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"Opportunity is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." So true is every word in this phase applies for one person, synonym of Art, Lain Singh Bangdel ( Rai). He entered into the world on 21st December 1924.He was a man driven by passion and childhood ambition. He made an oppurtinity to chase his dreams and lit the world with the colors of his passions, hardwork, imagination and dreams. He knew what he wanted to do in his life and gave a shape to it by joining a Government College of Arts and Crafts in 1939 after finishing his high school. After graduation he was working on small commercial project when he got a job in British advertising agency. Here he worked with India's scholars like Satyajit Ray, Chittananda Das Gupta and Subas Ganguli. His love for Art pulled him to Paris, a pilgrimage for the Artists were he studied art at the Ecole Natioale Superieure des Beaux Arts ( 11952-1956 ).He met his better half Manu when he was in London, fell in love with eachother and got married in 1953.
| Bangdel got a chance to meet the most influentials person in the world of arts, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque while he was in Paris.He was not only an artist but equally good writer and has given contribution to nepali litreature by offering his novel like 'Muluk Bahira', 'Maiti Ghar', Travelogue etc. He has performed his solo exhibition in many countries like Germany,France, Britian, America, Nepal etc. After the completetion of his study he got a job at "The Astral Art Group" as deputy director from 1958 to 1960 in London. He was enjoying Europe with great oppurtinities that it offered to scholars and with his dreams to be with the thing he loved most, Art. Year 1961 when he met King Mahendra, he was asked to come to Nepal and work for the Nepali Art and Litreature.He loved his country so he came back to Nepal and started working to give contribution in the field of Art. |
As soon as he came to Nepal he was made the Head of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Royal Nepal Academy . He was sent to US as a Fulbright visiting professor to the Denison University in 1968. With time he was made the vice chancellor in 1972 and Chancellor in 1977 at the Royal Nepal Academy.In 1985 he was made the president of NAFA (Nepal Association of Fine Arts). Here he worked together with writers,artists, poets,musicians,dramatist to uplift the quality of the Nepali Art and Litreature. One of the most important work he did was the publication of the book " Stolen Images of Nepal" where he literally took photographs of each and every image in the Kathmandu Valley, compiled and catalogued it without having to know much information regarding the images. |
His hard work and passion for art has made him one of the international figure.
| HIs research about Nepalese art and culture are discussed in Harvard University, Ohio State University, Universities in America, Europe, Asia. |
| He was assigned an advisor by the World Heritage Society,UNESCO. |
| His determiantion and commitment was rewarded by awards like Birendra Gold Medal in 1965, Gorkha Daksina Bahu in 1982. |
| - He was not just rewarded by his country but by many other nations for serving selfless in the field of Art. |
| He was decorated by Dulichand Gold Medal (1966) |
| the Commandatore (1985) |
| National Order of Arts and Letters (1985) |
| Commander of the Victorian Order (1987) |
| Grand Cruz (1988) |
| Love from all the people whom you have inspired and touched their life in one way or the other |
He went to his parents (God) home in 15th October, 2002. This is the story of a successful man. I find him successful and happy not because he was rewarded and for all the fame but for being a man who believed in himself, followed his dreams regardless of the conscequences and with passion, hardwork, talent and determination made his dream come true. You are one of the Pioneer whom the younger generation can always look for as an idol.Even though you now reside in your heavenly home you will never die. You are a Legend and legends never die.
Source: http://www.spinybabbler.org/visual_arts/personalities/lain_singh_bangdel.htm
