Manu
Munshi

Manu Munshi (1924-2009) was an Indian artist who is specially credited for 'Mother of Pearl Artistry'. He was born on 2nd August,1924 in Chowgachha Zamindar family of Bengal (now in Jessore, Bangladesh). His father Anukul Charan Munshi is still considered to first implement the Mother of Pearl artistry in India. Munshi was nurtured in the holy artistic environment with the inspiration from both his father and his elder brother Artist Annada Munshi (regarded as the Father of Indian Commercial Art by many). After completing Matriculation, getting driven by Annada's wish, Munshi joined the Studio of eminent artist Prahlad Karmakar, as a beginner before he joined the Art School in Kolkata. Munshi started his career in the international advertising company J. Walter Thompson. Later he joined the Government Arts and Craft Board, but followed by his resignation from there, he joined All India Handicraft Board where he had been working for 30 years before he retired. The former Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy sent his renowned Mother of Pearl art work titled 'Gandhiji's Noakhali Abhiyan' as the best representitive of 'Charu and Karu art of Bengal' to America. The patrons of his art works include ample number of legendary personalities like Satyajit Ray, Artist Annada Munshi (his elder brother and Father of Indian Commercial Art), Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Barrister Subodh Chandra Roy, Artist Subho Tagore and so on. One of his legendary art works in the field of Mother of Pearl artistry is 'Indira Gandhi' that is still one of the highest examples to represent Indian Fine Arts on the major platform of world. He holds the credit of representing Tagore in different artistic poses nicely carved with metallic plates. On 20th February, 2009 he breathed his last at his own residence in Bediapara, DumDum, Kolkata after struggling with huge loads of old age diseases.