In the annals of art history, Bhabesh Chandra Sanyal, affectionately known as B. C. Sanyal (22 April 1901 – 9 August 2003), stands as a titan of modernism within the Indian artistic landscape. A painter, sculptor, and mentor to three successive generations of artists, Sanyal's legacy reverberates through the corridors of time.

Throughout his illustrious life, Sanyal bore witness to the tumultuous partition of the Indian subcontinent on three occasions—1905, 1947, and 1971—while also traversing the myriad phases of 20th-century Indian art. His oeuvre is adorned with notable works such as "The Flying Scarecrow," "Cow Herd," "Despair," and "Way to Peace," the latter portraying Mahatma Gandhi alongside a Hindu and a Muslim child, encapsulating themes of unity and harmony.

In recognition of his profound contributions to the visual arts, Sanyal was bestowed with the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 1984, along with the Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement by the esteemed Lalit Kala Akademi, India's National Academy of Fine Arts, in 1980.