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{{Short description|Indian painter, educator (1891–1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kshitindranath Mazumdar
| image = File:Kshitindranath majumdar.jpg
|image_caption = {{when|date=October 2025}}
| birth_date = 31 July 1891
| birth_place = Jagtai, [[Murshidabad]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in [[West Bengal]], [[India]])
| death_date = 9 February 1975 (aged 83)
| death_place = [[Allahabad]], India
| education = [[Government College of Art & Craft]], [[Kolkata]]
| occupation = Painter, educator
| known_for = [[Painting]]
| notable_works = {{ubl|''Rasa Lila''|''The Birth of Ganga''|''The Dance of Shiva''|''Pururavas''}}
| movement = [[Bengal School of Art]]
| children = 3
| awards = Honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] (D.Litt.) by [[Rabindra Bharati University]]
}}

'''Kshitindranath Mazumdar''' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: ক্ষিতীন্দ্রনাথ মজুমদার; 31 July 1891 – 9 February 1975) was an Indian painter and a key figure of the [[Bengal School of Art|Bengal School art movement]], which paved the way for the development of [[Modern Indian painting|modern Indian art]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Murshidabad People - Kshitindra Nath Majumdar |url=https://murshidabad.net/people/kshitindranath-majumdar.htm |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=murshidabad.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasa Lila - Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/rasa-lila-kshitindranath-majumdar/ngGy8mi8lU4Glw |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Kshitindranath Mazumdar was born on 31 July 1891 to a Bengali family in Jagtai, a remote village in the [[Murshidabad district]] of [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-25 |title=Kshitindranath Mazumdar |url=https://www.kalalekhan.com/2021/01/kshitindranath-mazumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=History of Fine Art}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sekh |first=Tanjima Kar |date=2019-05-31 |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar: The Saint Artist |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/kshitindranath-majumdar/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en-GB}}</ref> Mazumdar's mother died during his infancy; his father, Kedarnath Mazumdar, a [[sub-registrar]] by profession, raised him by himself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা - মুর্শিদাবাদ ও নদিয়া |url=https://archives.anandabazar.com/archive/1120728/28mur-letter.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=archives.anandabazar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sekh |first=Tanjima Kar |date=2019-05-31 |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar: The Saint Artist |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/kshitindranath-majumdar/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-25 |title=Kshitindranath Mazumdar |url=https://www.kalalekhan.com/2021/01/kshitindranath-mazumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=History of Fine Art}}</ref>

His family was highly influenced by [[Vaishnavism]], a sect of [[Hinduism]] which revolves around the worship of the [[Hindu deities|Hindu deity]] [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://dagworld.com/kshitindranathmajumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=dagworld.com |language=en}}</ref> Artistically inclined since childhood, Mazumdar trained in [[hymnody (belief)|hymnody]] and often interpreted legends from [[Indian epics]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-25 |title=Kshitindranath Mazumdar |url=https://www.kalalekhan.com/2021/01/kshitindranath-mazumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=History of Fine Art}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://dagworld.com/kshitindranathmajumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=dagworld.com |language=en}}</ref> As a teenager, he performed in the productions of a local theatre group owned by his father.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sekh |first=Tanjima Kar |date=2019-05-31 |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar: The Saint Artist |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/kshitindranath-majumdar/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Mazumdar's artistic capabilities and talent caught the eye of Mahendra Narayan Roy, the [[zamindar]] of a nearby village, [[Nimtita]]. On his advice, Mazumdar joined the [[Government College of Art & Craft]] in [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sekh |first=Tanjima Kar |date=2019-05-31 |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar: The Saint Artist |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/kshitindranath-majumdar/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Murshidabad People - Kshitindra Nath Majumdar |url=https://murshidabad.net/people/kshitindranath-majumdar.htm |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=murshidabad.net}}</ref> There he met [[Abanindranath Tagore]], one of the founders of the Bengal School of Art.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abanindranath Tagore Biography - Life History, Paintings & Artwork, Facts |url=https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-art/painters/abanindranath-tagore.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=www.culturalindia.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=South Asian arts - Pahari, Miniature, Paintings {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/South-Asian-arts/Pahari-style |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Academy |first=M. A. P. |date=2023-08-13 |title=Abanindranath Tagore rejected European art. Promoted Hindu spirituality to convey 'Indianness' |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/abindranath-tagore-rejected-european-art-promoted-hindu-spirituality-to-convey-indianness/1712948/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Guha-Thakurta |first=Tapati |title=The Making of a New 'Indian' Art: Artists, Aesthetics and Nationalism in Bengal, C.1850-1920 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1992 |isbn=9780521052733 |language=English}}</ref>

