Haku Shah facts for kids

Haku Vajubhai Shah (born March 24, 1934 – died March 21, 2019) was a famous Indian painter, writer, and expert on culture. He was very interested in the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. Haku Shah was known for bringing the beauty of folk and tribal art into his paintings. He was part of a group of artists called the Baroda Group.

He won many important awards for his work. These included the Padma Shri in 1989, the Jawarharlal Nehru Fellowship, and the Kala Ratna award.

Early Life and Education

Haku Vajubhai Shah was born on March 26, 1934. His hometown was Valod in Gujarat, India. His parents were Vajubhai and Vadanben. His mother was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, and this had a big impact on Haku.

He went to school in Valod. He was an active student and part of the student union. He studied Fine Arts at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He earned his first degree in 1955 and then a master's degree from the same university.

His Career and Art Journey

Haku Shah's artwork quickly became popular. By 1965, he had already shown his paintings in many solo exhibitions in big cities like Kolkata and Mumbai.

In 1968, he helped organize a special art show called 'Unknown India'. This exhibition was held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the United States. In the same year, he received a special grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. In 1971, he won the Nehru Fellowship Award.

Haku Shah spent many years traveling and studying. He researched the arts, crafts, and stories of people living in villages and tribal areas. He also taught at a Gandhian school in south Gujarat.

He helped create a tribal museum at Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad. This university was started by Mahatma Gandhi. Haku Shah managed this museum for many years. It became a very important part of his life's work.

His art was greatly inspired by tribal culture and the Bhakti movement. He also followed the ideas of Gandhian philosophy. In the 1980s, he helped start Shilpgram, which is a village for crafts in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

In 2009, he wrote a book about his life called Manush. Haku Shah passed away on March 21, 2019, in Ahmedabad.

Awards and Recognitions

Haku Shah received many honors for his contributions to art and culture:

• 1968: John D. Rockefeller 3rd Fellow, New York, U.S.A.
• 1971: Nehru Fellowship Award, New Delhi
• 1973: Civic Award, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
• 1975: John D. Rockefeller 3rd Fellow, New York, U.S.A.
• 1989: Padma Shri, from the President of India (a very high civilian award)
• 1991: Regent Professor, California, U.S.A.
• 1997: Kala Ratna, from the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
• 1998: Kala Shiromani, Lalit Kala Akademi, Ahmedabad
• 2006: Gagan Avani Puraskar, Shantiniketan

Books for Young Readers

Haku Shah also wrote several books especially for children:

• 1994: Champa (published in Hindi, Gujarati, and Bengali)
• 1998: Dharti (published in Hindi and Gujarati)
• 1998: Somi (published in Hindi and Gujarati)
• 2007: Jeevi aur Jeetu
• 2007: Goth (in Hindi)
• 2007: Manapari (in English)