Sankho Chaudhuri (1916–2006) was one of the foremost sculptors of modern India, a pivotal figure in moving Indian sculpture from colonial academic naturalism toward modernist abstraction. Born in Santhal Pargana (now in Jharkhand), he studied at Santiniketan’s Kala Bhavan, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1939 and a diploma in sculpture in 1945 under the mentorship of Ramkinkar Baij.
Working closely with Baij on a war memorial project in Nepal, Chaudhuri learned traditional Nepali metal casting. In 1949, he undertook a study tour of Europe, visiting major art centres and encountering sculptors such as Brancusi, which reinforced his search for pure, simplified form. His sculptures, often characterised by flowing, entwined forms, clear line, and rhythmic balance, explore themes ranging from wildlife and female figures to music and movement, and were executed in clay, terracotta, stone, wood, copper, brass, aluminium, and cement.
Chaudhuri founded the sculpture department at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University, Baroda, in 1949, and taught there for decades, profoundly shaping generations of artists. He later served as Secretary and Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi, contributing to national art institutions as both practitioner and pedagogue.