Keisuke Inano

Mujul Dey at the south verandah of Chitralekha house, early 1980s photograph
Photo: Keisuke InanoAbout twenty-two years ago young student Mr Keisuke Inano was Mukul Dey’s last Japanese friend. Dey’s relationship with Japan, which started with his association with Yokoyama Taikan, Tomitaro Hara, Shimomura Kanzan, Kampo Arai, Yukio Yashiro, Okiyo-san, Sentaro Sawamura, Tetsuro Sugimoto, Kiitsu Sakakibara and Kosetsu Nosu, had continued till his very last with his friendship with Keisuke Inano.

During the 80’s of last century, Keisuke Inano was “very old” Mukul Dey’s last and “very young” Japanese friend, with whom the aged artist was intimate. We, all of us at Chitralekha deeply appreciate Mr Inano’s love towards Mukul Dey when he was old and, probably, lonely. We are happy to reproduce below Keisuke Inano’s recollection of Mukul Dey along with three superb photographs of the late artist by him. It is interesting to note in the following article, the author Keisuke Inano mentions “R. Tagore”, instead of Rabindranath Tagore whenever any controversial references were made. - Satyasri Ukil, January 2004.