Dear Old Sanawarians, 

Mr Rathin Mitra, passed away after prolonged illness at the age of 93 in Kolkata. He was Sanawar’s first art master and founder of the Art Dept and Art Room. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. 

Well known sketch artist Mitra studied in Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata, after which he went to teach art in Daly College Indore and came to teach in Sanawar from 1950-54. 

In Mr E.G Carter’s words (Headmaster of Sanawar)–“ Mr Mitra’s enthusiasm has inspired many of our children and the work today reaches a creditable standard. Mr Mitra’s keenness is infectious and our little colony gets increasingly art conscious……our debt to Mr Rathin Mitra for making the school art conscious is great” After Sanawar he went to St Pauls Darjeeling and then to Doon School to teach art. A Coffee table book “Sanawar” was released during the Sesquicentenary Celebrations in 1997 . Rathin Mitra did the sketches of the school and its surroundings for the book. Text was written by Harish Dhillion. Mitra was an outstanding visual essayist. He has done numerous drawings of heritage buildings and is the first living artist during his time to exhibit at Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata along with the works of old European masters like Daniells, Charles D’Ovly,Fraser , Hodges,William Davies, Solvyns and Wood. He was s awarded Senior fellowship by Ministry of Education and Culture Govt of India. He also has many books to his credit. On Behalf of the Old Sanawarians I wish to convey our Heartfelt condolences to Mrs Mitra , his daughters and family members. Sanawar is truly indebted to him for bringing art into our lives. May his soul rest in eternal peace. 

Justice Rajive Bhalla (OS70) 

President OSS