Deepak Kannal

Deepak Kannal (born 1949) is an Indian art historian,[1] sculptor[2] [3] and a former professor at the Department of Art History and Aesthetics, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat where he also served as dean and head of the department. He is a specialist on the Ellora caves on which he has written several influential research papers, delivered numerous lectures and has authored a book titled Ellora-An Enigma in Sculptural Styles (1996).

Ellora - An Enigma in Sculptural Styles by Deepak Kannal
Professor Deepak Kannal at Ellora caves

Life and work

Kannal studied sculpture at Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda (1975) and established himself as a sculptor early in his career[4]. After this he pursued Art History in which he received his second post-graduate degree (1983). He completed his doctoral thesis in 1993 in which he worked on the sculpture of Ellora caves[5].

Kannal worked as the Head of the department, UGC/DSA coordinator and the Dean of the Faculty[6]. He has several notable publications that includes a book “Ellora-An Enigma in Sculptural Styles’’[7], a monograph, four co-edited volumes - one of them on Ellora Sculpture and Architecture[8], three edited journals, these are to be re-released soon as a single book[9], three full length plays, three dance dramas and more than seventy papers and articles on Art and Aesthetics to his credit[10] [11]. His dance drama named ‘Dipta Kailasa’ narrating the history of Kailasanatha monolith of Ellora and the myths associated with it was performed at Ellora, in the vicinity of the caves.

His most significant contribution in Art History is his teaching methodology and interpretation of Indian sculpture and Indian Aesthetics. He is an authority on Ellora cave sculpture.[12] and has dedicated his entire life in studying the subject. His book on Ellora was reprinted in 2018 by Aprant Publishers, Pune[13].

Kharavela and Sri Satakarni, Bhaja cave sculpture, different interpretation proposed by professor Kannal.

One of his most significant contribution is his interpretation of the ignored inscription "Utpattipidugu"[14]. He has written about it in one of the volumes of the journal Nirukta which was also edited by him[15] and has delivered several lectures on the subject.

Sri Utpattipidugu - Inscription, Insignia and the Indite, A special volume of Nirukta, Journal of Art History & Aesthetics, 2005.
History as Allegory: The Bhaja Narratives

In his research paper titled "History as Allegory: The Bhaja Narratives", published in the volume 'Towards a New Art History: Studies in Indian Art', 2003, Deepak Kannal has proposed a fresh identification of the famous sculpture of Bhaja caves, generally identified as Surya and Indra. He proposes that the depiction is a political allegory and it shows the conflict between Ceta Kharavela of eastern India and Simuka Satavahana of Deccan[16]. In his own words -

"I propose that the inadequately though not erroneously identified sculptural panel from Bhaja is a visual record of Sri Satakarni's conquest over Kharavela"[17]

He interprets the many other figures in this sculpture allegorically, for instance, the 'mouse headed woman', he says, is the personification of the city which is being routed by Kharavela on the other site, the Bodhi tree and the rejoicing around it shows Satakarni's victory.

He has created the syllabus for two subjects for UGC e-pathshala Post Graduate course in Fine Arts and Aesthetics - Indian Sculpture[18] and Indian Aesthetics[19] [20]

He has organized and participated in many National/Inter National seminars, has delivered series of lectures [21] [22] [23]for coveted institutes in India, US and UK and was invited on prestigious chairs instituted by various Academies, Museums and Universities. He is a recipient of a number of awards, scholarships and distinctions in Sculpture, Theatre and Art History including the Charles Wallace fellowship for his post doctoral project at Cambridge (1992), UK, National Lalit kala honorable mention, A.P. Council National award, The Gujarat Gaurav Puraskar, Raja Ravi Verma Samman and the Tagore National Fellowship in 2018[24] under which, he is working on the correspondence between Indian Linguistic Theories and Indian sculpture.

Lupadakhe - Unknown Master Sculptors of Ancient India

The book commemorates the legacy of the forgotten and therefore unknown sculptors of ancient India[25].


Plays

He wrote a play titled 'Jogidas Khuman', which was performed by Fine Art Natak Kampani, Tathagat, Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda. The play is based on the writings of Gujarati writer Jhaverchand Meghani and the reports of Captain Bell of East India Company.

He wrote and directed a dance-drama titled 'Dipta Kailasa', which was performed in the vicinity of Ellora caves.

The play is based on the writings of Gujarati writer Jhaverchand Meghani and the reports of Captain Bell of East India Company.

He has been actively involved in theater set design, acting and writing plays.

