While he led an ordinary life, his creative sensibility spawned one work after another. Today, the artist's family has donated about 700 of his works to the NGMA, including about 100 paintings. "They are 50-60 years old," explains his daughter, "and are in urgent need of chemical treatment and preservation which was not possible here." For many art lovers, Maharathi's works will be a delayed revelation. But the exhibition, which continues till September 15, certainly manifests the artist's eclectic temperament and innovative vision. The reason for these isn't hard to trace. Having joined the Calcutta School of Art in 1925 and studied there till 1931, he was deeply influenced by the artistic idiom of the Bengal School. And, several other influences contributed to the process of his artistic growth: for instance, Orissa's folk art and culture, Madhubani paintings, the tribal art of Chhotanagpur. Then there was Bose himself, who had a significant presence in the area of handicrafts. This played a major role in shaping Maharathi's vision while he worked for the promotion and preservation of folk arts.