Imposter: The Playful Subversions of Orijit Sen

“Sudhanva Deshpande has written an engaging and sweeping narrative about the artist and designer Orijit Sen. He locates Sen in a larger connection between art, design, architecture and politics, tracing it from the  artist-engineers from the Renaissance such as Leonardo, to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, the Russian Revolution, Russian Constructivism with its vision of bringing industry and design to the masses, the little known Soviet design school Vkhutemas, the Bauhaus in Germany, and the establishment of the NID where Sen studied, bringing together Gandhi’s emphasis on rural crafts with Nehru’s vision of an industrialized India. Sen is an iconoclast with a restless creative spirit and deep social commitment which leads him to innovate in everything that he does. I particularly enjoyed reading about his student days, his collaboration with Habib Tanvir and Naya Theatre (to make a film on women’s reproductive health!) and the story of his bohemian shop and adda People Tree.” – Pushpamala N., artist

“It is a flashback to the time when India and we were young. Also, a deep dive into the lives of two extraordinary people, their vision, work, and commitment to the extraordinary project that our country was then. Orijit’s brave and incisive engagement with the India of today, warts and all, jolted me into examining my own actions. Thank you, Sudhanva, for reminding us of the possibilities that still exist.” – Ratna Pathak Shah, actor

“For decades I, like countless others, have been an unabashed admirer of Orijit Sen’s brilliant, fearless, independent voice as an artist. With Imposter, Sudhanva Deshpande gives me the rare opportunity to understand his work, his personality, his moorings and anchors in life and work, articulated in a writing style that is both accessible and deeply insightful and informative.” – Shubha Mudgal, musician

“A vivid chronicle capturing a brave artist-designer’s journey, where ethics and conviction triumph over credentials or commerce. Through reflective, incisive writing, Imposter reveals a creative life shaped by integrity, risk, and an unwavering commitment to personal truth.” – Nina Sabnani, animator & author