Pratima Devi (painter)

Pratima Devi (1893–1969) was an Indian Bengali artist, widely known for her artistic abilities. She was the wife of Rathindranath Tagore. The poet took special interest in developing her capabilities.

Parentage

She was the daughter of Seshendra Bhusan Chattopadhyay and Binayani Devi, sister of Gaganendranath Tagore and Abanindranath Tagore.Samsad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical Dictionary), Chief Editor: Subodh Chandra Sengupta, Editor: Anjali Bose, 4th edition 1998, , Vol I, page 185, , Sishu Sahitya Samsad Pvt. Ltd., 32A Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata.

Activities

Pratima studied art under painter Nandalal Bose and Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath encouraged her to pursue her artistic talents. She exhibited her work at the Indian Society of Oriental Art, run by the Tagore family, from 1915 onwards. She then moved to Paris, where she studied the Italian " wet fresco" method.

Immediately after her marriage in 1910, Pratima, accompanied by her husband, had lived for sometime at the family estate at Shilaidaha, now in Bangladesh. Subsequently, Pratima returned to Santiniketan and followed in the footsteps of her father-in-law and husband and immersed herself in the activities of Visva Bharati. She also accompanied them in their visits to distant places. She was in charge of the dance curriculum at the music and dance school founded by Rabindranath Tagore in Shantiniketan. She is credited as one of the pivotal influences that shaped Tagore's dance-dramas in the early years. She could easily pick up a new craft and adapt it for the Silpa Sadan curriculum.

Early life, marriage and death

Pratima Devi was born in Calcutta (later Kolkata) on 5 November 1893. She was first married as a child bride to Nilanath Mukhopadhyay, son of Nirode Nath Mukhopadhyay, a classmate of Rabindranath, but after two months Nilanath died suddenly by drowning in the Ganges. Rabindranath Tagore arranged the 17 year old Pratima's marriage to his son, Rathindranath Tagore. Rathindranath and Pratima adopted a daughter in 1922 – Nandini, better known by her nickname – Pupee (meaning 'doll' in French). Pratima's marriage with Rathindranath seemed to be a happy one in the earlier years, but it started facing rough weather later in life. A somewhat egoistic Rathindranath, who remained an enigma in the 'glittering array of tremendously talented and creative individuals' of the Tagore family, resigned his position as vice chancellor of Visva Bharati University in 1953 and left Santiniketan forever. Pratima remained back in Santiniketan. However, they were in touch with each other through correspondence till Rathindranath's death in 1961. Pratima died on 9 January 1969.

Family

Nandini Tagore was married in 1940. Rabindranath composed the song ''Sumangali bodhu sanchita rekho prane'', for the occasion of his granddaughter's marriage to Giridhari Lala. They used to stay in ''Chhayanir'' in Ratanpally. Nandini's son, Sunandan Lala, attended Patha Bhavana and then went on to complete PhD in synthetic organic chemistry. As of 2012, they stay in Bangalore.

Books

Pratima wrote several books. ''Nirban'' focussed on the last year of the poet's life. In ''Smritichinha'', she talks of Abanindranath and Rabindranath. ''Nritya'' documents the tradition of dance at Santiniketan. ''Chitralekha'' is a collection of her poems and other writings.

Family tree

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Pratima
1893 births
1969 deaths
Bengali Hindus
Bengali women artists
20th-century Indian painters
Indian female dancers
Rabindranath Tagore
Painters from West Bengal
Dancers from West Bengal
20th-century Indian dancers
Women artists from West Bengal
People associated with Santiniketan
Tagore family
20th-century Indian women painters