Manu Munsi, also spelt as Manu Munshi or Monu Munshi (Bengali: মনু মুন্সী), born as Manomohan Munshi (2 August 1924– 20 February 2009),[1] was an Indian painter and sculptor.[2] He played a key role in the upliftment of the Mother-of-pearl art movement in India during the mid-to-end of the 20th century. His most notable works on the Mother-of-pearl platform include Gandhiji's Noakhali Expedition, Indira Gandhi and Nur Jahan. Apart from the Mother-of-pearl artworks and sculptures, Munshi also holds credit to establish wire sculptures in Bengal. Some of his notable wire sculptures are Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and so on. He was nominated for Padmashri, the fourth highest civilian award in India in 1986 for his contributions in fine and visual arts. Some of his works have been listed within the personal collections of notable personalities like Bidhan Chandra Roy, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and Satyajit Ray, renowned director. He is also credited with portraying Tagore in various artistic poses beautifully engraved with metal plates.[3][4][5]
Munshi was born in the Chaugachha zamindar family of Jessore on 2 August in 1924 to renowned Mother-of-pearl artist Anukul Charan Munshi who is often regarded as the Father of Indian Mother-of-Pearl artistry in India. His elder brother was notable artist Annada Munshi who is often called the Father of Commercial Art in India according to considerable number of art critics.[6] Pratip Munshi, another acclaimed Mother-of-pearl artist was a cousin to him.[4][5][7][8]
Initial days and educationedit
Munshi, after finishing his matriculation, started his journey as a novice in the studio of renowned painter Prahlad Karmakar in Calcutta. Elder brother Annada's wish led him to take admission in the then Government Art School (present day Government College of Art and Craft) in Calcutta.[7]
Career as an artistedit
Munshi ventured his career as a commercial artist in the J. Walter Thompson, India, driven by the joint inspiration from Annada Munshi and noted film-director Rajen Tarafdar.[9] During the course of his career, he felt that the commercial art was not for him, hence decided to resign. Later he joined the Government Arts and Craft Board and ended up resigning from there too. But, his most successful career spanned for almost thirty years when he became a permanent part of the All India Handicrafts Board before he retired as a senior artist.[2]
In 1986, Munshi was nominated for Padmashri. But, he was not listed within the final recipients of the distinguished award by the then Government of India for the year. When asked about this, he used to say, "That's when publicity hinders the creation of art."[7]
Intimation letter of Padmashri recommendation from Girija Prasad Roy (the then D.I.O. of Dum Dum) to Munsi
Notable worksedit
Some of his notable Mother-of-Pearl artworks are Gandhiji's Noakhali Expedition, Indira Gandhi (1985) and Nur Jahan. Furthermore, he is acknowledged for his portrayal of Tagore in a variety of creative stances exquisitely etched with metal plates.[10] Among his ample wire sculptures and portraits, some are prominent, i.e., Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Swami Vivekananda. Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh.
Indira Gandhi (Mother of Pearl Artwork) by MunshiNur Jahan (Mother of Pearl Artwork) by Manu MunshiTagore's portrait (platform: metallic plates) by Munsi
In 1985, Satyajit Ray wrote about Manu Munshi's Mother-of-pearl piece titled Indira Gandhi:
"I have seen the mother-of-pearl portrait of Smt. Gandhi done by Shri Manu Munshi. I find it of excellent quality."
During his entire career as an art activist, Munshi was patronized by many renowned personalities of the same era including his own elder brother Annada Munshi, Satyajit Ray, Barrister Subodh Chandra Roy, Bidhan Chandra Roy, Subho Tagore, Hiranmay Bandopadhyay, Rajen Tarafdar, Humayun Kabir and Jahangir Kabir. His paternal name was 'Manomohan Munshi'. Later, the then Chief Minister of Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy shortened his name to 'Manu'. Later he gained fame at the national and international level with this name.[2][4][5][7]
Munsi (left) with Satyajit Ray (right)
Personal lifeedit
Munshi was married to Maya Bose (later Maya Munshi) who belonged to an elite class family from Khannyan of Hooghly of West Bengal. The couple has three sons.[2]
Munshi with his wife Maya
Demiseedit
On 20 February in the year 2009, Munshi died of overloaded old-age conditions in his own residence at Bediapara, Dum Dum in Kolkata.[11][12][13]
^সুবোধ সেনগুপ্ত ও অঞ্জলি বসু সম্পাদিত, সংসদ বাঙালি চরিতাভিধান, প্রথম খণ্ড, সাহিত্য সংসদ, কলকাতা, আগস্ট ২০১৬, পৃষ্ঠা ৮০৮ (in Bengali) ISBN978-81-7955-135-6
^ abcde"Manu Munshi, the 'Munshi Babu' of Kolkata (Calcutta)". Medium. 30 July 2023.
