The 67-year-old renowned artist Manjit Bawa breathed his last on December 29, 2008 after suffering from prolonged illness. The immensely talented painter, Bawa was in coma for the last three years after suffering a stroke. The painter who hails from Punjab's Dhuri area died at his Green Park residence in south Delhi. Manjit Bawa who is supposed to have revolutionised the Indian painting scene with bold use of vibrant colours began his career as a silk-screen printer in London in 1964.

 

He completed his education at Delhi's College of Art and London School of Printing. From an early career of figurative painter, Manjit Bawa attained great success. The maestro was influenced by nature, Sufi mysticism and Indian mythology. Bawa was the first to break out of the dominant grays and browns of the western art and opt for more Indian colours like red and violet.

 

Commenting on the great artist, Ena Puri, author of a biography on Bawa said that Bawa was one of the few artists who had the guts to follow his convictions unmindful of the popular trend. According to Lalit Kala Akademi Chairman Ashok Vajpayee, Manjit Bawa was a versatile person and his death is a great setback for the art and painting fraternity.