Dr. Jonnalagadda Niranjan

Place: Srikalahasti

Born: 1967

Biography:

Niranjan Jonnalagadda is a renowned artist known for his exceptional talent and skill in the Indian textile art form of Kalamkari. He was born in 1967 in Srikalahasti, a temple town in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India, to a family of Kalamkari artists. He started learning the art from his father from an early age and began his career as a school teacher. However, his passion for Kalamkari art soon earned him recognition and he became one of India's most celebrated masters of the art form. He is the founder of the art studio, Kalamkari, in Srikalahasti. In 2008, the Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honor, the Padma Shri, for his contributions to Kalamkari art.