An eight-day Sultan Mela honouring world famous artist SM Sultan was inaugurated at the Sultan Mancha on the premises of Narail Government Victoria College yesterday.
Local cultural groups, in association with the Sultan Foundation and district administration, have organised the fair. The Mela will continue until March 4. Sultan Padak will be awarded on the concluding day.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the inauguration ceremony as chief guest while Narail-2 constituency’s MP Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Monir Hossen, Government Victoria College’s Principal Professor Sheikh Anwar Hossen, Sultan Foundation Member Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku and District Lawyer Association President Sohrab Hossain Biswas were present as special guests.
Sultan Foundation President A Gaffar Khan chaired the inauguration session.
A series of colourful events will be featured. These include an art exhibition and competition, a volleyball competition, ox fighting, and traditional games kabadi, lathikhela, kusti, Ha du du, cock fight, dariabandha, ekka dokka, bouchi, and danguli.
A seminar on Sultan’s life and works and various cultural programmes will also be held during the fair.
A total of 100 stalls offering traditional textile and cottage industry products are set up at the venue.
Legendary artist Sultan won Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Swadhinata Padak in 1993. He was declared the Man of Asia in 1982 by Cambridge University. Sultan died on 10 October, 1994 and was buried in the yard of his own house at Masumdia village in Narail.
His very simple but highly philosophic artworks mostly about nature and the people of Bangladesh later became one of the prime sources of inspiration for the new generation of painters.