99th birth anniversary of SM Sultan today

The 99th birth anniversary of eminent artist SM Sultan will be celebrated in Narail today, Thursday(10 August). Narail district administration and SM Sultan Foundation have jointly taken initiatives with various programmes to observe the the day.

The programmes include discussion on the life of the artist and the art competition, placing floral wreaths at the grave of the late artist, Qur’an khwani and the prayer session, said Narail deputy commissioner Mohammad Ashfaqul Haque Chowdhury.  

SM Sultan was born at Machimdia village at Narail Sadar, in what was then Jessore district, on August 10, 1924. 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, Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, popularly known as 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.

Sultan returned to Dhaka in the mid-1950s with the dream of establishing an art movement that would represent the tradition of the region.

But, he had to struggle throughout his life to reach his goal.

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.

SM Sultan passed away at Combined Military Hospital in Jashore on October 10, 1994. He was buried in his family graveyard at Machimmdia in Narail Municipality.