Zainul Abedin (29 December, 1914-28 May, 1976) was a Bangladeshi painter. He had an extraordinary talent and was internationally recognized for his paintings. He became well known in 1944 through his series of paintings on the great man-made famine in Bengal during British Colonial rule.

He played a vital role in the art movement in Bangladesh and was the founding Principal of the Government Institute of Arts (Now Faculty of Fine Arts) at University of Dhaka. His paintings on Bengal Famine are considered as his most characteristic works. His homeland honoured him with the title ‘Shilpacharya’, or the great teacher of arts for his artistic and visionary qualities. He was a pioneer of the modern art movement and was rightly considered as the founding father of Bangladeshi modern arts.

Abedin was born in Kishoregonj on 29 December, 1914. He spent most of his childhood near the scenic banks of the Brahmaputra River. The river and the open nature inspired him from his early life. The Brahmaputra later appeared in many of his paintings and remained a great source of inspiration throughout his career. As his tribute to the river Brahmaputra, he drew a series of water colour paintings in this regard. This helped him earn Governor’s Gold Medal in all India Exhibition in 1938. This was the first time when he came under spotlight and this award gave Abedin the confidence to create his own visual style.

Abedin got admitted to the Government School of Art in Calcutta (Now Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, India). Here he learned European academic style for five years. Later he joined the faculty of the same school after his graduation. He was the first Muslim student to obtain ‘First Class’ with distinction from the school. In 1951, Zainul went to London to study at Slade School of Art for two years. From the dissatisfaction of oriental style and the limitations of European academic style, he was attracted to realism. After his return from London, he started a new style called “Bengali Style’. Later he realized the limitations of ‘Bengali Style’. Therefore, he went back to nature, rural life and the daily struggles of men to make art that would be realistic but modern in appearance.

In 1943, he painted a series of sketches on the man-made famine, which had spread throughout Bengal. The famine killed thousands of people. The devastating famine touched his heart. He used Chinese ink and brush and drew sketches of the devastations of the famine on cheap packing paper. The series of those sketches are known as ‘Famine Sketches’. Through those sketches, he drew the helplessness and deprivation of the poor people, their miseries and death without having food. He painted those starving people who were dying by the roadside. These sketches are his most remarkable works, which spread his name and fame around the world as a famous and humanitarian artist. Abedin not only documented the famine but also showed its sinister face through skeletal figures of people fated to die of starvation. He depicted the inhuman story with very human emotions. These drawings became iconic images of human sufferings. These sketches helped him to find his way into a realistic approach that focused on human sufferings, struggle and protest. Through a 65 feet scroll, he depicted the mass movement of 1969 and with a 30 feet scroll painting called ‘Monpura’; he showed the devastating cyclone of 1970 and the sufferings of the people. Through the later sketch, he remembered the people who died in that calamity.

In 1975, Zainul Abedin set up a folk museum at Sonargaon and a gallery in Mymensingh named Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Museum. He became actively involved in a movement to preserve the heritage of Bengal and reintroduce Bengal art from the roots of Bengali culture. He passed away on 28 May, 1976 in Dhaka.

 

জয়নুল আবেদীন (২৯ ডিসেম্বর, ১৯১৪২৮ মে, ১৯৭৬) ছিলেন একজন বাংলাদেশী চিত্রশিল্পী। তিনি অসাধারণ প্রতিভার অধিকারী ছিলেন এবং তাঁর চিত্রকর্মের জন্য আন্তর্জাতিকভাবে স্বীকৃত ছিলেন। ১৯৪৪ সালে ব্রিটিশ ঔপনিবেশিক শাসনামলে বাংলার মনুষ্যসৃষ্ট দুর্ভিক্ষের উপর তাঁর চিত্রসিরিজের মাধ্যমে তিনি ব্যাপক পরিচিতি লাভ করেন।

তিনি বাংলাদেশের শিল্প আন্দোলনে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করেছিলেন এবং ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সরকারি চারুকলা ইনস্টিটিউটের (বর্তমান চারুকলা অনুষদ) প্রতিষ্ঠাতা অধ্যক্ষ ছিলেন। বাংলার দুর্ভিক্ষের উপর তাঁর চিত্রকর্মগুলোকে তাঁর সবচেয়ে বৈশিষ্ট্যপূর্ণ কাজ হিসেবে বিবেচনা করা হয়। শিল্পগত দূরদর্শী গুণাবলীর জন্য তাঁর মাতৃভূমি তাঁকেশিল্পাচার্যবা শিল্পের মহান শিক্ষক উপাধিতে ভূষিত করে। তিনি আধুনিক শিল্প আন্দোলনের অগ্রদূত ছিলেন এবং ন্যায্যভাবে বাংলাদেশী আধুনিক শিল্পের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা পিতা হিসেবে বিবেচিত হন।

