Today is the 29th death anniversary of renowned artist SM Sultan.
S.M. Sultan Foundation and Narail district administration have jointly arranged a daylong programme at Sultan Smriti Sangrahasala, Shishu Swarga and district Shilpakala Academy in the district town.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organised a two-day art exhibition, art camp, children's letter writing exhibition, palagan, puppet drama exhibition and discussion meeting from October 9-10.
The legendary artist was born on August 10, 1924, in Masimdia, Narail. He found interest in drawing and painting at an early age. He dropped out of school due to financial constraints at an early age and began working for his father, who was a mason. After that, Dhirendra Nath Roy, an art-loving zamindar, became the patron of his works and sent him to Government College of Art in Kolkata in 1938. But he decided to leave halfway through the six-year course in 1943.
Known for his exquisite paintings and drawings mostly with nature and the rural people of Bangladesh, Sultan won various awards for his artworks including the Ekushey Padak in 1982. He was entitled the "Man of Asia" in 1982 by Cambridge University and the Bangladesh government declared him "A resident of artist" in 1984.
He died in Jashore Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on October 10, 1994 and was buried at the yard of his own house in Masumdia area of Narail Municipality.
