S H Raza had travelled almost all the parts of India while being an artist, he was in love with the nature of India and its culture. The man who said, “Painting for me is like meditation.”
S H Raza who born in Babaria, (22 Feb 1922) central province of British India was one of the great artists from India. He had set foot in Mumbai in 1943, studied art at J. J. School of Art, but destiny failed but had soon joined Block Maker’s Studio for his daily earning. He never had wasted his spare time. In Mumbai, at a congested rented house, he could peep out through the window and see the crowded streets and draw something.
Whenever I used to see animals in my village, I could feel ease of happiness and always wanted to bring it on the page.
S H Raza
Sayed was fond of watching doings, nature and culture. Soon he approached Progressive Writer’s Group (members including F. N. Souza, K. H. Ara, H. A. Gade and S. K. Bakre) The specialities of the group of painters had mostly focused on Historic, Geographic (habitat), and human nature into their paintings. These paintings usually explained emerging Non-Euro American modernism.
When I look at canvas, I see beauty of nature, women, culture of my nation and the entire making of the world and thus I get ideas and inspirations.
S H Raza
This talented and uplifting group of artists from India had well coordination among themselves. Going out to one of the tea shops and discuss the future of their work, and questioning on how something different they could give to this world out of their talents.
When Raza was in Mumbai, the partition of India recently had finished and India had supreme power, a newly born republic country. Every individual of the group had spirit doing something good and unique work for the newly formed nation. Raza’s reason behind leaving the country was simpler.
He became of the those lucky who got a scholarship from the government of India. Sayed wanted to move in France, he studied in 1950–1953 studied in Paris on Gov. of France scholarship. After his education, he explored Europe and its parts.
However, he was a man who very mysterious and in love with his artistic skill, he painted till his last day except his hospitalization in Delhi. Yes, it is true that, Mr. Raza had returned to his homeland in 2011 and had settled in Delhi. Moreover, he stayed in Paris for almost 55 years. Sayed had become God to many Indian students of very young Indian painters who got good platform to showcase their talents. Their works were promoted through Raza Foundation.
Further, Raza took part in almost more than 70 exhibitions and those were around the world. India had always been top in art, total 225.7 crores estimate had offered for Morden and Contemporary art in March 2019.
The factor of inspiration in my life was the beauty of nature of India.
S H Raza
In one of the interviews, he narrated a childhood story when he used to go to school, and he was found him one of the dumb students. Once, when he returned home from his class, he straight went to his mother and said, “why do you send me to school?”
He himself said that how poor he was in his school studies. The artist had deep interest looking at flowers, mountains, animals, culture, women, and anything which had beauty.
Anytime when a question hit him with, who was the most contributed in your success? And each time his answer was the same. He had been said without taking a pause, placed the first his supportive parents and then God gifted blessings of his teachers.
One of his teacher’s lines he said,
Art is a product of brilliant brain, but also if it comes straight from the heart it means you are giving your 100% and success would no longer be waiting for you.
हे मनुष्य राख पाग पंखज पर ध्यान. — O man! Meditate on the chosen field once you settled your feet on.
S H Raza
