Induprakash Mukherjee – The Artist Unknown

The year is 1940. A train chugs along on the rails through the valleys of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, with only the moonlit night to illuminate the journey. A young boy sits near the open door of the cabin, a cool breeze blowing through his hair, as he approaches the Lucknow School of Fine Arts, with only an empty canvas tucked under his arm and a heart full of hope.

Induprakash Mukherjee at the age of 72 Photo By: Antara Mukherjee

This boy is Induprakash Mukherjee, a 12-year-old with a penchant for paint, who grew up to become India’s unknown artist.

83 years later, as we reminisce the talent that never received the due applause on his 11th death anniversary, Mukherjee’s family members reminisce his artistic journey with us.

In the 1950s, India had recently emerged from the British oppression, the country was still developing a sense of identity and thus modernism and globalization in their art culture were few.

For Induprakash Mukherjee, however, the 1950s and 1960s were years of growth. After graduating with honors from the Lucknow School of Fine Arts, Mukherjee’s name in the art world began to emerge. Yet, due to the lack of understanding of modern art in the society, there were very few takers for Mukherjee’s style of art. So, he decided to move to Kolkata, where he quickly found greater appreciation for his skill. Here, he carved a niche for himself in the advertising sector of various art publications.

“He was never the type to settle down anywhere and was a traveler at heart, so you bet he flew out of that job very soon.” Soumen Ghose, Mukherjee’s brother-in-law and confidante, quipped about Mukherjee’s restless approach to life.

In 1960, he was called to Delhi with a job offer from the United States Information Services (USIS). USIS first published their art magazine called SPAN in January of 1960 with Mukherjee at the helm as the art director. Still, after close to a year of spearheading the magazine, Mukherjee quit the publication upon receiving an offer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to conduct exhibitions across Egypt, Middle East, and Kenya.

“He was warned by the Ministry that they wouldn’t offer the same pay that SPAN did but my father never cared and his heart yearned to paint,” says Antara Mukherjee, Induprakash Mukherjee’s only daughter.

Induprakash Mukherjee receiving a governmental award by the then-Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Photo By: Archive

With the aid of the Ministry, Mukherjee’s dexterity in art, especially wash painting, became known throughout the country, even reaching the Prime Minister Morarji Desai, and this modern art technique mushroomed in the country. Wash painting is a style of painting where diluted water-based colors are used to create a translucent look.

“My father used to be famous for his confident strokes and ease of painting,” Antara Mukherjee reminisced, “If the cargo of paintings that was to be displayed was delayed, like the one time in Australia in 1972, he would whip up a painting in a few hours’ time and these had the audience in a chokehold.”

While painting was his primary passion, Mukherjee had a knack for other things too. Music was one of his guilty pleasures and was known to be an able flutist, so much so that the Dagar brothers recognized his talent to be one beyond an amateur’s.

Antara Mukherjee spoke proudly of the brothers’ frequent visits to their abode and their influence on her name Antara, meaning verse. “The logo for the Dagar brothers was created by my father in front of my eyes in a matter of a few minutes,” she said, “They use it till date. That’s the influence my father had.”

One of the earliest packaging samples for 'p3 Inca' that has been preserved by Antara Mukherjee. Photo By: Antara Mukherjee

Mukherjee was a brilliant chef to pair with an artist and musician. The introduction of instant masala powder in the country was pioneered by Mukherjee himself through the manufacturing of ‘p3 Inca’, which began from his very own kitchen.

However, Mukherjee was “a true artist at heart and believed purely in the value of art rather than its capitalistic return”, as said by Soumen Ghose, and was swindled of the rights to the masala powder.

Alas, Mukherjee’s talent and impact on India’s art culture remains shrouded in mystery and secrecy because “the artist himself never prioritized publicizing his work,” says Antara Mukherjee, “He was an artist because he loved being one and it was this trait that shone through and moved people when they gazed upon his completed canvases.”

Induprakash Mukherjee will always be revered and remembered as a true artist at heart, soul and skill, by all who have basked in his purity of art.

Induprakash Mukherjee's signature, paired with his thumbprint as a remembrance to his lacking education. Photo By: Archive