Eminent artist, art educator Syed Asif Ali dies at 54 while on duty in Alake
Mangaluru: Renowned artist and senior art educator Syed Asif Ali passed away following a cardiac arrest in Mangaluru on Monday, January 5, 2026. Ali collapsed while on duty at Mahalasa College of Visual Art, Alake, where he had been serving for nearly three decades. He was 54.
Born on February 8, 1972, in Molakalmuru of Chitradurga district, Ali completed his General Diploma in Fine Art from Ravindra Kalaniketana, Tumakuru, in 1995 and later earned a Master of Visual Art degree from Kannada University, Hampi, in 2008.Ali joined Mahalasa College of Visual Art in 1996 and was heading the Department of Applied Art at the time of his death. Ali was admired as an accomplished artist, he was best known for his vivid, on-location watercolour landscape paintings. As a teacher, he was deeply respected for his close mentorship and personal engagement with students.
During a career spanning over 30 years, Ali participated in several national and regional exhibitions. He featured in the Mysuru Dasara exhibition on ten occasions and took part in Karnataka Lalithakala Academy exhibitions five times, he also conducted and participated in numerous art camps, training young artists across the state.
His contributions to the field were recognised with several prestigious honours, including the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy State Award, the Camlin National Award, and nine Mysuru Dasara Awards.
Ali’s mortal remains were kept for public homage at Mahalasa College of Visual Art and later at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture on Tuesday evening, before being taken to his native Molakalmuru for burial as per tradition.
The Mangaluru chapter of INTACH and the Art Kanara Trust expressed deep condolences over the demise of the veteran artist.
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Ramzan fasts to begin in India from Thursday
New Delhi (PTI): Ramzan fasts will begin on Thursday in India as the crescent moon marking the start of the fasting month was sighted in various parts of the country on Wednesday.
After the sighting of the moon, the holy month begins and for the next 30 days, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
Shahi Imam of Chandni Chowk's Fatehpuri mosque Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed announced that the crescent moon was sighted and the month of fasting will start from February 19.
Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Shaban Bukhari also declared that the moon was sighted.
During this month, a special prayer called Taraweeh are offered in mosques in the evening. In this prayer, the entire Quran is recited and it continues till the sighting of the Eid moon.
Mufti Mukarram has appealed to the Muslim community to "pray as much as possible for the well-being of the 140 crore people of the country".
