Biren Shome is a balding man with white long hair loosely tucked behind his ears. Unusually fair complexion for a Bangladeshi. Slender body with an oblong face. Talks fast, as if in a hurry. When I arrived he, wearing a sweater over a full sleeved shirt, was chatting with a group of friends beside the printing room of Dhaka Art Center. As I came in, he guided me to the printing room, where two girls were already working, in search of a quieter atmosphere. As we talked, the girls listened, occasionally asking about the exhibition, which Biren says not many people here know about.
Biren Shome is a now freelance artist in Dhaka. At the time of war, Biren had graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Dhaka University, and just joined as teacher of Botany in the same university.
He fled Bangladesh in April, 1971, fearing the tortures of Pakistani army. Talking about the contribution of exiled artists in India, Biren said that the fund raised from selling the paintings was used by the Bangladesh government to finance the war, and it helped create awareness among people who came to visit the exhibition. Biren claims this exhibition in Kolkata as the first art exhibition of independent Bangladesh. The exhibition was also held in Delhi and Mumbai (then Bombay).
While working in India, many of the exiled artists lived their lives in poverty, but they had a sense of brotherhood amongst themselves at the time of crisis. They did not have any job or a source of income. No matter how little amount of money or food they had, they would share it among themselves. He recalls coming across Quamrul Hasan in Kolkata when he went to meet Chintamoni Kaur about the exhibition to be held there. While in India, these exiled artists were given many privileges. Biren says, “While travelling using public transport or at restaurants, saying Joy Bangla would help us get a free ride or even discounted meals. Everyone knew about the spirit of the two words.” He also recollects that interactions with other artists increased during the war. Biren also came across artist Shahabuddin Ahmad during the war and artists from other fields as well.
After the war ended, the exiled artists came back to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government had announced that those who were working for government organisations had to come back by January 30 or they’d lose their jobs. Nasir Bishhash was among the first ones to return. Biren recalls that being exiled in a foreign country was not a pleasurable experience for anyone.
When Biren went back to his village, he found nothing; everything was burnt to ashes. He and his family lost their house and all belongings. Biren’s family took shelter in Assam during the war. But the war ended, Biren brought them back to their village after three months. During these months, he and brother arranged accommodation taking help from everyone else around.
Exhibition in Exile
Bangladeshi artists participated in an art exhibition in Kolkata’s Birala Academy in September 13, 1971. Through this movement, the brave artists portrayed the genocide taking place in Bangladesh after the horrific events on March 26, 1971.
This helped draw foreign attention to the ongoing massacre in the country.
These rebellious artists also actively contributed by designing logos for the government of Bangladesh and national organisations and also in designing festoons, posters and banners. Artists whose works were displayed in the exhibition, and later in Delhi, include: Mustafa Monwar, Swapan Chowdhury, Quamrul Hassan, Debdas Chakroborty, Nitun Kundu, Kazi Giasuddin and Biren Shome.