Sayed Haider Raza was born in 1922 in Madhya Pradesh and studied painting at the Nagpur School of Art and the Sir JJSchool of Art A founder member of the Progressive Artists' Group Raza participated actively in the Group's activities, stimulated may discussions in the early struggle to develop a modernist language and presented several exhibitions of his paintings in India before leaving for France on a French Government scholarship in 1950 In Paris he studied painting at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts from 1950 to 1953 Awarded the Prix de la Critique in Paris in 1956, Raza has held numerous exhibitions both in India and abroad He has participated in the Venice, Sao Paulo and Menton Biennales He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981 A strong colourist Raza's painting resonate the passionate hot colours of India with all their symbolic, emotive value Raza lives and works in Paris and in Gorbio in south France