Aristocrat painter,with a warm heart

Sabavala was born into the aristocratic Cowasji Jehangir family in Mumbai in 1922. After dabbling a bit in theatre he did a diploma from the JJ School of Art in 1944 and then went on to study at the Heatherley School of Art,London between 1945 and 47 after which he spent some time in Paris where he was at the Academic Andre Lhote between the late 40s and early 50s. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1977 and more recently he was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Bombay Art Society.

Historian and researcher Sharada Dwivedi remembers him as the most charming person she ever met. He was affectionate and modest and while every gesture and word reflected the bearing of someone from the Cowasji Jehangir line,he was always modest and honest and low-key in that respect, says Dwivedi.