In 1931, Ambika Dhurandhar became the first Indian woman to graduate from an art-school. In British India of the 1930s, painting was a man’s world and even in middle or upper class homes, women were not particularly encouraged to pursue advanced level education. But this was also a time of change, and women had started to make public appearances – participating actively in demonstrations against British.
Ambika’s inclination towards art started at an early age; surely it was the influence of her father, the renowned painter, M.V Dhurandhar. Her mother, Gangubai herself was a well-read, educated woman who often accompanied her husband on his travels around the country. Dhurandhar’s sketchbooks offer a glimpse into these moments and Ambika’s early years.
Ambika Dhurandhar : Painting in a man’s world
After Class 6, Ambika was home-schooled but later enrolled at the prestigious J.J School of Art (Bombay) where her father taught. She graduated with a Government Diploma in Painting and was one of the highest ranking students.
Her peers included artists like J.D Gondhalekar, Gopal Deuskar and the other forgotten female artist, Angela Trindade (daughter of A.X Trindade). While there were other female students at J.J School, hardly anybody pursued art professionally.
By the time Ambika graduated, she was already winning accolades at different art society exhibitions (Bombay, Calcutta, Pune, Shimla, etc). Later, she was offered a fellowship by the Royal Society of Art, London.
Ambika Dhurandhar’s skilfully painted portraits and landscapes have been exhibited widely in India, England, Scotland, France, Germany and Italy. Today, many of her works are in the collection of DAG. Take a look :
Safeguarding her father’s legacy : M.V Dhurandhar’s influence on Ambika
M.V Dhurandhar was one of the most significant painters of his time, and as he travelled across India and Europe, Ambika accompanied him. Just before the Second World War, father-daughter traveled around Europe, soaking in the art at museums. In her memoir, Mazi Smaranchitra, she chronicles her travels as well as interactions with other cultural icons like Bal Gandharva.
After her father’s death, she managed his paintings, regularly exhibited them and even started an art-school named after him. Ambika never married and continued to teach art. She is fondly remembered by her students as “Ambu-tai”.
Despite the recognition and her contribution to Indian art, Ambika Dhurandhar remains little known outside the art-world. If you spot her works, or have any further information, we’d love to know!
This year, our Art+Feminism campaign features women in art, culture, history. Participate and help make women artists visible.
featured image: (left) Alkazi Collection; P.Ayurvedic School Archive, (right)