Amba Vilas Palace, Mysore.

His works are part of permanent collection in several prestigious institutions including  Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Museum of Sacred Arts (MOSA), Belgium, Asian Museum, San Francisco etc.

Bhat’s work continues to inspire and preserve India’s rich cultural and artistic heritage.