Prof. M.C. Saxena, the Artist Who Gave Shimla’s Hill Life a Lasting Form, Passes Away at 92

Shimla has lost one of the artists who helped shape its cultural identity. Internationally acclaimed sculptor and artist Prof. Mahesh Chandra Saxena, 92, passed away at his residence following a sudden cardiac arrest.

For generations of residents and visitors, Prof. Saxena’s art was never confined to galleries. His sculptures and murals became part of Shimla itself, capturing the people, livelihoods and traditions of Himachal Pradesh in public spaces.

Among his best-known creations is the iconic ‘Himbala’, or ‘Pahari Woman’, statue at Daulat Singh Park on the historic Ridge. Depicting a hill woman carrying a water pot on her head, the sculpture came to symbolise the simplicity, strength and resilience of mountain life. Over the years, it has also become one of the familiar sights photographed by visitors to Shimla.

His artistic imprint can also be seen along Mall Road, where three cast-stone murals with a bronze finish, created in the early 1980s, depict apple picking, tea-leaf plucking and the life of Gaddi shepherds and pastoral communities. Through these works, Prof. Saxena captured occupations and traditions closely linked with Himachal’s rural economy and cultural heritage.

Originally from Lucknow, Prof. Saxena came to Shimla in the 1960s and eventually made the hill capital his home. His relationship with the region grew into a lifelong artistic journey, with much of his work devoted to documenting the everyday lives and traditions of hill communities.

What distinguished his work was its ability to combine art with cultural memory. His sculptures were not merely decorative installations. They gave a permanent public presence to people and livelihoods that have long defined Himachal Pradesh.

In his later years, Prof. Saxena also spoke strongly about preserving heritage art. He emphasised the need for scientifically sound restoration to protect historic artworks from deterioration and the pressures of urban development.

His passing marks the end of an era for Shimla’s artistic community, but his legacy remains visible across the city. The Himbala statue will continue to overlook the Ridge, while his Mall Road murals will keep telling stories of orchards, tea gardens and pastoral life.

For Shimla, Prof. Saxena may be gone, but the figures he shaped in stone remain part of the city’s collective memory, quietly connecting future generations with the cultural roots of the hills.

What I changed: I reduced repetition, corrected awkward phrasing, strengthened the obituary-style narrative and kept the focus on Prof. Saxena’s most recognisable contribution to Shimla’s cultural landscape.