On April 12, 2025, on the 101st birth anniversary of one of India's major modern masters, F. N. Souza, Dhoomimal Gallery released a seminal publication on the artist, titled 'F. N. Souza: Father of Modern Indian Art.' A 650-page book edited by veteran writers Vinod Bhardwaj and Brij Sharma, it is a compendium on the artist who was one of the primary bricklayers of Indian modernism, at a time when the country had just attained independence. He was the founder of the Progressive Artists' Group in 1947 and redefined the very way in which modern art was perceived by young artists of a newly independent country.
The book is a collector's item as it features the work by the master from the Dhoomimal Gallery Collection, one of the finest collections of Souza's works; the gallerist Ravi Jain (who passed away in 1991) and his wife Uma Ravi Jain enjoyed a deep, personal bond with the artist, who on several occasions, made sketches and painted portraits of the duo. He dedicated some of his seminal paintings to the duo's child, Uday Jain, who is the current director of Dhoomimal Gallery.
It features articles on the master by those who had the privilege to interact with him over a long period of time, when he would frequently visit India from his base, first in London and then in New York. These writers include Uday Jain, Uma Ravi Jain, Vinod Bhardwaj, Brij Sharma, Yashodhara Dalmia, Jag Mohan, as well as his artist friends, Krishen Khanna and Jatin Das. The book also carries a photo feature on Souza by Ida Kar, a photographer who became his friend during his years in London. Most importantly, it also carries writings by Souza himself on his art.
The book was launched by Uma Ravi Jain, Yashodhara Dalmia, its editors, Indrajit Chatterjee of Prinseps and artist Sanjay Bhattacharya.
