Jashore Regional Correspondent
Renowned artist SM Sultan’s 96th birth anniversary was observed in a befitting manner at his birth place in Narail on Monday.
SM Sultan foundation and district administration jointly organised the programmes to mark the birth anniversary of the famous artist. The programmes included Quran Khani, Doa-Mahfil, tributes and to seeking eternal blessings for the departed soul. The programmes were held at Sultan’s grave yard at Machhimdia-Kurigram area in Narail Municipality following social distance and hygiene rules.
Narail Deputy Commissioner and Sultan Foundation president Anjuman Ara attended the programmes as the chief guest while Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) MD. Yarul Islam, Sultan Art College’s principal Anadi Bairagi and others were present on the occasion.
Artist Sultan was born at Masumdia in Narail town on 10 august, 1924 and died in Jessore combined Military Hospital on 10 October, 1994.
SM Sultan, won Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Swadhinata Padak in 1993. He was declared the Man of Asia in 1982 by Cambridge University.
Sultan’s artworks were shown in Simla of India in 1946, in Lahore and Karachi in 1948-49 and paintings were exhibited in New York, Boston, London and Michigan university in 1959, long before his exhibition at 4Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1976. He joined the International conference of painters in America in 1950 as the representative of the then Pakistan government.
Sultan hit the headlines in the art world much before he was known as a painter to the people of his home land. Leading a very simple life far from the mmeddling crowd at his village home, the selfless painter spent most of his life completely engrossed in paint and brush. His simple but highly philosophic art revelling nature and people of Bangladesh, has become the prime source of inspiration for the new generation of painters.