On October 5, 2022, I had the opportunity to visit the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Museum located in Mymensingh. I was staying at Saheb Quarters, Kanchijhuli for four days on office related work. That day I was very eager to know and try to find Zainul Abedin’s famous painting ‘Santal couple’, ‘Santali woman’ etc.; So that I can see with my own eyes. The official in charge of the museum said that the original paintings are in Dhaka. Valuable paintings have been shifted from here long ago. In desperation, I probably wrote in the visitor’s book, ‘No painting of Santals in sight, very angry and disappointed after visiting the museum.’ That is, as an indigenous Santal, even after spending money to reach the famous painter Zainul Abedin Museum in Mymensingh, he felt unwelcome. Zainul Abedin’s immortal feats left me unsatisfied.
Famous artist Zainul Abedin’s painting ‘Santal Couple’, dated 2024 AD, was recently sold at a record price. Paintings by artist Zainul Abedin in New York were auctioned by Sodeby’s on March 18. The auction was organized under the title Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art. The Santal couple’s photo was estimated to be between one and a half million US dollars, but it was sold for $381,000 (Tk 4,176,533 in Bangladeshi currency). This is the record for the highest price sold for an artwork by a Bangladeshi artist.
According to art experts, the painting has gained recognition in the global market. Professor Nisar Hossain of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts said, ‘Unfortunately, no painting by a Bangladeshi artist has been sold at such a price.’
Santal rural couples are seen walking barefoot wearing traditional conical hats (Mathal in rural language, meaning made of bamboo or cane). ‘Santal couple’ was first painted by Zainul Abedin in oil on wooden panel in 1951 AD. Later he also made several versions of the film. Painted in oil in 1963, the 102 cm wide and 135.5 cm long painting bears Zainul’s signature. On the one hand, as an artist, he has been awarded as Shilpacharya i.e. art guru or teacher for highlighting the soil, water, people, history of Bengal in all his paintings and on the other hand for institutionalizing the art of this country.
According to Sodeby’s website, the ‘Santal Couple’ painting was previously owned by the family of Zainul’s close friends, Pakistani diplomat and commentator Jamshed K Marker and Diana J Marker; which Zainul himself gave them.’ It is known that the artist Zainul Abedin often visited the house of the Marker couple, at that time he introduced several famous artists of South Asia including the artist Rashid Chowdhury to the Marker couple. Previously, in 2018, another painting from Zainul Abedin’s Santal series was sold for 1.5 crore in Bangladeshi currency at Christie’s in New York.
Barrister Syed Syedul Haque Suman MP (Habiganj-4, Madhavpur-Chunarughat) has witnessed a milestone event. The charisma he has shown in the Yatri Chauni in his constituency is certainly admirable. Abandoned and abandoned traveler camp has highlighted the culture, language, lifestyle of the tribals to attract the tourists and give them a fair idea. The traveler has decorated the tent in the form of two women standing on the brink of extinction. Reportedly, these two are the last people to speak the Kharia language; After that no one will listen to the conversation in Kharia language. There are several tea gardens in the Madhavpur-Chunarughat area, Santal, Urao, Oriya, Mua, Kharia and other small indigenous ethnic groups live in the tea gardens.
Everyone has a unique culture and tradition. There are also differences in community-based food, clothing, dance, music and relationships. And to highlight the richness of the culture in Selksha, some idea is found on the wall of Jatra Chauni. Tried to stir the psyche of the tourists by presenting such an image of the tribals living in the tea plantations dressed in their own clothes, equipped with musical instruments and happily becoming Matwaras. It can be said with some emphasis that there are some tribal ethnic groups living in Madhavpur-Chunarughat area, but the local people are not aware of it. Adivasi festivals can be made more universal and engaging, as is happening in the hill areas. Awakening the lost culture, festivals, parbans of the tribals will increase the tourism industry and not reduce it.
MP Mr. Yatri set an example of language recognition and patriotism by writing ‘Amar Sonar Bangla I love you’ in 6 tribal languages (Santal, Urano, Oriya, Mu-a, Kharia) including Bengali. The tribals of the tea plantations also jumped into the liberation war with immense courage in the great liberation war. The names of the tribals are still echoing in the monuments carved in Teliapara. Wrote in Saotali language, ‘Ohadhash sharahadht idhhamshadh, oh far dhsarah phansdhatbhasab sdhahdhh. In Mu-a language, ‘Our golden bangla, we don’t love you’. In the Kharia language, ‘Inar Sonar Bangla, In Amte Bhawalsayate Din’, in Oriya and Oriya respectively.
Its role in inspiring the love of the people of the respective community for the language will make them irresistible. Sometimes it is felt that the mother tongue of the tribals is undesirable, showing that spirit and understanding, Mr. MP established the greatness of love for language. Language survives only by creating endless opportunities to protect, nurture, preserve and practice the mother tongue created by God. Barrister Syed Syedul Haque Sumon MP is exploring the resources of the chosen area, which has been neglected and neglected for so long. I believe that his efforts will increase the use of local resources, because there is compassion, compassion and love in using one’s own resources.
Tribals live in the whole of Bangladesh, especially the tribals in the northern region are backward in recognition, education, development or developing a rich culture. Habiganj-4 Constituency’s Member of Parliament, on his own initiative, the initiative suggested by the urge of beauty, is an encouraging example for others. The area will be fragrant if you love the flowers of beauty by energizing the side of the natives. Love the Adivasis, the Adivasis will love you wholeheartedly.
[লেখক : কলামিস্ট]
