INDIA. Mumbai: Renowned Indian Calligrapher Achyut Palav has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in recognition of his outstanding contributions spanning over four decades in the field of Indian Calligraphy.
The award ceremony took place at the ‘Typoday,’ an international typography seminar held recently at the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Organized by the Department of Applied Art at Banaras Hindu University and IDC School of Design (IIT Bombay), the seminar witnessed the presence of distinguished figures such as Prof. Ravi Poovaiah, Prof. G. V. Sreekumar of IDC, Prof. Manish Arora of BHU, Ajanta Sen, and several internationally acclaimed typographers and calligraphers.
Palav’s artistic journey commenced in 1973 at Shirodkar High School in Mumbai under the guidance of his art teacher, Parshuram Nabar.
Mentored by Prof. R. K. Joshi and guided by experts like Dr. Ashok Kelkar, Dr. G. H. Khare, and D. G. Godse during his academic pursuits, Palav’s perception of calligraphy, particularly in Indian scripts, underwent positive transformation.
Devoting his life to promote the aesthetics and commercial application of Indian scripts, Palav is credited with the creation of ‘Mukta Lipi,’ a style inspired by Modi and Devanagari scripts.
His work, especially in ‘Devanagari,’ is featured in prestigious archives and museums, contributing to projects both in India and abroad.
Palav’s collaborative efforts with calligraphers from Germany, France, Russia, UK, and other countries have enhanced the global visibility and application of Indian calligraphy.
He has successfully fused media, tools, and performing arts, creating memorable masterpieces and striving to unite Indians through calligraphy.
In 2007, Palav embarked on a tour from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, laying the foundation for events like ‘Callifest,’ a festival celebrating Indian scripts.
Establishing the ‘Achyut Palav School of Calligraphy’ in Mumbai, he has nurtured talented calligraphers in India and inspired students from countries such as the USA, Netherlands, and Russia to explore ‘Devanagari Calligraphy.’
Palav’s recent exhibition in Moscow, coupled with Devnagari calligraphy training for 80 Russian students, exemplifies his global impact.
He sees calligraphy as an art form for the masses, taking pride in the beauty and magnificence of Indian scripts, elevating Devanagari, and bringing lesser-known scripts into the limelight.
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