Usha Rani Hooja
- May 18, 1923
- May 22, 2013
- 90 years
About Usha Rani Hooja
Usha Rani Hooja, 90, Indian sculptor.
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Full Biography
|Usha Rani Hooja (18 May 1923 – 22 May 2013) was a noted sculptor from the Rajasthan state of India. She studied sculpture at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London. She has published a collection of her poems "Song & Sculpture". Her work was the subject of numerous exhibitions.
Career
Usha Rani's career as a sculptor was sparked by a chance encounter soon after her graduation with an MA in philosophy from St. Stephen's. She saw a sculpture class at the Delhi Polytechnic and was immediately seduced. An illness soon afterwards resulted in a long period of rest but this enforced hibernation allowed her to submerge herself in books on sculpture. After the theoretical absorption came the practical – years spent at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London between 1949 and 1954. She frequented Jacob Epstein's Saturday open house and was introduced to the Paris studio of Brancusi.
Life
She married Bhupendra Hooja in 1949. Back in India, the family arrived in Jaipur in 1959 where Usha Rani has devoted her long life to creating works, human and accessible even when in abstract or larger than life-size. Adventurous in the use of new techniques and materials, she has worked in bronze, iron, fibre-glass, concrete, stone, plaster of Paris and scrap metal with initial modeling done in clay, bridging the gap between classical Indian sculpture and modern trends. She was made a Fellow of Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademi in 1990 and received a National Award from the FIE Foundation of Ichalkaranji for Excellence in Sculpture in 1993. In many Indian cities, and in particular Jaipur, Usha Rani's monumental public works have become familiar landmarks. Examples include the Police Memorial in Jaipur and the Garud (Eagle) in Kota.
Awards
- Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship. 1990;
- Rajasthan Shree Award 1982;
- Mewar Foundation Sajjan Singh Award 1985:
- Veteran artist AIFACS Award, 1988.
- FIE Foundation for Excellence in Sculpture in 1993.Ichalkaranji
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usha_Rani_Hooja
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Usha Rani Hooja's archived record and the sources above.
1.Who was the spouse of Usha Rani Hooja?
- A.Constantin Brancusi
- B.Jacob Epstein
- C.Sajjan Singh
- D.Bhupendra Hoojacorrect
Usha Rani Hooja married Bhupendra Hooja in 1949.
Source: life section
2.Which material did Usha Rani Hooja use for initial modeling before creating sculptures?
- A.Concrete
- B.Bronze
- C.Claycorrect
- D.Fibre-glass
Usha Rani Hooja performed her initial modeling in clay before working with other materials like bronze or stone.
Source: life section
3.Which landmark sculpture was created by Usha Rani Hooja in the city of Kota?
- A.The Garud (Eagle)correct
- B.The Rajasthan Shree
- C.The Police Memorial
- D.The Philosopher
The Garud (Eagle) in Kota is a noted monumental public work created by Usha Rani Hooja.
Source: life section
4.What award did Usha Rani Hooja receive in 1982?
- A.Rajasthan Shree Awardcorrect
- B.Sajjan Singh Award
- C.FIE Foundation Award
- D.AIFACS Award
Usha Rani Hooja received the Rajasthan Shree Award in 1982.
Source: awards section
5.Whose Saturday open house did Usha Rani Hooja frequent while in London?
- A.Jacob Epsteincorrect
- B.Sajjan Singh
- C.Constantin Brancusi
- D.Bhupendra Hooja
While studying in London, Usha Rani Hooja frequented the Saturday open house of Jacob Epstein.
Source: career section
6.In what year did Usha Rani Hooja receive the FIE Foundation for Excellence in Sculpture award?
- A.1990
- B.1988
- C.1993correct
- D.1985
Usha Rani Hooja was honored with the FIE Foundation for Excellence in Sculpture award in 1993.
Source: awards section
7.What caused Usha Rani Hooja to stay away from practical work shortly after discovering her passion for sculpture?
- A.An illnesscorrect
- B.Family relocation
- C.Academic studies
- D.Travel to Paris
An illness caused a long period of rest for Usha Rani Hooja, which she used to read books on sculpture.
Source: career section
8.Which award did Usha Rani Hooja receive from the Mewar Foundation in 1985?
- A.Rajasthan Shree
- B.Veteran artist AIFACS Award
- C.Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship
- D.Sajjan Singh Awardcorrect
Usha Rani Hooja received the Mewar Foundation Sajjan Singh Award in 1985.
Source: awards section
9.What is one of the monumental public works by Usha Rani Hooja located in Jaipur?
- A.The Police Memorialcorrect
- B.The Garud
- C.The Paris Studio
- D.The Rajasthan Shree
The Police Memorial in Jaipur is cited as one of the familiar monumental landmarks created by Usha Rani Hooja.
Source: life section
10.What is the date of Usha Rani Hooja's death?
- A.22 May 2013correct
- B.22 May 1993
- C.18 May 1923
- D.18 May 2013
Usha Rani Hooja passed away on 22 May 2013.
Source: biographical introduction
11.On what date was Usha Rani Hooja born?
- A.19 May 1949
- B.22 May 2013
- C.18 May 1923correct
- D.18 May 1993
Usha Rani Hooja was born on 18 May 1923.
Source: biographical introduction
12.What academic degree did Usha Rani Hooja hold before pursuing sculpture?
- A.MA in Fine Arts
- B.MA in History
- C.MA in Philosophycorrect
- D.MA in Literature
Usha Rani Hooja earned an MA in philosophy from St. Stephen's before starting her career as a sculptor.
Source: career section
13.In which city did the family of Usha Rani Hooja settle in 1959?
- A.London
- B.Kota
- C.Delhi
- D.Jaipurcorrect
The family of Usha Rani Hooja arrived in Jaipur in 1959.
Source: life section
14.What is the title of the poetry collection published by Usha Rani Hooja?
- A.Life and Bronze
- B.Song & Sculpturecorrect
- C.Sculpture in India
- D.The Jaipur Works
Usha Rani Hooja published a collection of her poems titled Song & Sculpture.
Source: biographical introduction
15.Which prestigious recognition did Usha Rani Hooja receive in 1990?
- A.Fellow of Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademicorrect
- B.Veteran artist AIFACS Award
- C.Rajasthan Shree Award
- D.Mewar Foundation Sajjan Singh Award
Usha Rani Hooja was made a Fellow of the Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademi in 1990.
Source: life section
16.During which years did Usha Rani Hooja study at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London?
- A.1945–1949
- B.1959–1964
- C.1950–1955
- D.1949–1954correct
Usha Rani Hooja spent years studying at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London between 1949 and 1954.
Source: career section
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