108.56.139.120 at 02:41, 12 May 2021

2021-05-12T02:41:15Z

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{{Infobox person
| name = Bhalchandra Mondhe
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption =
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|15 March 1944}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Painter
* Sculptor
* Writer
* Photographer
* Environmentalist
}}
| years_active =
| known_for = [[Padma Shri]]
| notable_works = ''Birds of Sirpur''
| parents =

}}

'''Bhalchandra Dattatray Mondhe''' (born 15 March 1944) is an Indian artist, photographer, sculptor and painter from [[Madhya Pradesh]].<ref name="HT">{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/indore/mp-commentary-legend-photographer-get-padmashree-award/story-HgAnYYfvAxU6hSRy5yDpJN.html |title=MP: Commentary legend, photographer get Padmashri award |newspaper=Hindustantimes.com |date=25 January 2016 |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref> In 2016, the [[President of India]] bestowed upon him the [[Padma Shri]] award for his lifetime work in photography. He has authored two books, including ''Birds of Sirpur'', which he co-authored. Mondhe co-founded The Nature Volunteers Club, and along with two other co-founders, is credited with reviving the Sirpur Lake.<ref name="TNVIndia">{{cite web |url=http://tnvindia.org/2015/12/29/birds-of-sirpur-a-book-review-by-dev-kumar-vasudevan/ |title=Birds of Sirpur – A book review by Dev Kumar Vasudevan " TNV |newspaper=Tnvindia.org |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Mondhe first encountered photography when he was 17. He subsequently became passionate about photography during his youth.<ref name="HT"/> In a 2016 feature on him by the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', Mondhe said that he used the camera to encapsulate his vision, adding, "I have never considered the camera and the lens as a burden to carry, but as my extension".<ref name="HT"/> Mondhe went on to graduate from the [[Kunstakademie Düsseldorf|Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts]] in Germany.<ref name="HT"/>

Mondhe also developed an interest in sculpting, with the [[Nehru Centre]] hosting his exhibition in October 1993.<ref name="India Today">{{cite web |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/unrestricted-interplay-of-different-kinds-of-material-at-nehru-centre-art-gallery-bombay/1/303662.html |title=Unrestricted interplay of different kinds of material at Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Bombay : YOUR WEEK – India Today 15101993 |newspaper=Indiatoday.intoday.in |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref> The magazine ''[[India Today]]'' described his work as "unconventional", mentioning: "Indore-based Bhalu Mondhe uses anything that is handy – any material and any colour, sometimes brush and sometimes fingers – for what he calls 'playing with the material like a child'. The outcome is an unrestricted interplay of different kinds of material".<ref name="India Today"/>

Mondhe's exhibition titled ''50 Years of Rare Art Journey'' was also featured at [[Bharat Bhavan|Rangdarshini Gallery, Bharat Bhavan]], in Bhopal.<ref name="Pioneer">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/exhibition-50-yrs-of-rare-art-journey-begins-today.html |title=Exhibition '50 yrs of Rare Art Journey' begins today |newspaper=Dailypioneer.com |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref> The exhibition featured a montage showcasing 50 years of Mondhe's art creations, including 90 pieces of sculptures, images, drawings and paintings.<ref name="Pioneer"/> [[The Pioneer (India)|''The Pioneer'']], covering Modhe's exhibition, described his work as having a "high vision of creativity", mentioning that Mondhe "is an artist with a difference. He paints, clicks realistic photographs, molds the sculptures of his imagination and draws his ideologies on a plain paper. The way he expresses his imagination to the spectators is commendable".<ref name="Pioneer"/>

===The Sirpur lake revival===
{{Main|Sirpur Lake}}
During the 1990s, Mondhe used to regularly visit the Sirpur lake during the mornings to take photographs.<ref name="Business Standard">{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/subir-roy-how-sirpur-lake-was-saved-114041801109_1.html |title=Subir Roy: How Sirpur lake was saved |newspaper=Business Standard|access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref> On one such occasion, he had a significant argument with a group of slum dwellers who were chopping down a tree.<ref name="Business Standard"/> Soon after, in his effort to protect the lake and neighboring region, Mondhe co-founded The Nature Volunteers Club with [[Ornithology|ornithologist]] Kaustubh Rishi and journalist Abhilash Khandekar.<ref name="Business Standard"/> This group of three worked towards restoring the lake's condition by patrolling the lake regularly, increasing awareness within the society about the lake, investing considerable amounts of their money, communicating with and convincing bureaucrats and politicians, apart from involving institutions like the [[Bombay Natural History Society]] and noted individuals like [[Sunita Narain]] ([[Centre for Science and Environment]]).<ref name="Business Standard"/> Subsequently, due to the efforts of Mondhe and his colleagues, the [[Government of Madhya Pradesh|Madhya Pradesh government]] got involved and improved the infrastructure supporting the lake, apart from fencing off the lake and surrounding region. All this resulted in the Sirpur lake finally becoming a protected [[body of water|water body]] that could securely host resident and migratory birds.<ref name="Business Standard"/>

''[[Business Standard]]'', in an article covering the environmental work of Mondhe and his colleagues, recognized their "remarkably successful effort" in saving and reviving the lake, additionally noting that "in two decades of effort, they have been able to win the support of the larger citizenry and also officialdom, without which such a battle could not have been won".<ref name="Business Standard"/>

Mondhe and his colleagues decided to document their efforts to save the lake in the book titled ''Birds of Sirpur'', which Mondhe co-authored.<ref name="Business Standard"/> Sunita Narain launched the book in October 2012. The book covers details of migratory and resident birds based around the lake, and documents 130 bird species with photographs.<ref name="TNVIndia"/> In all, Mondhe has authored two books covering birds.<ref name="TNVIndia"/>

==Padma Shri==
Bhalu Mondhe received [[Padma Shri]] in January 2016, one of India's highest civilian honours.<ref name="HT"/><ref name="Economic Times">{{cite web |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/padma-awards-2016-announced-padma-vibhushan-for-dhirubhai-ambani-ramoji-rao-rajinikanth-others/articleshow/50724544.cms |title=Padma awards 2016 announced: Padma Vibhushan for Dhirubhai Ambani, Ramoji Rao, Rajinikanth, others – The Economic Times |newspaper=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref> The award was given for his significant work over the years in the field of photography.<ref name="Economic Times"/> The President of India, [[Pranab Mukherjee]], presented the award to him on 28 March 2016, at a ceremony held at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]], the presidential house.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pranab-mukherjee-presents-padma-awards/article8404978.ece |title=Pranab Mukherjee presents Padma Awards – The Hindu |newspaper=Thehindu.com |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="Indian Express">{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/padma-awards-2016-ajay-devgn-saina-nehwal-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-among-noted-winners/ |title=PHOTOS: Padma Awards 2016: Ajay Devgn, Saina, Sri Sri among noted winners |newspaper=Indianexpress.com |access-date= 2 September 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mondhe, Bhalchandra}}
[[Category:Indian male sculptors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian photographers]]
[[Category:Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian male painters]]
[[Category:Artist authors]]
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Writers from Bhopal]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Kunstakademie Düsseldorf alumni]]
[[Category:1930s births]]
[[Category:Indian nature photographers]]
[[Category:Indian art writers]]
[[Category:Artists from Bhopal]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian sculptors]]
[[Category:Photographers from Madhya Pradesh]]

Bhalchandra Dattatray Mondhe - Revision history

108.56.139.120 at 02:41, 12 May 2021