Renowned Indian painter and former Rajya Sabha member Jogen Chowdhury passed away at the age of 87 at a private hospital in Kolkata on Sunday following a prolonged illness.
Chowdhury had been suffering from a rare blood cancer known as myeloproliferative neoplasm for approximately 14 months and had been receiving chemotherapy. He was admitted to the hospital on October 16 and later developed an infection. He had also required hospitalisation for urinary tract infections during his illness.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Jogen Chowdhury died in Kolkata on October 25, 2026, at the age of 87.
He had been undergoing treatment for a rare blood cancer.
He was known for his distinctive figurative paintings and expressive use of lines.
He served at Rashtrapati Bhavan and taught at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan.
He represented West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha from 2014 to 2020.
Born in Faridpur in 1939, in what is now Bangladesh, Chowdhury moved to Kolkata with his family following Partition. He studied at the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata and later pursued further studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Chowdhury became one of the prominent figures in modern Indian art, known for his distinctive figurative paintings, expressive lines and detailed cross-hatching. His work drew on Indian cultural traditions and explored human emotions, relationships and social realities.
He served as Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhavan from 1972 to 1987 and later taught at Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, in Santiniketan. He also served as a Trinamool Congress member of the Rajya Sabha from 2014 to 2020.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Chowdhury was a major figure in modern Indian art. His distinctive artistic style, contribution to art education and engagement with public life formed important parts of his legacy.
Chowdhury's death marks the loss of a distinguished artist whose work made a lasting contribution to India's modern art tradition.