^Anandabazar Patrika. "The Artist (শিল্পী)" Publisher: Anandabazar Patrika (2009)
^Ganashakti. "Nirabe Manu Munshi" Publisher: Ganashakti (2009)
^Sangbad Pratidin. "Proyato Manu Munshi" Publisher: Sangbad Pratidin (2009)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manu Munsi.
January 01, 1970
manu, munsi, confused, with, manu, parekh, also, spelt, manu, munshi, monu, munshi, bengali, মন, born, manomohan, munshi, august, 1924, february, 2009, indian, painter, sculptor, played, role, upliftment, mother, pearl, movement, india, during, 20th, century, . Not to be confused with Manu Parekh Manu Munsi also spelt as Manu Munshi or Monu Munshi Bengali মন ম ন স born as Manomohan Munshi 2 August 1924 20 February 2009 1 was an Indian painter and sculptor 2 He played a key role in the upliftment of the Mother of pearl art movement in India during the mid to end of the 20th century His most notable works on the Mother of pearl platform include Gandhiji s Noakhali Expedition Indira Gandhi and Nur Jahan Apart from the Mother of pearl artworks and sculptures Munshi also holds credit to establish wire sculptures in Bengal Some of his notable wire sculptures are Rabindranath Tagore Kazi Nazrul Islam Swami Vivekananda Mahatma Gandhi Bhagat Singh and so on He was nominated for Padmashri the fourth highest civilian award in India in 1986 for his contributions in fine and visual arts Some of his works have been listed within the personal collections of notable personalities like Bidhan Chandra Roy the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and Satyajit Ray renowned director He is also credited with portraying Tagore in various artistic poses beautifully engraved with metal plates 3 4 5 Manu MunsiBorn 1924 08 02 2 August 1924Born Manu Munshi Manomohan Munshi Jessore British India present day Bangladesh Died20 February 2009 2009 02 20 aged 84 Bediapara Dum Dum KolkataNationalityIndianAlma materGovernment College of Art and Craft CalcuttaKnown forPainting and sculptureNotable workGandhiji s Noakhali Expedition Indira Gandhi Nur JahanMovementMother of Pearl artSpouseMaya MunshiChildren3Parent s Anukul Charan Munshi father Nirmala Devi mother RelativesAnnada Munshi brother Jayati Munshi sister in law Pratip Munshi cousin Kumkum Munshi nephew Manto Munshi nephew Contents 1 Birth and family background 2 Initial days and education 3 Career as an artist 4 Notable achievements and accolades 5 Notable works 6 Patrons 7 Personal life 8 Demise 9 References 10 External linksBirth and family background editMunshi was born in the Chaugachha zamindar family of Jessore on 2 August in 1924 to renowned Mother of pearl artist Anukul Charan Munshi who is often regarded as the Father of Indian Mother of Pearl artistry in India His elder brother was notable artist Annada Munshi who is often called the Father of Commercial Art in India according to considerable number of art critics 6 Pratip Munshi another acclaimed Mother of pearl artist was a cousin to him 4 5 7 8 Initial days and education editMunshi after finishing his matriculation started his journey as a novice in the studio of renowned painter Prahlad Karmakar in Calcutta Elder brother Annada s wish led him to take admission in the then Government Art School present day Government College of Art and Craft in Calcutta 7 Career as an artist editMunshi ventured his career as a commercial artist in the J Walter Thompson India driven by the joint inspiration from Annada Munshi and noted film director Rajen Tarafdar 9 During the course of his career he felt that the commercial art was not for him hence decided to resign Later he joined the Government Arts and Craft Board and ended up resigning from there too But his most successful career spanned for almost thirty years when he became a permanent part of the All India Handicrafts Board before he retired as a senior artist 2 Notable achievements and