Synopsis 'The fulfilment of a modern Indian artist's wish to be a part of a living tradition, i.e. to be individual and innovative, without being an outsider in his own culture, will not come of itself, it calls for concerted effort.' K. G. Subramanyan, the eminent Indian artist , offers a theoretical groundwork for that effort in his critical study of modern Indian art as it has evolved through continuous interaction with several traditions, foreign and indigenous. In the course of his study, he touches on the natural distinctions between India's folk tradition, and on the attempts of several thinkers and artists to identify an Indian artistic tradition or to deny it altogether in a quest for personal expression or universality. A generous selection of illustrations accompanies the text and greatly contributes to the enjoyment and understanding of Subramanyan's discourse.