This painting is titled The Chuar Uprising, 1767-1802 (They (Chuar) are settled in the fields). It is painted by M. R. Acharekar using ink, tempera and watercolours on paper. The painting is one of the 52 works M. R. Acharekar was commissioned for on the commemorative occasion celebrating the completion of the first hundred years of the freedom movement (1757-1856). The Chuar tribals of the Midnapur and Bankura region in West Bengal were dependent on their sustenance on the primitive farming methods and the surrounding forests. The tribals were frequently abused by the zamindars (feudal lords) as chars( pig in Bengali); hence the rebellion came to be known as the Chuar rebellion. By 1798 the tribals rebelled and took to arms and adopted the guerrilla tactics of war when they realized that the British took away their land. They successfully destroyed government offices, administrative institutions, along with the army's barracks in different parts of Bengal. The heavy bloodshed and frequent skirmishes with the tribals were quelled with much difficulty by the British Company. The rebellion came to an end when the British burnt the entire forest of the Chuars by firing continuously with heavy artillery. The artist describes the painting with a subtitle which reads-attacks on the collection officers. This painting is signed and dated 'M. R. acharekar, 1973' in English along the bottom margin of the painting with brush.
- Identifier
- ngma-03639
- Material
- Watercolour, Tempera, Paper
- Note
- A Portraitist, watercolourist and an award-winning Film Art Director Murlidhar Ramachandra Acharekar (1907-1979) completed his Diploma in painting from the Govt. College of Maharashtra, Bombay. While still pursuing his education, he became involved in the discipline of Printmaking and Portraiture and soon opened up a lithographic press in Bombay. Post his education he was appointed as Junior Teacher at the Ketkar Institute of Art, Bombay in the year 1923. From 1932-34 he spent two years studying European Art and its techniques at the Royal College of Art, London. While studying in London, Acharekar was chosen to execute some very important commissions as painting the historical event of the inauguration of the Round Table Conference by his late Majesty King George V of the United Kingdom, in 1932 and the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of King George V in 1935, to name a few. Acharekar also emerged as an educator when his famed book called 'Rupadarshini, An Indian Approach to Human Form' was published in 1949; his other books mainly include pencil drawings/ images from Hindu Cave Temples of Ellora and Elephanta. His book 'Apostle of Peace' is a series of the artist's splendid pencil sketches of Jawaharlal Nehru and validates his brilliance as a portraitist. Acharekar was also an excellent watercolourist. The exhibition of his works in watercolour and tempera in 1973 depicted the first hundred years of the freedom movement (1757-1856) and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Acharekar is also known for his long-standing association and contribution to the Indian Cinema, his excellence in Art Direction won him many prestigious awards. Acharekar served as president of Cine Art Directors Association of India, Bombay and was President, Bombay Art Society, Bombay, from the years 1972-73. The artist was also awarded with the Padmashree in 1968 by the Govt. of India.
- Pages
- 51 x 76.8 cm
- Published in
- India
- Type
- Painting
