Sridhar Das – The Light Wizard of Chandannagar

The Light Wizard of Chandannagar

"Where passion meets excellence"

Sridhar Das

When we speak of Chandannagar, one phrase immediately comes to mind – “City of Lights.” Behind this glowing identity stands the genius of one man: Sridhar Das, the master innovator who transformed the art of illumination into a cultural hallmark of Bengal and showcased it to the world.

Early Life and First Spark

Sridhar Das’s journey began humbly during his school days at Narua Siksha Niketan. While still in Class VII, he was entrusted with decorating for a Saraswati Puja. With a mere Rs. 10, he used empty barley tins, colored cellophane sheets, small bulbs, and clever wiring to create lights that flickered one after another in sequence.

This was more than a decoration — it was the birth of what would later become “running lights”, a revolutionary concept that would animate Chandannagar’s pujas for decades.

Rise of a Pioneer

The year 1965 marked a turning point. Sridhar Das introduced dynamic light arches and motion effects for Jagadhatri Puja in Chandannagar. Though his early attempts met resistance, perseverance soon paid off. His bold experiments caught public imagination, and soon his designs became the highlight of puja pandals not just in Chandannagar but also in Kolkata and beyond.

By the 1970s, Sridhar Das was a household name in the illumination circuit. His unique ability to turn strings of bulbs into moving stories gave life to festivals and set Chandannagar apart from every other town in Bengal.

Inventions and Innovations

What made Sridhar Das legendary was not just his artistry but his ingenious inventions:

• Running Lights: Sequential lighting that created motion — birds flapping wings, dancers moving, rivers flowing — all using bulbs and simple circuits.
• Mechanical Control System: A wooden cylinder wrapped with copper strips, attached to a motor, acted as an early controller for synchronizing light patterns.
• Large-Scale Panels: He designed giant illuminated tableaux, often telling stories from folklore, current affairs, and even international themes.
• Floating “Mayurpankhi”: Perhaps his most iconic creation, a Mayurpankhi (peacock-shaped boat) made of lights, which floated on the Thames in London in 2003. This masterpiece earned him a certificate from the Mayor of London.

His works proved that light could be both an art and a language — a medium to narrate, enchant, and mesmerize.

International Recognition

• He created 10 massive panels (20 ft × 12 ft each) for the Festival of India in Russia.
• His Mayurpankhi on the Thames became a symbol of Indo-British cultural exchange.
• Numerous exhibitions and festivals across India adopted his lighting style, making him a pioneer of modern illumination art.

Legacy and Influence

Today, Chandannagar’s illumination industry employs thousands of artisans and powers festivals across Bengal. From Durga Puja in Kolkata to Jagadhatri Puja in Chandannagar, light panels remain the most awaited attraction.

Yet, Sridhar Das has often voiced concern that the shift to LED and commercial tendering has tilted the balance towards business over artistry. For him, lighting was never just commerce — it was craft, creativity, and devotion.

Despite these changes, his innovations laid the foundation for everything that followed. Younger generations of light-makers — from local artisans to global designers — continue to acknowledge him as their guiding star.

Chandannagar’s Gift to the World

Sridhar Das’s story is not just about one man’s brilliance. It is the story of how a town reinvented itself through creativity. His life’s work transformed Chandannagar into an international hub of festival illumination and gifted Bengal one of its brightest cultural legacies.

Even today, when a dazzling arch or animated light panel brings crowds to silence and awe, somewhere in the glow lives the spirit of Sridhar Das — the Light Wizard of Chandannagar.