Noted artist Sayed Haider Raza conferred with France’s de la Lgion dHonneur

Noted artist Sayed Haider Raza was conferred with highest French Civilian Award Commandeur de la Lgion dHonneur (the Legion of Honour).
Raza was bestowed with this award for his peerless achievements in transcending all boundaries, forging ties between France and India and for continuing artistic quest straddling nations, religions, cultures and philosophies.
He was bestowed with this award on the occasion of the French National Day (14 July) celebrations by Ambassador of France to India Franois Richier on behalf of the French President.

About Sayed Haider Raza

• Born in 1922 in Madhya Pradesh. He started his artistic career at the age of 12.
• He also had studied at the Nagpur School of Art (1939-43) and followed by Sir J J School of Art, Mumbai (1943-47).
• Later he had moved to Paris to study painting and arts at the Cole Nationale Suprieure des Beaux-Arts (1950-1953) on French government’s scholarship.
• He lived in France for about six decades and had travelled across Europe to exhibit his work.
• He is one of India’s priciest modern artists. His seminal work, ‘Saurashtra’ was sold for record 16.42 crore rupees on 10 June 2010.
• Awards: Padma Shri (1981), Padma Bhushan (2007) and Padma Vibhushan (2013).

About Legion of Honour

• la Lgion dHonneur (the Legion of Honour) is the highest civilian award given by the French Government.
• It is bestowed upon for persons for their outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients.
• President of France is the Grand Master of the award.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2015