Dhiraj Choudhary (1936–2018), born in what is now Bangladesh, was a politically and socially driven artist whose practice was deeply shaped by the Bengal famine and the struggle for independence he witnessed in his youth. These experiences led him to view art as a tool for expression and social change rather than mere aesthetic pursuit. As he once remarked, “For me, art is not merely an exercise in aesthetics or technical expertise… I have never felt the need to pursue ‘art for art’s sake.’”

Throughout his career, Choudhary powerfully depicted the plight of the marginalized—the famine-stricken peasants of Bengal, impoverished farmers, and the downtrodden. His bold lines and expressive colors carried a raw intensity, allowing viewers to feel the suffering and resilience of his subjects. In his own words, “The pictures I paint may not be pretty, but they are an expression of my love for humanity and my genuine concern for the world at large… My art is not a pleasure trip. It is the battlefield of my 50-year struggle for freedom, which is still going on!”

By the late 1990s, the focus of his art shifted toward the theme of love, which he believed could counter greed and violence. Through images of mothers, fathers, men, and women, he explored love as a universal emotion capable of fostering compassion and social harmony. “Art, I believe, can play an active role in creating social awareness,” he said, describing his attempt to “light a candle in the darkness of ignorance and greed.”

Choudhary’s legacy endures as that of an artist who used his canvas as a platform for empathy, awareness, and transformation—bridging political urgency with the human spirit.