The Glorification of the Peasantry in S M Sultan's Art

The central tenet of Bangladeshi artist S M Sultan's philosophy and the most recognizable feature of his work is the glorification of the peasantry. Sultan did not paint the farmers and laborers of rural Bengal as the weak, impoverished, or sympathetic figures often depicted in realist traditions. Instead, he bestowed upon them a godlike, heroic stature, rendering them with exaggeratedly muscular, robust, and vital physiques. This artistic choice was a profound philosophical statement, a deliberate act of re-visioning the identity of the toiling masses.

Sultan’s justification for this Herculean portrayal was simple and powerful: the peasant is the true hero of the nation. He believed that the people who work the land—the foundation of the country's survival for millennia—cannot be weak. Their bulging muscles and vigorous torsos were not just anatomical features; they were symbols of the inner strength, ceaseless energy, and indomitable resilience required for the backbreaking struggle with the soil. By giving them this larger-than-life form, Sultan was attempting to empower the oppressed and challenge the dominant societal narrative that relegated them to a lower status. His peasants represented a symbolic force, poised to reclaim their dignity and establish their rights against the oppressive forces of capitalism and modernization. This glorification was thus a utopian vision, an artistic call to action that celebrated the raw, sustaining power of labor and nature, establishing the farmer as the ultimate source of national vitality and the true cornerstone of civilization.

Jibanananda Das

Jibanananda Das (1899–1954) was a preeminent Bengali poet, novelist, and essayist, widely considered the most significant poet of the post-Tagore era and a pioneer of modernist poetry in Bengali literature. Known as the 'Poet of Beautiful Bengal' (Rupashi Banglar Kabi), his works are celebrated for their distinctive lyrical style, vivid nature imagery, and profound exploration of existential themes like loneliness, time, and death. Although he struggled for recognition and faced financial hardship during his lifetime, publishing only a few collections, his most famous poetry collection, Banalata Sen, became a cornerstone of Bengali literature, notable for its blending of realism and romanticism. Much of his vast body of work, including novels and short stories, was discovered and published posthumously, cementing his legacy and immense influence on subsequent generations of Bengali writers. 

The last independent Nawab of Bengal

Siraj-ud-Daulah (1733–1757) was the last independent Nawab of Bengal, ruling for just over a year from 1756 to 1757. A grandson and successor of Alivardi Khan, he was known for his early efforts to check the growing political and military power of the British East India Company, whose unauthorized fortification of Calcutta he opposed. His short reign abruptly ended after his defeat at the Battle of Plassey on June 23, 1757, against the vastly smaller forces of Robert Clive. His loss was not due to a lack of troops, but rather to the betrayal by his own commander-in-chief, Mir Jafar, and other disgruntled court members who had conspired with the British. This defeat and Siraj-ud-Daulah's subsequent execution marked a pivotal moment in Indian history, effectively laying the foundation for nearly two centuries of British colonial rule in Bengal and eventually the entire subcontinent. 

Bose the Great

Satyendra Nath Bose was a brilliant mathematician and physicist, born in 1894. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics, particularly his collaboration with Albert Einstein on the theory of the Bose-Einstein condensate. This led to the concept of "bosons," a class of particles named in his honor, which play a fundamental role in understanding the universe. Bose's contributions profoundly impacted modern physics, shaping our understanding of matter and light.

Matlub Ali Sir

Matlub Ali (1946–2025) was a distinguished Bangladeshi artist, educator, art critic, and writer, revered for his deep connection to the culture and people of Bengal. A long-serving professor at the Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University, he also held key leadership roles as the Dean of the faculty and chairman of several departments. As a painter, his work evolved through various styles, including realism and abstract expressionism, often incorporating folk motifs and natural elements. Beyond painting, Ali was a multifaceted cultural figure: he was a lyricist, notably penning the song 'Laanchito Nipidito Jonotar Joy' in 1971, an author, and a prominent researcher, especially known for his work on Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin.