Tan Yuan Chameli, was born in Santiniketan in 1940 to Professor Tan Yun-Shan and Chen Nai-Wei. She was named ‘Chameli’ by Rabindranath Tagore. Her artistic journey was profoundly shaped by a synthesis of her Chinese heritage and Tagore’s expansive philosophy. Growing up in Santiniketan, where Indian and Chinese cultural streams intertwined, Chameli’s formative years were steeped in a unique cultural milieu that laid the groundwork for her distinctive artistic vision.

Her education at Patha Bhavana and Kala Bhavana, under the tutelage of such luminaries as Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinkar Baij, further honed her artistic abilities. Graduating with a Diploma in Fine Arts and Crafts in 1960, followed by a B.A. Hons. in Indology in 1964 and an M.A. in Ancient Indian History & Culture in 1966 from Visva-Bharati, Chameli’s academic credentials reflect a robust integration of artistic and intellectual sensibilities.