Manohar Kaul (1925–1999) was a distinguished Kashmiri painter and art historian, celebrated for his luminous mountain landscapes and profound cultural insight.

A true seeker of color, silence, and inner stillness, he drew deep inspiration from the valley’s dawns, lakes, and snow-lit peaks. His brush wandered where words often could not—capturing fleeting light, ancient memories, and the quiet pulse of nature. Yet, he also turned to words: in essays, editorials, and books, he reflected on art's role, its place in culture, and its power to endure. For him, image and text were not separate, but two voices tracing the same inner journey.

As Acting President and Chairman of AIFACS and editor of Kala Darshan, Kaul nurtured India’s artistic heritage and mentored emerging artists with quiet generosity.

For him, painting was not an escape—it was meditation, remembrance, and an offering to beauty itself.

“His work, first and last, is one of joy, never despair.”