Known for translating the poetics of nature into a distinct language of realism rooted in Indian ethos, Achuthan Ramachandran Nair, 89, passed away on Saturday morning in New Delhi. He is survived by his artist wife Chameli Ramachandran. For the connoisseurs of art, Ramachandran was a total artist for his sheer versatility, and his thought transcended genres. From a master painter and sculptor to a dedicated pedagogue and art historian of repute, the Padma Bhushan awardee wore his craft with grace and humility.
Hailing from Attingal, Kerala, the art of the postgraduate in Malayalam literature was etched by two traditions. His thought was shaped by his conversations with the progressive writers of Kerala and his artistic sensibility was moulded by his mentors in Santiniketan, where he learnt under the tutelage of master artist Ram Kinkar Baij and celebrated gurus like Nandalal Bose and Benode Behari Mukherjee.
11 February 2024
