Last Updated on October 25, 2026 9:56 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Our Correspondent / Kolkata
Renowned Indian artist and former Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury passed away on Sunday at the age of 87, prompting condolences from different parts of life. He breathed his last at a private hospital in Kolkata this morning following a prolonged illness. Chowdhury used to be considered as One of India’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Born in Faridpur, now in Bangladesh, in 1939, he moved to Kolkata after Partition.
He studied at the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata and later got training from Paris. He received the Kalidas Samman in 2001 and also served as Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhavan and as a professor at Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. Apart from his artistic career, he was active in public life and represented West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha as a Trinamool Congress member from 2014 to 2020.
Chowdhury was widely recognised for his distinctive contribution to modern Indian painting. Beyond his artistic career, he also served in public life as a nominated representative of civil society in the Rajya Sabha.
His death marks the loss of a prominent figure in India’s contemporary art landscape. Tributes from political leaders and admirers have highlighted his influence on modern art and his contribution to West Bengal’s cultural identity.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Adhikari expressed grief over the artist’s demise, remembering his contribution to modern Indian art and his role in bringing international recognition to West Bengal’s cultural heritage. He said Chowdhury’s death had left a significant void in the state’s artistic and intellectual community.
On behalf of the state government and its people, the Chief Minister extended condolences to Chowdhury’s family, friends, associates and admirers.
Banerjee also paid tribute to the artist, describing him as a source of pride for Bengal and India and an inspiration to artists across the world. In a post on X, she recalled his tenure as a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP from 2014 to 2020 and noted that he was conferred the Banga Bibhushan award in 2012. She said his death would leave a lasting void in the world of art and culture.