Pulak Biswas

Pulak Biswas (1941-2013) is a leading artist and children's book illustrator from India.

Biography

After training at the Government College of Art, Kolkata, Biswas worked for many years in the advertising industry. He was the recipient of an UNESCO fellowship for advanced studies in Graphic Design and Illustration. He also studied at Hornsey College, London, and the Rietvald Academy, Amsterdam.

He has also held several solo and group exhibitions in India and Europe.

Children's literature

In the 80s, Pulak Biswas left advertising graphics and joined the cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai at the Children's Book Trust, New Delhi. In 1992-93, he won the National Award for Children's Literature in for Ashok's New Friend (written by Deepa Agarwal). Some of his other remarkable books are: Mahagiri and Amma Pyari Amma, A Day in the Life of Maya of Mohenjo-Daro, published by Children's Book Trust, Very busy ants (wordless classic) published by National Book Trust, Hen Sparrow Turns Purple" (winning the Grand Prix at the Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava)and Catch that crocodile by Tara Publishers.

In 1999, his Tiger on a Tree written by Anushka Ravishankar, won the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, and in 2005 was listed in the American Library Association’s List of Notable Books.

Also a well-known painter, Pulak Biswas spent last several years immersed in painting. He died on 29 August 2013.

Further reading

1. The film The Man with the Magic Brush: Meeting Pulak Biswas featuring the interview with Mr. Biswas and excerpts from his work was showcased at the World Book Fair 2014 in New Delhi. The film can be viewed at http://themanwiththemagicbrush.blogspot.in/
2. Find short interview of Pulak Biswas on https://web.archive.org/web/20131213132719/http://www.papertigers.org/gallery/Pulak_Biswas/index.html