Maryparker at 23:38, 25 May 2025

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{{short description|Indian studio potter and craftsman (born 1949)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brahmdeo Ram Pandit
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1949|03|02}}
| birth_place = Nawada, [[Bihar]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Studio potter
| yearsactive =
| spouse = Devki Pandit
| domesticpartner =
| children = Abhay Shailesh
| parents = Ram Pandit
| website = {{URL|http://panditartceramic.com/about_us.html|Official web site}}
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] 2013 The [[All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society]] Award [[Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay]] Award Government of Maharashtra State Award [[Shilp Guru]]
}}'''Brahmdeo Ram Pandit''' is an Indian [[studio potter]] and craftsman, known for his expertise in making pottery.<ref name="Eco Host">{{cite web | url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/65240736/pandit-pottery | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022183700/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/65240736/pandit-pottery | url-status=dead | archive-date=2014-10-22 | title=Eco Host | publisher=Eco Host | date=2014 | access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> He was honoured by the [[Government of India]], in 2013, by bestowing on him the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award, for his contributions to the field of art.<ref name="Padma 2013">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/list-of-padma-awardees/article4345496.ece | title=Padma 2013 | publisher=The Hindu | date=26 January 2013 | access-date=10 October 2014}}</ref>

==Biography==
{{quotebox|align = right|width=21em|''I am happy that ceramic art is getting recognition on par with other arts. This award will definitely encourage ceramic pottery artisans.'' Brahmdeo Ram Pandit, on winning [[Padma Shri]]<ref name="Afternoon" />}}

Brahmdeo Ram Pandit was born in [[Kumbhar]] family with meagre financial resources,<ref name="Afternoon" /> on 2 March 1949,<ref name="Pandit Art Ceramic">{{cite web | url=http://panditartceramic.com/about_us.html | title=Pandit Art Ceramic | publisher=Pandit Art Ceramic | date=2010 | access-date=14 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019214151/http://panditartceramic.com/about_us.html | archive-date=19 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> in the [[Nawada district]], in the Indian state of Bihar, to Ram Pandit, a pottery maker who had learned histrade from his father, Murthi Pandit.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar">{{cite web | url=http://www.paramparikkarigar.com/popup_artist.php?name=Brahmadeo%20Ram%20Pandit&subtype=Ceramic | title=Paramparikkarigar | publisher=Paramparikkarigar | date=2014 | access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> He learned the basic craft of pottery making from his father and joined Sekho Devra Ashram in Kawakole, Nawada for formal training in pottery making which he completed in 1969.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar" /> Later, obtaining a scholarship, he went to [[Khanapur]], [[Belgaum]] in [[Karnataka]]<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/a-perfect-fusion-in-the-pot/article1408172.ece | title=The Hindu | publisher=The Hindu | date=16 February 2008 | access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref> and studied at the Central Village Pottery Institute,<ref name="CVPI">{{cite web | url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/419677/moulding-destinies-clay.html | title=CVPI | publisher=Deccan Herald | date=15 July 2014 | access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> run by the [[Khadi and Village Industries Commission]]. In 1970, after completing his course the Belgaum institute, he joined, as an apprentice, at Aaj Studio, under the tutelage of Laxman R. Ajgaonkar, and worked there for a year.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2">{{cite web | url=http://paramparikkarigar.com/blog/2014/07/jewels-in-our-crown-master-craftsman-brahmadeo-ram-pandit-padma-shri-awardee-pottery/ | title=Paramparikkarigar 2 | publisher=Paramparikkarigar | date=2014 | access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> In 1971, he enrolled himself at the [[J. J. School of Art]], Mumbai and studied clay modelling and sculpture, till 1976. Another scholarship assisted him to join [[Lalit Kala Akademi]], New Delhi and studied there till 1981. Another ten years of learning on advanced pottery making in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore rounded up his studies in 1991.<ref name="Pandit Art Ceramic" />

Pandit started his career by joining the faculty of Sophia College Polytechnic, Mumbai,<ref name="The Hindu" /> in 1973, while pursuing his advanced training and studies, and taught there till 2005. He also taught at Shri Basant Kumar Memorial Polytechnic, Mumbai and also at Kamala Mehta Dadar School for the Blind, Mumbai during a period from 1985 to 2013. He was a guest tutor at the various pottery training programmes organized by the Maharashtra Handicrafts, a state run organization. He was said to be popular among the students among whom he was known as ''Panditji''.<ref name="Afternoon" />

Brahmdeo Pandit founded ''Pandit Art Ceramic'',<ref name="a">{{cite journal |title=Pandit Pottery |last=Dewing |first=David |date=September 2011 |journal=Ceramics Art and Perception |issn=1035-1841 |issue=85 |pages=48–51 |url=http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=485751169935026;res=IELHSS}}</ref> a manufacturing unit of modest proportions, in 1981, at ''Kalakar Niwas'' in [[Bhayandar]], a city in [[Thane district]] of Maharashtra, for the mass production of his creations.<ref name="Afternoon" /><ref name="Pandit Art Ceramic" /> The unit produces around 300 pots a day and is said to be a preferred source point for [[bonsai]] growers<ref name="Nikki Bonsai" /> and [[ikebana]] artists.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar" />

