-Obituary-
K. G. Maheshwari
A Doyen of Photography
Mr. K. G. Maheshwari, a
legendary photo artist of India passed away on 05 December – 2014 in Mumbai. He
was a photo artist of high caliber, a great human being and a torch bearer for photography
enthusiasts.
Born on November 2,
1922, Maheshwari’s interest in Photography as a hobby began from his school
days. His father wanted him to take up
Music as hobby and a teacher was asked to come and audition the boy at
home. But the result was disappointing
when the teacher declared that the boy did not have the kind of voice. A pragmatic boy decided to take up
Photography as his hobby, instead. His
father used to subscribe to Illustrated Weekly and young Maheshwari used to
diligently go through the pages devoted to photography. He started with a Box camera when in
school. Later on, he acquired a Rollie,
a Leica M3 and a Mamiaflex 330.
In 1938, P. J. Patel of
Central Camera asked him to send his photographs for a competition organized by
Niharika Camera Pictorialists of Gujarat and he won a prize in the Beginners
Section. This is how he really got
interested in photography.
He did not go through
any formal training in photography, as there was none such available. Circumstances around him favoured by putting
him into close contact with people who were advanced photographers – people who
were mature in the art and practice of photography like late Jehangirjee
Unwalla, the doyen of Indian Photography and late Burjorji Fanibunda, and he
acknowledged that he had learnt the real technique of pictorial print making
from these great practitioners. In 1941
he got married and as things could happen his wife Shanti not only encouraged
him to continue practising his pet hobby to the fullest but so to say, shared
it by giving her utmost might and main to his hobby of making pictorial
photography a part of their lives.
He regularly participated in the exhibitions of
photography at national and international levels. He had achieved about 1600 acceptances
and around 400 awards in these reputed shows.
Various photographic organizations honoured him
for his treasured contribution into the field of photography. A few among them
are the Associateship of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain in 1946,
Honorary Fellowship of the India International Photographic Council, Delhi, in
1985, Hon. FIP by the Federation of India Photography, Kolkata in 2009 and
Associateship of the Photographic Society of America in 1992. The Photographic Society
of India, Mumbai, had honoured him with its Honorary Life Membership in 1975. Above
all The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India honoured
him with Lifetime Achievement Award for his noble efforts for the sake of art.
He
had been on the panel of judging of several National and International
Exhibitions and was a member of the Honors Committees of the India
International Photographic Council and the Photographic Society of India.
A collection of his photographic work
spanning over four decades was published in a book form entitled ‘PRINTS AND
IMPRINTS’ by the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta. He contributed
articles to various photographic journals and submitted papers at different seminars.
He took keen interest in
conducting photography workshops for art lovers. His favorite subject was ‘Pictorial
Portraiture’.
Mr. Maheshwari was a master
of Pictorial Portraiture. The portraits photographed by him attract the
attention of viewers at first sight. These portraits are the perfect mix of
emotions, excellent light and fine composition.
The passing away of Mr. K. G. Maheshwari is a
big loss to the world of photography art. He will always be remembered for his
precious contribution for art.
--Dr. Pankaj Sharma (After Mr. D. C. Bhachech)
(Memories Forever: Myself with Mr. K. G. Maheshwari Ji in January-201o)
-Dashboard-
