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On 22nd February 2015, Syed Haider Raza turns 93. Widely acknowledged as a master of modern Indian art, for nearly six decades his work, vision and life have attracted critical attention from various points of view.

Raza returned to India, his home country, after spending 60 years in France and now lives in Delhi and continues to paint. The fact that he would be turning 93 years of age does not in any way diminish or slow down his zest both for living and painting. Raza has created nearly 50 new paintings in past six months. His imagination dares to explore new visual ideas, creating a language which is fresh and yet resonates with intense memories.

Raza’s art has been analysed, explored and evaluated in many books and continues to evoke new responses, also because he is still painting significantly and passionately. Collectors of his paintings exist worldwide.

This fresh collection of essays offers new insights into the artistic career and life of a truly dynamic visionary of our times.

The DVD accompanying this volume is an invaluable recording of Raza creating his collection Aarambh. Thus, this fresh perspective on his art is enriched by the knowledge of how that art came to be.

Contents: Foreword. 1. The cartographer of lost continents/Ranjit Hoskote. 2. The Isolation of all the forces that comprise art/Krishnen Khanna. 3. Almost a love poem/Ina Puri. 4. The innovation of consciousness/Manish Pushkale. 5. The Seed and the tree: the creative process/Geeti Sen. 6. The topographer/Roshan Shahani. 7. Ideas and claims on identity/Kishore Singh. 8. Celebrations and prayer/Ashok Vajpeyi. 9. Cosmographs of modern life/Udayan Vajpeyi.