accolades editMunshi s most accomplished work on Mother of pearl platform is Gandhiji s Noakhali Expedition which was hand picked by the then Chief Minister of West Bengal Bharat Ratna Bidhan Chandra Roy as the Best representative of Charu and Karu Art of Bengal and was sent to the United States for public exhibition 4 5 In 1972 Munshi was honoured with the certificate of merit from the Rabindra Bharati University In 1986 Munshi was nominated for Padmashri But he was not listed within the final recipients of the distinguished award by the then Government of India for the year When asked about this he used to say That s when publicity hinders the creation of art 7 nbsp Intimation letter of Padmashri recommendation from Girija Prasad Roy the then D I O of Dum Dum to MunsiNotable works editSome of his notable Mother of Pearl artworks are Gandhiji s Noakhali Expedition Indira Gandhi 1985 and Nur Jahan Furthermore he is acknowledged for his portrayal of Tagore in a variety of creative stances exquisitely etched with metal plates 10 Among his ample wire sculptures and portraits some are prominent i e Rabindranath Tagore Kazi Nazrul Islam Swami Vivekananda Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh nbsp Indira Gandhi Mother of Pearl Artwork by Munshi nbsp Nur Jahan Mother of Pearl Artwork by Manu Munshi nbsp Tagore s portrait platform metallic plates by Munsi In 1985 Satyajit Ray wrote about Manu Munshi s Mother of pearl piece titled Indira Gandhi I have seen the mother of pearl portrait of Smt Gandhi done by Shri Manu Munshi I find it of excellent quality 4 7 nbsp Certificate of appreciation from Ray to MunshiPatrons editDuring his entire career as an art activist Munshi was patronized by many renowned personalities of the same era including his own elder brother Annada Munshi Satyajit Ray Barrister Subodh Chandra Roy Bidhan Chandra Roy Subho Tagore Hiranmay Bandopadhyay Rajen Tarafdar Humayun Kabir and Jahangir Kabir His paternal name was Manomohan Munshi Later the then Chief Minister of Bengal Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy shortened his name to Manu Later he gained fame at the national and international level with this name 2 4 5 7 nbsp Munsi left with Satyajit Ray right Personal life editMunshi was married to Maya Bose later Maya Munshi who belonged to an elite class family from Khannyan of Hooghly of West Bengal The couple has three sons 2 nbsp Munshi with his wife MayaDemise editOn 20 February in the year 2009 Munshi died of overloaded old age conditions in his own residence at Bediapara Dum Dum in Kolkata 11 12 13 References edit Artist Manu Munshi Medium 25 Jun 2023 a b c d Santanu Ghosh ম ন স য ন য চল ল শ প র ষ in Bengali gt Santanu Ghosh Munshianay Chollis Purush Publisher Dey s Publishing Artist Manu Munshi Renowned Mother of Pearl Artist of India Calcutta India Wixsite com February 5 2005 Retrieved Sep 22 2022 a b c d e Santanu Ghosh Binodane Paikpara Belgachia gt শ ন তন ঘ ষ ব ন দন প ইকপ ড ব লগ ছ য in Bengali publisher দ স প বল শ a b c d Arthive মন ম ন স ই র জ ত gt Arthive মন ম ন স in English publisher Arthive 1 স ব ধ স নগ প ত ও অঞ জল বস সম প দ ত স সদ ব ঙ ল চর ত ভ ধ ন প রথম খণ ড স হ ত য স সদ কলক ত আগস ট ২০১৬ প ষ ঠ ৮০৮ in Bengali ISBN 978 81 7955 135 6 a b c d e Manu Munshi the Munshi Babu of Kolkata Calcutta Medium 30 July 2023 Anandabazar Patrika Munshiana in Bengali Publisher Anandabazar Patrika Jugantar Patrika Wire Sculpture Publisher Jugantar Patrika 1996 Art Age Manu Munshi Publisher Art Age Anandabazar Patrika The Artist শ ল প Publisher Anandabazar Patrika 2009 Ganashakti Nirabe Manu Munshi Publisher Ganashakti 2009 Sangbad Pratidin Proyato Manu Munshi Publisher Sangbad Pratidin 2009 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manu Munsi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manu Munsi amp oldid 1223357804, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
