Renowned Painter Jogen Chowdhury Passes Away at 87 After Battle with Cancer

Jogen Chowdhury, a prominent Indian painter, has passed away at the age of 87 after a prolonged battle with a rare blood cancer. His contributions to the art world, particularly in the Bengal School of Art, have left an indelible mark. Chowdhury's works are celebrated for their unique visual language and political themes. He served as a Member of Parliament and received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Banga Bibhushan award. His passing is mourned by many, including fellow artists and political leaders, who recognize the significant loss to the cultural landscape of India. Discover more about his life, legacy, and the impact he made in the world of art.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 25, 2026, 15:10 IST

Jogen Chowdhury's Legacy and Final Days

File image of Jogen Chowdhury. (Photo: @ddnews_guwahati/X)

Kolkata, Oct 25: Celebrated artist Jogen Chowdhury passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata on Sunday morning after a lengthy struggle with a rare form of blood cancer. He was 87 years old.

Chowdhury, who previously served as a Member of Parliament for the Trinamool Congress, had been battling myeloproliferative neoplasm, a rare blood cancer, for the last 14 months and was undergoing chemotherapy, according to a statement from Ruby General Hospital.

He was admitted to the hospital on October 16 and succumbed to his illness at 10:15 AM.

In a statement, the hospital expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the esteemed painter.

Throughout his illness, Chowdhury also faced complications that required hospitalization for urinary tract infections.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed condolences, stating that Chowdhury's artistic contributions would remain "immortal through the ages." He emphasized that the body of work left by Chowdhury is a significant treasure for both the state and the nation.

Adhikari noted that Chowdhury's artistic legacy is visible in various government buildings, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, and that his works will endure for centuries.

Fellow artist Samir Aich mourned Chowdhury's passing, calling it a "personal loss," and remarked that it signifies the end of an era for the Bengal School of Art.

Bengali author Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay also expressed his sorrow, recalling Chowdhury as a long-time friend and collaborator, stating, "His death is a significant loss."

Chowdhury owned a residence in Santiniketan, where the region's unique red earth and landscape inspired much of his artwork.

Born on February 16, 1939, in Daharpara village in Faridpur, which was part of undivided Bengal, Chowdhury's passion for art was nurtured by his mother, who practiced the traditional art of alpana.

His family relocated to Kolkata during the Partition, where he pursued formal art education.

Chowdhury began his professional journey as an art teacher at Howrah Zilla School before becoming a designer for the Handloom Board in Kolkata in 1962.

In the late 1960s, he traveled to Paris to study at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, where he developed his distinctive artistic style upon returning to India.

Chowdhury was known for his unique visual language, drawing inspiration from both political and social themes, as well as Indian and European art movements.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool Congress ticket, serving from April 2014 to April 2020. In 2012, the previous TMC government honored him with the Banga Bibhushan, one of the highest civilian awards in the state.