Altaf was born in 1942 in Baroda, the state of Gujarat, India He trained in the visual arts from numerous art institutions in London, England He was highly influenced by his sister and fellow artist Nasreen Mohammedi He came from wealthy beginnings yet he was inspired greatly by socialist concepts especially Marxist ideologies Throughout his student life he participated in various student organisations actively protesting against several issues including the Vietnam War in the 1970’s These strong beliefs are visually portrayed through his works, touching upon his personal unease in the community as well as his concerns of its social construct He comments on the hardships of the lowest classes of society He comments on death and human sentiments bringing the personal into the social environment He redirects these sentiments in his works by the use of dark colours and stark contrasts The choice of venues for exhibition is novice, bringing the artworks to college campuses, slum areas and the pavements in Mumbai He executed educational projects like ‘Freedom Struggle: 1857-1957’ and ‘History of India Through the Arts’ with the help of the Progressive Youth Movement (PROYOM) He exhibited his works outside the Union Carbide factory on the first anniversary of the tragic Bhopal gas tragedy in 1985 He has held several exhibitions for social causes like Art for Cry as well as exhibiting around the globe Altaf passed away in Mumbai in 2005