ABSTRACT

Bhupen Khakhar was a Gujarati chartered accountant who, after retirement, distinguished himself as a painter and teacher at the Baroda School. The Baroda School led by Khakhar and Gulam Mohammed and Nilima Sheikh is characterised by cityscapes peopled by men and women engaged in scenes of daily living. This Indian reality is outdoors while being indoors. In art, though its influence is on the wane, the Baroda School was supposed to have ushered in a new renaissance in painting in India. Khakhar and Sheikh hope also to resuscitate Gujarati letters. Bhupen Khakhar is India’s first openly gay painter. Khakhar lived in Khetwadi, Mumbai with his widowed mother. He became a chartered accountant but his heart was always in painting. After a few night classes in painting at the J. J. School of Arts in Mumbai, he started painting non-controversial themes.