Kajal Kanjilal with his book. Picture by Gautam Dey

Dhanbad, July 13: A new textbook on the history of Indian art has hit the stands and the credit goes to a Dhanbad-based teacher.

Kajal Kanjilal, an arts teacher of Rajkamal Saraswati Vidya Mandir, has authored the History of Indian Art, that pertains to the Class XII syllabus of the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).

Published by Saraswati House Private Limited, the book includes a wide variety of pictures, including rare paintings. Son of Late Sahadev Kanjilal who worked in Eastern Coalfields Limited and Abha Kanjilal, Kajal took two years to complete the book. And he gives the credit for his work to his school principal Phul Singh.

“It was during a tour to Delhi that my principal learnt that there wasn’t any book covering Indian art for Class XII students and he asked me to author one. I hesitatingly agreed,” said Kajal, who has a masters degree in visual arts with specialisation in applied arts from Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta.

Winner of a number of awards in art competitions, Kajal completed his graduation from the Burdwan University.

“The book, available in both English and Hindi, is divided into four parts. These discuss the Rajasthani and Pahari schools of miniature painting, the Mughal and Deccan schools of miniature painting, the Bengal school of painting and the modern trends in Indian Art,” Kajal explained.

He also thanked his father-in-law, Late Satyendra Nath Mukherjee, who was a lecturer at KC College Birbhum for his support, and his colleague Vinay Narayan Roy, who helped him translate the book.