Naval Jijina (1929) born in Surat, Gujarat, and now based and practicing in Mumbai, is a painter, photographer and musician who interlays his interests in mythology, music and textile design through painting. His practice of abstract aerial views in impasto defines his oeuvre. He studied at the Sir JJ School of Arts, Bombay from 1956 to 1962 mural painting under Baburao Sadwelkar and colour experimentation under Shankar Palsikar. Like AA Raiba he was given a scholarship for the study of Mural Painting which he successfully completed under Prof. Baburao Sadwelkar. His first solo exhibition was an extensive showing across the three galleries of the Jehangir Art Gallery in 1962 – ‘Life of Zarathustra’, that featured figurative works depicting the epics of Zoroastrianism. When he was an art student at the Nutan Kala Mandir near the French Bridge before joining the Sir JJ School of Arts, Jijina came under the sway of Maharashtrian Classical Music scene. Jijina was influenced by Hindustani Classical Music and had passed his first-year exam in tabla playing under the apprenticeship of Pandit Keki Jijina. He established the ‘Everyman’s Gallery’ in 1968 under the patronship of Dr. Pestonji Behramji Warden on Princess Street to allow artists like him to find a free space for exhibitions. He is a member of the Photographic Society of India and excelled in colour transparencies. Presently he is working on a series of works based on Zoroastrian and Hindu mythologies. His last solo was in 1973, after which he worked as a textile designer for the Bombay Cotton Mills until he lost his job due to the Great Bombay Mills Strike of 1982. He worked as a textile designer in Srinivas Cotton Mills at Lower Parel from where he was retrenched in 1976. Thereafter he joined Lajya Silk Mills but eventually recession in the Textile Industry resulted in the closure of many textile units and Lajya Silk Mills suffered a blow in 1982. He lives and practices with much help, conversation and inspiration from his partner Gool Jijina.