Bhajju Shyam
A trailblazing Pardhan-Gond artist from Patangarh, Madhya Pradesh, fuses traditional motifs with urban wonders in globally celebrated illustrated books like The London Jungle Book
Born in 1971 in Patangarh village, Madhya Pradesh, into the Pardhan-Gond community, Bhajju Shyam left home at 16 for Bhopal, working as a night watchman and electrician before his uncle, pioneering artist Jangarh Singh Shyam, spotted his talent in 1993 and mentored him at Bharat Bhavan. Starting by filling colors and patterns in Jangarh's works, Bhajju soon developed his own refined style, blending Gond cosmology—deities, animals, trees—with modern observations from travels abroad.
His breakthrough came with The London Jungle Book (2004, Tara Books), a visual travelogue of his 2001-2002 London murals for Masala Zone restaurant, merging iconic landmarks like Big Ben with mythical birdmen and underground spirits, earning international acclaim and translations worldwide. Followed by hits like The Night Life of Trees (2006, Bologna Children's Book Fair winner) and Creation, his books have sold over 100,000 copies, with exhibitions in Paris (1998), UK, Germany, and beyond.
Honored as the first Gond artist with the Padma Shri in 2018, plus state awards and the 2015 Master Artist Ojas Art Award, Bhajju continues innovating Gond-Pardhan painting, inspiring a new generation while living in Bhopal
ART WORK