Brahmdeo Ram Pandit is married to Devki, a known studio potter and a 1981 Maharashtra state award recipient, and the couple has two sons, Abhay and Sailesh, both accomplished artists in their own rights, the former, a graduate from the [[J. J. School of Art]] and the latter, a protégé of Ray Meekar<ref name="Ray Meekar">{{cite web |title=Ray Meekar |publisher=Ray Meekar |date=2014 |url=http://www.raymeeker.com/ |access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref> and Deborah Smith of the Golden Bridge Pottery,{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]] and a winner of Chares Wallace India Trust award<ref name="The Hindu" /> in 2005.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2" /> The family, his daughter in law, Khushboo, herself a potter, included, run the ''Pandit Art Ceramic'' and resides at Bhyander.<ref name="Afternoon" /><ref name="Paramparikkarigar" />

==Career highlights and exhibitions==
Brahmdeo Pandit's creations are considered by many, as some of the finest in the pottery world.<ref name=Afternoon>{{cite web |title=Afternoon |publisher=Afternoon |date=28 January 2013 |url=http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/this-award-will-encourage-ceramic-artisans/article_74551 |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> The [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] has displayed five of his creations in its art gallery.<ref name=Afternoon/> Establishments like [[Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces]]<ref name=Afternoon/> and Nikki Bonsai<ref name="Nikki Bonsai">{{cite web |title=Nikki Bonsai |publisher=Nikki Bonsai |date=2014 |url=http://nikkibonsai.in/nikki-news/nikki-bonsai-congratulates-panditji/ |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> use the creations from Brahmdeo Ram Pandit. One of his ceramic art installation, ''Water'', has been commissioned at the terminal II of the [[Mumbai International Airport]].<ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2" />

Pandit has had several solo exhibitions, notably at [[Jehangir Art Gallery]] and [[Sophia College, Mumbai|Sophia College]] Art Gallery. He has also participated in exhibitions at ''Cymroza Art Gallery'', Mumbai,<ref name="Cymroza">{{cite web |title=Cymroza |publisher=Cymroza |date=2014 |url=http://www.cymroza.com/ |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> ''[[National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai|National Gallery of Modern Art]]'' Mumbai and ''Art Heritage Gallery'', New Delhi.<ref name="Pandit Art Ceramic" /><ref name="The Hindu" /><ref name="Art Heritage">{{cite web | url=http://www.artheritagegallery.com/ | title=Art Heritage | publisher=Art Heritage | date=2014 | access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> ''Paramparik Karigar'' has hosted several of his exhibitions.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2" /> Pandit has also conducted several pottery workshops in India and abroad, in countries such as Japan, Germany and Spain, under Government of India cultural exchange programmes.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2" />

Brahmdeo Pandit has coauthored a book, published by Paramparik Karigar under the title, ''Paramparik Karigar : An Association of Craftspersons : Gadwakam Kalamkari; Mithila Kala; Mittikam''.<ref name="Book">{{cite web | url=http://www.biblio.com/book/paramparik-karigar-association-craftspersons-gadwakam-kalamkari/d/229642038 | title=Paramparik Karigar : An Association of Craftspersons : Gadwakam Kalamkari; Mithila Kala; Mittikam | publisher=Paramparik Karigar | work=Hardcover | date=2005 | access-date=15 October 2014 |author1=Jaidev Baghel |author2=Jonnalgadda Guruppa Chetty |author3=Brahmdeo Ram Pandit |author4=Satya Narayan Lal Karn | pages=337}}</ref>
* {{cite book | url=http://www.biblio.com/book/paramparik-karigar-association-craftspersons-gadwakam-kalamkari/d/229642038 | title=Paramparik Karigar An Association of Craftspersons Gadwakam, Kalamkari, Mithila Kala, Mitti Kam, Tana Bana | publisher=Paramparik Karigar |author1=Jaidev Baghel |author2=Jonnalgadda Guruppa Chetty |author3=Brahmdeo Ram Pandit |author4=Satya Narayan Lal Karn | year=2005 | location=Mumbai | pages=337}}

Pandit's creations have been included in a book, ''Contemporary Ceramics'', edited by Emmanuel Cooper.<ref name="Contemporary Ceramics">{{cite book | title=Contemporary Ceramics | publisher=Thames & Hudson | author=Emmanuel Cooper | date=5 October 2009 | location=UK | pages=304 | isbn=978-0500514870}}</ref>
* {{cite book | title=Contemporary Ceramics | publisher=Thames & Hudson | author=Emmanuel Cooper | date=5 October 2009 | location=UK | pages=304 | isbn=978-0500514870}}

==Awards and recognitions==
Brahmadeo Ram Pandit has been recognized for his art by many organizations. He is a two-time winner of the [[All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society]] Award<ref name="Paramparikkarigar" /> and has won the [[Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay]] Award once<ref name="The Hindu" /> which he received in 2007.<ref name="Pandit Art Ceramic" /><ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2" /> The state of Maharashtra presented him with the state award in 1991<ref name="Paramparikkarigar" /> and in 2008, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India conferred the title [[Shilp Guru]] on him.<ref name="Paramparikkarigar 2" /> Four years later, in 2012, the Government of Bihar awarded him the ''Pravasi Bihar Shri''. This was followed by the award of [[Padma Shri]], which he received the next year, in 2013.<ref name="Padma 2013" />

==See also==
{{portal|India}}
* [[Studio pottery]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=50em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Dewing |first=David |title=Pandit Pottery |date=September 2011 |journal=Ceramics Art and Perception |issn=1035-1841 |issue=85 |pages=48–51 |url=http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=485751169935026;res=IELHSS}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |title=Padma Awards List |publisher=Indian Panorama |date=2014 |url=http://www.theindianpanorama.com/2013/04/08/president-confers-padma-awards/ |access-date=12 October 2014}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandit, Brahmdeo Ram}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Artists from Bihar]]
[[Category:Indian potters]]

Brahmdeo Ram Pandit - Revision history

Maryparker at 23:38, 25 May 2025