This award was very useful in allowing me to develop a wide range of knowledge about the history and future prospects of the National Museum, and had a great impact on my career. The findings have been communicated to my colleagues in the National Museum and elsewhere.

This award was given to me when a student in MS University Baroda. It was timely and helped me to be more articulate by using photographs, travelling to Mumbai to meet the late K K Hebbar. My document was the first critical assessment of the artist and was published in Bangalore (where I was then Lecturer at Chritakala Parishath, in the local language Kannada.

At the time I received the award, I had already crossed the first phase of my career. Looking for some encouragement or motivation to start afresh. At an individual level the award provided a psychological boost allowing me to work with a new zeal. The research that I carried out has had both an impact on my career and professional inclination. Earlier I was a self-centered artist pursuing my own creative urges. However this project has opened new vistas and changed my perspective towards the utility of art.