As many as 16 paintings by luminaries of modern Indian art will be put to display at the prestigious Museum of Fine Arts in Boston next month.

The nine month long exhibition christened "Bharat Ratna! Jewels of Modern Indian Art" would begin on November 14, the museum said in a statement.

The vibrant exhibits, literally ‘Jewels of India’, are some of the finest examples of post-Independence Indian art, will for the first time present the collection of Rajiv Jahangir Chaudhri.

It is also the first exhibition of modern Indian art at Boston’s Museum of Fine Art, and the first exhibition of Indian art at a major American museum in nearly 30 years.

"The Chaudhris have collected some of the most outstanding examples of modernist and contemporary Indian art, which document the evolution of a vibrant and influential artistic period in India," said Malcolm Rogers, Annand Graham Gund Director of the MFA.

"I am a firm believer that the art of all ages and regions is the common heritage of mankind.

Since Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese art are part of my heritage, it follows that I also believe that Indian art is, or should be, part of the heritage of America, Europe and other regions of the world.

Bravo to the MFA for taking the leadership role in this area," Rajiv Chaudhary said.