By Gayatri Mehta
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| Smt. Prafulla Dahanukar |
Smt.
Prafulla Dahanukar, a pivotal persona of Indian Art Fraternity, President of
The Bombay Art Society, former President of The Art Society of India, The
Artists Centre, Founder Trustee of Bade Gulamali Khan Yadgaar Sabha, Advisory
Committee Member of The Jehangir Art Gallery, Founder Trustee of Lonavala
Orphanage; a person connected with almost all art organizations of Maharashtra
and Goa has left for her heavenly journey on March 1, 2014, after a brief
illness.
She
was a complete persona of art, having diverse interests. Besides being a world
acclaimed painter, she wrote poems and had great affinity for music and Marathi
theatre.
She
was always a friend on call, a guide on request and a help in need for one and
many in the art fraternity. Always approachable in spite of her busy schedule,
she was a buddy to contemporary Masters and a blessing hand for the upcoming
and promising artists.
Along
with her many successful projects, she was instrumental in getting the land
sanctioned from Govt. of Maharashtra for one of the oldest art institutions,
The Bombay Art Society; she was the key person to celebrate the centenary of portrait master
Shri V A Mali and felicitate him with a sum of Rs. 10 lacs in 2011.
The art
fraternity of Maharashtra owes her a great deal for bridging both worlds i.e.
of contemporary abstract art and that of representational art. She had the keen
eye to judge the best of both and that made her instrumental in shaping the
careers of many contemporary masters.
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| Mindscape by Prafulla Dahanukar |
She, who
most deserved acclaim for her dedication to art and her great and relentless
contribution to the art fraternity, modestly but firmly refused to accept any
reward or award or felicitation, proving her selfless affiliation to all the
art institutions and organizations.
Her
absence has left a mammoth vacuum in the art scenario. She has left her imprint in all our hearts,
which can never be erased. It is very rare to have someone like her, who was
all encompassing and omnipresent in the art world. It has been a personal loss
to all, who have been affiliated with her.
Her
bereaved family includes besides all artists, her ever supportive husband Shri
Dilip Dahanukar and two daughters Gauri Mehta and Gopika Kartikeyan with their
respective families.
She
lived her life with full zeal to enjoy the moment-to-moment bliss and
happiness. Her autobiography “Jivanand…” signifies her philosophy of happiness.
A condolence meeting will be held at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai on Mar.6, 2014 between 5 -7pm.