Benoy K. Behl: Ajanta is not just art, it’s a philosophy of life

In the dark interiors of the Ajanta caves, where light barely reaches the frescoed walls, filmmaker, photographer and art historian Benoy K. Behl discovered not just ancient paintings, but an entire philosophy of life.

He spoke about this journey at a recent illustrated lecture at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). The lecture was organised in memory of nuclear scientist M.R. Srinivasan and presented by his daughter, Sharada Srinivasan, professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.

Tracing his path through photographs, Benoy explained how his work led him from the darkness of nuclear-reactor buildings to the ancient caves and temples of India. At Ajanta, he said, the challenge of capturing art in near-total darkness revealed more than pigments on stone — it revealed ideas about existence, harmony, and time.

The session combined visuals from his decades of documentation with reflections on how India’s ancient sites continue to offer insights into living and seeing the world.