Ram Chandra Shukla (1925–2016) was an Indian painter and art critic. Early life Shukla was born in a small village called Shukulpura of district Basti, Uttar Pradesh in a farmer's family. Soon after that his father shifted to a prominent, cultural city, Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, where he grew up. He graduated from the Allahabad University and studied painting under a renowned Indian painter of the Bengal School, Kshitindra Nath Majumdar. He is honoured as "Proud Past Alumni" of Allahabad University by Allahabad University Alumni Association. Career Shukla joined Banaras Hindu University as a teacher of art in the Department of Painting. He retired as a professor and the Head of Department of Painting of Banaras Hindu University in the year 1985. Subsequently, he shifted to his native place, Allahabad, and started his studio there. Shukla does not try to sell his paintings; he simply wants to go in the depth of art itself and work as a spiritual painter, enjoying the bliss of art. He is known for his experiment with brush and colours. He developed various indigenous style of painting of which most important are Kashi Shailee, Samikshavad and intuitive paintings. Kashi Shailee paintings Shukla used to paint in the water color wash technique prevalent at the time. Thereafter, he began to take interest in the folk paintings of India, particularly Benaras folk art and miniature paintings of India. It was during that period that he with other drawing students developed a new school of Indian contemporary painting called Kashi Shailee, based on folk art and miniature paintings. Samikshavad Shukla painted many forms and styles of paintings, but he was in search of an indigenous style of modern painting in India, which he developed during his stay in Benaras Hindu University in the year 1974, called Samikshavad. This style is now well known in India. By this style, the artist tends to expose the corruption prevalent in the society and politics, with a language that is symbolic and satirical. Intuitive paintings Shukla's latest experiment (in 2005) has taken a different turn and he now calls his recent paintings intuitive paintings which express his inner spiritual feelings and experiences. These paintings have been made in the new medium of coloured markers and sketch pens. They are small paintings and can be called modern miniature paintings. Personal life Shukla lived in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, with his wife, Kala Rani