What do you think is it easy to go against the traditional career choices?
India is a diverse and culturally rich country where preserving the nation’s artistic legacy is no small feat. Yet, Padma Shri Jagdish Mittal, born in Mussoorie in 1925, accomplished this with firm dedication and exceptional insight.
Jagdish Mittal has a collection of more than 2000 Indian artifacts, which stands as a towering spiritual history of India’s artistic heritage. Housed in the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art in Hyderabad.
With a strong passion for craftsmanship was not a walk in the nearby park for Mittal. As all his family members were engineers. But Mittal had found his calling and chose to work for it. As he was surrounded by the cultural values and aesthetic traditions that later molded his passion and love towards art.
As he grew up, he chose to go to India’s most respected center of creative learning founded by Rabindranath Tagore i.e., Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan for formal training in art.
After completing his graduation in 1945, Mittal began developing artistic perception for the touch of Indian art across nations and time periods.
Jagdish Mittal: A Visionary in Indian Art History
The start of his legendary collection began in 1946, when he bought a small piece of Kantha embroidery, from a fisherman. This purchase was made with heart, not just with the eyes.
In today’s world, people collect artefacts only to show and present them at auction. But Mittal’s intention was to preserve the rich tradition of Indian art. Which made him spend decades travelling with his wife Kamla Mittal across India to collect artifacts such as manuscripts, bronzes, wood carvings, paintings and more that reflected the depth and philosophy of Indian history and craftsmanship.
So that they don’t fade into obscurity in the face of modernity and industrialization.
After spending years collecting and exploring the art works. In 1976, the couple established the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian art in Hyderabad to sculpt their dream into a more formal shape.
The collection includes over 2000 objects from 1 BCE to 1900 CE which consists of miniature paintings, Islamic calligraphy, terracotta sculptures, ivory, ancient manuscripts, folk and tribal bronzes, textiles, metal ware. What makes the environment unique is the hospitality, visitors are welcomed by appointment, and each exhibit is organised with care.
Jagdish Mittal was not merely a collector but a scholar and a teacher. His writings about Indian art, history and aesthetics are widely known, respected and used for reference material by Teachers and Scholars.
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He lived by his philosophy art is not just to be admired, but understood. Each object in his collection was selected not just for its beauty but for its historical and artistic merit.
His works have been widely loved and exhibited in places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In 1990, Jagdish Mittal was awarded with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian Artistic Heritage. In 2025 he ascended to heaven, leaving behind his golden museum. But what stays with us is his legacy and inspiration showered to young generations of artists, scholars, and collectors.
His life is a dedication to what passion, boldness and uniqueness can achieve.
Recite you discovers the work of those extraordinary individuals and sharing the work and expertise.
Jagdish Mittal is a perfect example where his life reflects that, “Everyone should have their own path and to achieve a goal one must overcome every obstacle that comes their way.”
