Sayed Haider Raza (22 February 1922 – 23 July 2016) was an Indian painter who lived and worked in France from 1950 until his death, while maintaining strong ties with India.[1] He was born in Kakkaiya (District Mandla), Central Provinces, British India, which is now present-day Madhya Pradesh.[2]
He was a renowned Indian artist.[3][4] He was awarded the Padma Shri and Fellowship of the Lalit Kala Academi[5] in 1981, Padma Bhushan in 2007,[6] and Padma Vibhushan in 2013.[7] He was conferred with the Commandeur de la Legion d’honneur (Legion of Honour) on 14 July 2015.[8]
His seminal work Saurashtra sold for ₹16.42 crore ($3,486,965) at a Christie’s auction in 2010.[9][10]
In 1959 he married the French artist Janine Mongillat, who died of cancer in 2002. In 2010 he decided to return to India.[11][12]