Pratip Munsi
Pratip Munsi | |
|---|---|
 Siddhidata Ganesha by Pratip Munshi | |
| Born | Born Pratip Munshi British India |
| Died | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Sculpting and engraving |
| Notable work | Meditating Buddha Siddhidata Ganesha Gopal |
| Movement | Mother-of-Pearl art |
Pratip Munshi, also spelt Pratip Munsi (Bengali: প্রতীপ মুন্সী), was an established Mother of pearl artist of the 20th century. In the mid-to-late 20th century, the two artists who made a significant impact on the art world of the new Indian mother-of-pearl art pioneered by his uncle Anukul Munshi were Pratip Munshi and his cousin Manu Munshi, respectively. He was a member of the Murshidabad branch of the famous Munshi family of Kolkata. He was a close relative of Kshitindranath Mazumdar. The deceased hailed from Jagtai village in Murshidabad district of West Bengal till death. After his death, his life was sketched by renowned researcher and writer Santanu Ghosh in his book Munsiyanay Chollis Purush (in Bengali: মুন্সিয়ানায় চল্লিশ পুরুষ).[1][2]
Initial days and training
Munshi was born in the Chaugachha zamindar family of Jessore, British India which is now in Bangladesh and later became a part of the Munshi family of Kolkata after Indian independence. His uncle, Anukul Munshi is considered the first accomplished Indian artist to establish Indian Mother of pearl sculpting on global platform when he participated in the British Empire Exhibition in London in the year 1924. Anukul Munshi ventured his start-up named Mother of Pearl Factory inside the premises of their zamindari mansion and started practising Mother of Pearl carvings to come up with unique portraits and sculptures. This time he called his nephew Pratip to join the factory under his guidance along with his sons Annada and Manu. As instructed by his uncle, he also started taking lessons in this art along with his two cousins.[1]
Later, Annada became a legendary artist in the Indian advertising industry. And, on the other hand, Manu and Pratip started walking in the path shown by their Guru Anukul Munshi and achieved considerable fame in their respective aspects.[3][4]
Notable works
One of Munshi's notable artworks is Meditating Buddha on the platform of Mother of Pearl carvings, which is considered to be one of the works that created a stir in the art scene of Bengal. It is said that while doing this, he spent many auspicious days and nights, without sleep, just thinking about what the Buddha's eyes would look like after attaining Bodhi.
Among his other timeless mother of pearl works are Siddhidata Ganesha and Gopal.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c Santanu Ghosh: Munshianay Chollis Purush">শান্তনু ঘোষ। "মুন্সিয়ানায় চল্লিশ পুরুষ" (in Bengali) Publisher: Dey's Publishing
- ^ a b "Arthive: Pratip Munshi">Arthive। "Pratip Munshi" Publisher: Arthive [1]
- ^ সুবোধ সেনগুপ্ত ও অঞ্জলি বসু সম্পাদিত, সংসদ বাঙালি চরিতাভিধান, প্রথম খণ্ড, সাহিত্য সংসদ, কলকাতা, আগস্ট ২০১৬, পৃষ্ঠা ৮০৮ (in Bengali) ISBN 978-81-7955-135-6
- ^ "Santanu Ghosh: Binodane Paikpara Belgachia">শান্তনু ঘোষ। "বিনোদনে পাইকপাড়া বেলগাছিয়া (in Bengali)" publisher: দে'স পাবলিশিং