Surendranath Kar

Surendranath Kar (1892–1970) was an Indian artist and architect,[1] known for amalgamating the Indian architectural style with western and eastern styles of architecture.[2] Born in 1892 in the Indian state of Bihar, Kar did his primary learning of art under renowned Bengali painter, Nandalal Bose and Abanindranath Tagore,[2] the nephew of Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.[3] Later, he joined Vichitra Club, founded by the Tagore family,[4] as a teacher of art.[2] In 1917, when Tagore set up Brahmacharyasrama, the precursor of later day Shantiniketan,[5] he joined the institution and worked as an art teacher.[2] Two years later, he moved to Kala Bhavana of Tagore as a faculty member.[2]

Kar, who was a companion of Tagore in many of his overseas visits,[2] used the exposure he received to western and eastern architecture, to evolve his own style and, later, designed many buildings for Shantiniketan.[3] The Government of India honoured him in 1959, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for him services to the nation.[6]

Surendranath Kar died in 1970 at the age of 78.[2]