Bhanu Athaiya

Bhanu Athaiya was born Bhanumati Annasaheb Rajopadhye in Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India on the 28th of April 1929. She was the third of seven children born to Annasaheb and Shantabai Rajopadhye. Annasaheb died when Bhanumati was still nine years old.

Her education in art began early as an art teacher used to come home to teach her drawing. Later after finishing her schooling, she enrolled at Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, where she graduated in fine arts, with top honours, winning the gold medal, a fellowship and was nominated a member of the Progressive Artists' Group, founded by Francis Newton Souza, and which included artists by M. F. Husain and S. H. Raza.