[1][2][3] Tej Bahadur was born in Lalitpur as a second son to Shivadas and Ashamati in the chitrakar caste of Newar community.

The extraordinary family background and his own talent since his early childhood led him to the Government college of Fine Art in 1918 at Calcutta (now Kolkata) as one of the earliest Nepali to receive the degree in Fine Art with distinction in portraiture in Oil in 1927.

Many of his enduring paintings today are in the collection of prestigious Art galleries worldwide.

In 2009, the Postal Services Department, Government of Nepal issued a commemorative postage stamp (Denomination – Rs.

15) depicting a portrait of Tej Bahadur Chitrakar to honor his contribution to the development of art in Nepal.