Jogen Chowdhury, a prominent Indian painter and former Rajya Sabha member, passed away at the age of 87 in Kolkata on October 25, 2026. He had been hospitalized on October 16 due to declining health and placed on a ventilator two days prior to his death. Born in 1939 in what is now Bangladesh, Chowdhury relocated to Kolkata during the Partition and later studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Known for his expressionist works that often satirized politics and society, he held positions such as Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhavan and professor at Visva-Bharati University. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Trinamool Congress between 2014 and 2020 and received several state and national honors, including the Banga Bibhushan. Condolences were offered by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who highlighted his cultural impact.
Eminent painter and former Rajya Sabha member Jogen Chowdhury died on Sunday morning, October 25, 2026, at a private hospital in Kolkata. He was 87 years old. The artist had been admitted to the facility on October 16 following a deterioration in his health. Medical staff placed him on ventilator support on Saturday, October 24, before his death. Chowdhury was born on February 15, 1939, in Faridpur, which is now part of Bangladesh. His father, Pramathanath Chowdhury, worked as a landlord, while his mother practiced alpona, a traditional Bengali folk art involving floor and wall painting. The family relocated to Kolkata during the partition. He developed an early interest in drawing and later studied at the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata. He continued his education at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In his early career, Chowdhury employed an expressionist style of figuration. His works frequently featured human forms and served as satires on politics and society. He served as Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhawan before joining the faculty at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan in 1987. In recent years, he contributed to the design of art installations for Durga Puja. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nominated him to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool Congress ticket. He represented the party in the Upper House from 2014 to 2020. Political leaders offered condolences upon his passing. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that Chowdhury’s contributions brought international acclaim to the state. Adhikari added that the artist’s departure left an irreparable void in West Bengal’s intellectual and artistic soul. Banerjee described Chowdhury as the pride of Bengal and India, calling him a great inspiration to artists worldwide. She extended her condolences to his family, friends, and admirers globally. Chowdhury received several honors during his life. The Trinamool Congress government awarded him the Banga Bibhushan in 2012, one of the state’s highest civilian distinctions. He also received the Kalidas Samman from the Madhya Pradesh government and was honored at the second Havana Biennale in Cuba. Colleagues reflected on his legacy. Painter Samir Aich described him as a stalwart of contemporary art who consistently supported fellow artists. Sculptor Bimal Kundu noted that Chowdhury’s journey was marked by struggle. Kundu observed that the artist’s work shifted toward greater simplicity after he joined the Visva-Bharati faculty. Tributes included specific references to his creative process. Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien shared a painting that took Chowdhury five years to complete following the Nirbhaya tragedy. The Delhi Art Gallery described his technique on its website. It noted that he interpreted the human form through attenuated, exaggerated, and fragmented shapes. The gallery explained that he often placed figures against vacant backgrounds to transfer feelings of anguish through gestural mark-making.
Jogen Chowdhury, a prominent Indian painter and former Rajya Sabha member, passed away at the age of 87 in Kolkata on October 25, 2026. He had been hospitalized on October 16 due to declining health and placed on a ventilator two days prior to his death. Born in 1939 in what is now Bangladesh, Chowdhury relocated to Kolkata during the Partition and later studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Known for his expressionist works that often satirized politics and society, he held positions such as Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhavan and professor at Visva-Bharati University. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Trinamool Congress between 2014 and 2020 and received several state and national honors, including the Banga Bibhushan. Condolences were offered by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who highlighted his cultural impact.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on the death of a cultural figure who also held a political office. While it mentions his nomination by the Trinamool Congress and includes quotes from politicians, the primary focus remains on his artistic legacy, biographical details, and professional achievements. The tone is讣
The provided text consists solely of a headline stating that eminent painter Jogen Chowdhury has died at the age of 87. No further details regarding the cause of death, date, location, or biographical background are included in the supplied excerpt.
Bias read (Center): The subject matter concerns the passing of an artist, which is an apolitical cultural event. There is no evidence of political framing, bias, or contestation in the available text.
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