A Bengali painter born in 1902, Sushil Sarkar was celebrated for his significant contributions to both art and art education in India As an early modernist, Sarkar was part of a pioneering community known for integrating diverse artistic practices While his works often depicted traditional Indian figures, they were marked by a range of stylistic influences, from the Bengal School to the emerging Modernist movement

Sarkar is particularly acclaimed for his transformative role at the Government School of Art and Craft in Chandigarh (formerly located in Shimla until 1960), where he served as Principal from 1959 to 1975 He was dedicated to enhancing the quality of education and training at the institution, encouraging students to explore innovative ideas, practices, and techniques Sarkar invited renowned artists and art critics for lectures, screened documentaries and films on art history, and promoted the institution through journals such as The Illustrated Weekly of India and Advance His initiatives were crucial in sustaining and advancing the art school during a period of financial and institutional challenges