Birth Centenary of Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was born on August 22, 1877, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy and Elizabeth Clay Beeby. Unfortunately, his father passed away when he was just two years old, and he was raised by his mother in England. In 1900, he graduated with first-class honors from the University of London and later received a Doctorate of Science degree in Geology from the same university.

From 1903 to 1906, Coomaraswamy served as the Director of the Mineralogical Survey of Sri Lanka. During this time, he made a significant contribution to science with the discovery of thorianite, a cubical mineral with high specific gravity. However, Coomaraswamy’s interests extended far beyond science. He was deeply inspired by the history and culture of India, traveling extensively throughout the country to collect some of the finest specimens of Indian paintings and drawings.

In 1917, Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy joined the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA, as the Keeper for Indian Art, where he remained until 1947. Coomaraswamy was a polymath—a linguist, philosopher, art historian, and critic. With boundless energy, he conducted pioneering work in discovering and documenting thousands of works of art. Among his notable works are “Medieval Sinhalese Art,” “The Arts and Crafts of India and Ceylon,” “Essays in National Idealism,” “The Dance of Shiva,” “A New Approach to the Vedas,” and “Catalogue of Indian Collections in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.”

Ananda Coomaraswamy passed away in Needham, Boston, USA, on September 9, 1947. The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department takes pride in issuing a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the birth centenary of this remarkable and multifaceted personality.