SM Sultan’s birth centenary Thursday

Thursday (August 10) is the 100th birth anniversary of legendary artist Sheikh Mohammed Sultan, popularly known as SM Sultan.

Thursday (August 10) is the 100th birth anniversary of legendary artist Sheikh Mohammed Sultan, popularly known as SM Sultan.

SM Sultan was born in a poor family at Masumdia in Narail town on August 10, 1923.

He was unable to continue school education due to lack of money at an early age and began working with his father, who was a mason.

He used to engage himself in drawing and painting while he was a child. Patronised by Dhirendra Nath Roy, an art-loving zamindar of the village in which he lived, SM Sultan went to study art at the government art college in Kolkata but decided to leave it in 1943, halfway through the six-year course.

He used to live in Jashore town at one stage of his life.

He is well known for his canvases populated with robust peasants, glorifying the inner spirit of the native folks, eking out a collective life amid nature.

In 1950, SM Sultan represented Pakistan at an international conference of artists in the USA. His works were displayed in Simla, Lahore, Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington, London and in many other places.

He received many awards, including Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Independence Award in 1993. Bangladesh government declared him resident artist in 1984.

He died in Jashore Combined Military Hospital on October 10 in 1994 and was buried at the yard of his own house in Masumdia-Kurigram area of Narail municipality.

Different socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.   

Narail district administration and SM Sultan Foundation have jointly taken up various programmes to mark the day.