History Paintings & Portraits of Indian Leaders

Dr. Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, Gulam Rasool Santosh, Oil on Canvas

Location: Banquet Hall

Born in Delhi in 1905, Dr. Fakruddin studied Law at Cambridge after his initial studies in Punjab. He died prematurely due to a sudden heart attack in 1977. He was the second President to die while in office (1974-1977). He was a freedom fighter and became a Cabinet Minister and member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha after independence.

This composition is conceived with a circular pilaster as its background, directing towards a landscape painted in rapid strokes. A thick curtain can also be seen towards his right. A row of columns seem to be receding towards the backdrop. Dr. Ahmed is painted with white bandhgala, folds of which descend down. He is standing atop a flight of steps on a raised platform. Deep set eyes with grey arched eyebrows contour towards his nose and thin lips in a slight smile while cheekbones are in a downward fall. Both hands are placed alongside his body.

G.R. Santosh was born in Srinagar. After the demise of his father, he engaged himself in writing, painting signboards and weaving silk. In 1954, he won a scholarship to study fine arts under N. S. Bendre. From 1964 onwards, his paintings focused on tantric subjects.