Profile:

Born in 1956, Suddhasattwa Basu, a painter, illustrator and animation film maker studied Fine Art at the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata.

He has designed and illustrated more than 60 books, which include Delhi Through the Seasons and Nature Watch, both by Khushwant Singh, To Live in Magic by Ruskin Bond, The Homecoming by Vijaya Sulaiman, The Story of Garuda by Roberto Calasso, Mahabharat by Namita Gokhle.

Picture books that he has authored and illustrated are The Song of a Scarecrow, 2003, Whatever You Give, 2009, Ravan Remedy, 2013, Chandernagor – A burg of the moon, 2022.

He directed and animated the country’s first animation tele-serial Ghayab Aya, 1990. His animation shorts have featured in several national and international film festivals.

He has received the Chitra Katha Award, 2003, and honorable mention in BIB (Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava), Slovak Republic for his book The Song of a Scarecrow, 2004, the Association of Writers and Illustrators for children (AWIC) lifetime achievement award for his contribution to children’s book illustration, 2010.

Suddhasattwa Basu has been visiting faculty at the College of Art, Delhi since 1998, and the NID, Ahmedabad between 2014 and 2016. He lives and works in Delhi.

Jury Speaks:

“Few illustrators have a body of work that is as large and diverse as that of Suddhasattwa Basu, completely dedicated to children. Suddhasattwa’s work stands apart from many illustrators because of his meticulous attention to the design and finish of the book. He takes children seriously and this is made evident by the distinction that he maintains in each of his works regardless of how big or small the project is.”

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