Dhoomimal Gallery: Modern Indian Art Pioneer Founded in 1936 by Shri Ram Babu, Dhoomimal Gallery originated in Connaught Place. Ram Babu, an art patron, initially supported artists with free materials and promotions using their work, which evolved into India’s first modern art gallery. It soon became a dynamic hub with the “Kalakar” club, attracting figures like Sailoz Mookherjea and Jamini Roy.
The gallery’s golden age began in the mid-1970s under Mr. Ravi Jain, in close partnership with artists like F.N. Souza. It became an artistic epicentre for various art forms. Many prominent artists, including Krishen Khanna and Satish Gujral, held their debut exhibitions at Dhoomimal.
After Ravi Jain’s death in 1991, the Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation was established by his wife, Uma Jain, supporting over 100 young artists.
Today, led by Uday and Sunaina Jain, the gallery continues to showcase modern masters like F.N. Souza and Jamini Roy, alongside contemporary talent.