== Career ==
As a teen, Mazumdar was deeply impacted by Vaishnavism, which was predominant at home. This influence reflected heavily in his paintings, as Mazumdar, now an ardent follower of [[Krishna]], mostly painted on Vaishnavite and literary themes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasa Lila - Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/rasa-lila-kshitindranath-majumdar/ngGy8mi8lU4Glw |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Majumdar |first=Kshitindranath |title=Painting |date=1910–1920 |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82528/painting-majumdar-kshitindranath/ |access-date=2024-01-04}}</ref>

With time, he became a disciple of Tagore, and learnt several techniques under his guidance. He developed an interest in [[Rajput painting]]s and the frescoes of [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]]. He was also greatly influenced by the [[Wash (visual arts)|Japanese wash technique]]. In his paintings, Mazumdar combined elements of Tagore's signature style of supple and delicate lines with segments from Ajanta and Rajput paintings and [[Far Eastern]] and Japanese techniques. He incorporated fine lines, subdued hues and simple backgrounds in his paintings. His works include elongated figures, fluid postures and are rhythmic in nature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sekh |first=Tanjima Kar |date=2019-05-31 |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar: The Saint Artist |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/kshitindranath-majumdar/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was also inspired by [[Art Nouveau]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://dagworld.com/kshitindranathmajumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=dagworld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasa Lila - Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/rasa-lila-kshitindranath-majumdar/ngGy8mi8lU4Glw |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Majumdar |first=Kshitindranath |title=Painting |date=1910–1920 |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82528/painting-majumdar-kshitindranath/ |access-date=2024-01-04}}</ref> Mazumdar, in his works, also merged spirituality with sensuality, while focusing on Vaishnavite deities and religious, mythological and [[Puranic]] themes and narratives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-09 |title=Centre plans to renovate artwork at Rashtrapati Bhavan |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/renovation-and-refurbishment-planned-for-artwork-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-in-new-delhi-government-officials-say-101688925576906.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reinventing the myth |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2018/jan/02/reinventing-the-myth-1742949.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The New Indian Express |date=3 January 2018 }}</ref> This reverence for spirituality earned him the title, "saint artist".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sekh |first=Tanjima Kar |date=2019-05-31 |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar: The Saint Artist |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/kshitindranath-majumdar/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Mazumdar, alongside [[Nandalal Bose]], worked as a teacher at the [[Indian Society of Oriental Art]] in Kolkata for 18 years from 1912 to 1930.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://dagworld.com/kshitindranathmajumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=dagworld.com |language=en}}</ref> Later in life, he also taught at [[Shantiniketan|Santiniketan]] and served as the Principal of the Art Department at the [[University of Allahabad]], located in [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], until his retirement in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Murshidabad People - Kshitindra Nath Majumdar |url=https://murshidabad.net/people/kshitindranath-majumdar.htm |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=murshidabad.net}}</ref>

== Awards ==
Mazumdar was presented{{when|date=October 2025}} with a Merit Award by the [[Bengal Congress Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Murshidabad People – Kshitindra Nath Majumdar |url=https://murshidabad.net/people/kshitindranath-majumdar.htm |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=murshidabad.net}}</ref> In 1963, he was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] (D.Litt.) by [[Rabindra Bharati University]], Kolkata.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kshitindranath Majumdar |url=https://dagworld.com/kshitindranathmajumdar.html |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=dagworld.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
| title = Paintings of Kshitindranath Mazumdar
| align =
| footer =
| style =
| state =
| height =
| width =
| perrow =
| mode =
| whitebg =
| noborder =
| captionstyle =
| File:The Birth of Gangā.jpg
|''The Birth of Ganga''
| File:Radha and Krishna (Myths of the Hindus).jpg
|''Radha and Krishna''
| File:Kaliya damana.jpg
|''Kaliya Damana''
| File:Damayanthi (Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists).jpg
|''Damayanthi''
| File:Manasa Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists.jpg
|''Manasa''
| File:Pururavas.jpg
|''Pururavas''
| File:The dance of Shiva.jpg
|''The Dance of Shiva''
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mazumdar, Kshitindranath}}
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Bengali people]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Allahabad]]
[[Category:Artists from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:Bengali male artists]]
[[Category:Devotees of Krishna]]
[[Category:Educators from British India]]
[[Category:Educators from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Government College of Art & Craft alumni]]
[[Category:Indian art educators]]
[[Category:Indian male painters]]
[[Category:Indian Vaishnavites]]
[[Category:Painters from British India]]
[[Category:Painters from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Painters from West Bengal]]
[[Category:People associated with Santiniketan]]
[[Category:People from the Bengal Presidency]]
[[Category:People from Murshidabad district]]
[[Category:People from Prayagraj]]

Kshitindranath Mazumdar - Revision history

Snehasis at 21:00, 14 March 2026