Jogidas Khanum, written by Deepak Kannal, performed by Fine Art Natak Kampani, Baroda.

Bibliography
  • Ellora, an Enigma in Sculptural Styles. Books & Books. ISBN 9788185016474 .(1996).
  • Ellora Caves, sculptures and architecture: collected papers of the University Grants Commission's National Seminar, Ratan Parimoo, Deepak Kannal, Shivaji Panikkar[26] (editors) India. University Grants Commission, Books & Books, Delhi, (1988).
  • Nirukta, 3 Volumes, (edited Journal), Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, (2004, 2005, 2006).
  • Lupadakhe - Unknown Master Sculptors of Ancient India by Deepak Kannal and Kanika Gupta.
    Lupadakhe - Unknown Master Sculptors of Ancient India (Co-author), Mandala Books, Delhi, (2019)[27][28][29]

References
  1. "Indian Contemporary Art Journal" (PDF). Indian Contemporary Art Journal. I & II. 2011.
  2. Eight Baroda Artists: Naina Dalal, Deepak Kannal, Mahendra Pandya, Jayant Parikh, Ratan Parimoo, Kirit Patel, Jayanti Rabadia, Vinod Shah : November 23-December 7, 1990. CMC Art Gallery. 1990.
  3. "Statue of Unity: Meet the sculptors who help politicians carve their place in history". The Week. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  4. Archive, Asia Art. "Group of Students". aaa.org.hk. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  5. "Professor Deepak Kannal, eminent Art Historian, Sculptor, Teacher. | Gujarat | Academia". Scribd. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  6. Archive, Asia Art. "U.G.C National Seminar on Comparative Aesthetics and Criticism of the Contemporary Arts (Sister Arts in Contemporary Context)". aaa.org.hk. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  7. Kannal, Deepak (1996). Ellora, an Enigma in Sculptural Styles. Books & Books. ISBN 978-81-85016-47-4.
  8. Parimoo, Ratan; Kannal, Deepak; Panikkar, Shivaji; Commission, India University Grants (1988). Ellora Caves, sculptures and architecture: collected papers of the University Grants Commission's National Seminar. Books & Books. ISBN 978-81-85016-23-8.
  9. "Aprant's new book Nirukta, Edited by Dr. Deepak Kannal, A Collection of Selected Articles of Art His - instagram media view - UpVok.Com". www.upvok.com. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  10. Shah, Umakant Premanand (1995). Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-316-8.
  11. Panikkar, Shivaji; Mukherji, Parul Dave; Achar, Deeptha (2003-01-01). Towards a New Art History: Studies in Indian Art : Essays Presented in Honour of Prof. Ratan Parimoo. D.K. Printworld. ISBN 978-81-246-0230-0.
  12. "In conversation with Deepak Kannal". Sahapedia. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  13. Kannal, Deepak H. (2018). Ellora - an Enigma in Sculptural Styles. Aprant. ISBN 978-93-85737-08-4.
  14. Ghosh, N. C.; India, Archaeological Survey of (1986). Excavations at Satanikota, 1977-80. Archaeological Survey of India.
  15. Tambulwadikar, Snehal. "Sri Utpattipidugu – unread histories". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. Panikkar, Shivaji; Mukherji, Parul Dave; Achar, Deeptha (2003-01-01). Towards a New Art History: Studies in Indian Art : Essays Presented in Honour of Prof. Ratan Parimoo. D.K. Printworld. ISBN 978-81-246-0230-0.
  17. Archive, Asia Art. "Towards a New Art History: Studies in Indian Art". aaa.org.hk. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  18. History of Indian Suclpture, retrieved 2019-12-07
  19. Aesthetics & Philosophy of Art Course - MOOCs SME Video, retrieved 2019-12-07
  20. Module 07, retrieved 2019-12-07
  21. Dr. Deepak Kannal | Public Lecture at BDL Museum, retrieved 2019-12-07
  22. Deepak Kannal ( Pre Recorded Talk for Panel Discussion on Role of Institution), retrieved 2019-12-07
  23. Prof. Deepak Kannal in Jaipur Art Summit, retrieved 2019-12-07
  24. "TAGORE NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR CULTURAL RESEARCH (TNFCR)-Minutes of the Selection for Batch Year 2017-18" (PDF).
  25. "Signatures in stone". epaper.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  26. "Shivaji Panikkar - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  27. "Lupadakhe - Unknown master sculptors of Ancient India, Book Cover". Scribd. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  28. "A search for the unknown sculptors, artists of ancient India". The Indian Express. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  29. "Signatures in stone". epaper.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
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