আবেদীন ১৯১৪ সালের ২৯ ডিসেম্বর কিশোরগঞ্জে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। তিনি তাঁর শৈশবের বেশিরভাগ সময় ব্রহ্মপুত্র নদের চিত্রনীয় তীরে কাটিয়েছেন। নদী উন্মুক্ত প্রকৃতি তাঁর শৈশব থেকেই তাঁকে অনুপ্রাণিত করত। ব্রহ্মপুত্র পরবর্তীতে তাঁর অনেক চিত্রকর্মে ফুটে উঠেছে এবং তাঁর পুরো কর্মজীবনজুড়ে এটি অনুপ্রেরণার একটি বড় উৎস ছিল। ব্রহ্মপুত্র নদের প্রতি শ্রদ্ধা নিবেদন করে তিনি বিষয়ে এক সিরিজ জলরঙের চিত্র অঙ্কন করেছিলেন। এটি তাঁকে ১৯৩৮ সালে সর্বভারতীয় প্রদর্শনীতে গভর্নর গোল্ড মেডেল অর্জনে সাহায্য করে। এটি ছিল প্রথমবার যখন তিনি স্পটলাইটের নিচে আসেন এবং এই পুরস্কার আবেদীনকে তাঁর নিজস্ব দৃশ্যশৈলী সৃষ্টির আত্মবিশ্বাস দিয়েছিল।

আবেদীন কলকাতার সরকারি আর্ট স্কুলে (বর্তমানে সরকারি কলেজ অফ আর্ট অ্যান্ড ক্রাফট, কলকাতা, ভারত) ভর্তি হন। এখানে তিনি পাঁচ বছর ইউরোপীয় একাডেমিক শৈলী শিখেছিলেন। পরবর্তীতে স্নাতক শেষ করে তিনি একই স্কুলের অনুষদে যোগ দেন। তিনি স্কুল থেকেফার্স্ট ক্লাসসহ ডিস্টিংশন অর্জনকারী প্রথম মুসলিম ছাত্র ছিলেন। ১৯৫১ সালে জয়নুল দুই বছর পড়াশোনার জন্য লন্ডনের স্লেড স্কুল অফ আর্টে যান। প্রাচ্য শৈলীর অসন্তুষ্টি এবং ইউরোপীয় একাডেমিক শৈলীর সীমাবদ্ধতা থেকে তিনি বাস্তবতার প্রতি আকৃষ্ট হন। লন্ডন থেকে ফিরে আসার পর তিনিবাংলা শৈলীনামে একটি নতুন শৈলী শুরু করেন। পরবর্তীতে তিনিবাংলা শৈলী‘-এর সীমাবদ্ধতা উপলব্ধি করেন। তাই তিনি শিল্প তৈরি করার জন্য প্রকৃতি, গ্রামীণ জীবন এবং মানুষের দৈনন্দিন সংগ্রামের দিকে ফিরে গিয়েছিলেন যা বাস্তব কিন্তু আধুনিক চেহারার হবে।

১৯৪৩ সালে, তিনি মনুষ্যসৃষ্ট দুর্ভিক্ষের উপর এক সিরিজ স্কেচ আঁকেন, যা সমগ্র বাংলায় ছড়িয়ে পড়েছিল। দুর্ভিক্ষে হাজার হাজার মানুষ মারা যায়। ধ্বংসাত্মক দুর্ভিক্ষ তাঁর হৃদয় স্পর্শ করেছিল। তিনি চীনা কালি ব্রাশ ব্যবহার করেছিলেন এবং সস্তা প্যাকিং পেপারে দুর্ভিক্ষের ধ্বংসযজ্ঞের স্কেচ আঁকেন। এই স্কেচগুলোর সিরিজটিফেমিন স্কেচেসনামে পরিচিত। এই স্কেচগুলোর মাধ্যমে তিনি দরিদ্র মানুষের অসহায়ত্ব বঞ্চনা, তাদের দুর্ভোগ এবং খাদ্য ছাড়া মৃত্যু আঁকেন। তিনি সেই ক্ষুধার্ত মানুষদের আঁকেন যারা রাস্তার পাশে মৃত্যুবরণ করছিল। এই স্কেচগুলো তাঁর সবচেয়ে উল্লেখযোগ্য কাজ, যা একজন বিখ্যাত মানবতাবাদী শিল্পী হিসেবে তাঁর নাম খ্যাতি সারা বিশ্বে ছড়িয়ে দেয়। আবেদীন শুধু দুর্ভিক্ষকে নথিভুক্ত করেননি বরং অনাহারে মৃত্যুর জন্য নিয়ত মানুষের কঙ্কালসার চিত্রের মাধ্যমে এর ভয়াবহ চেহারাও দেখিয়েছিলেন। তিনি অমানবিক গল্পকে খুবই মানবিক আবেগের সাথে চিত্রিত করেছিলেন। এই অঙ্কনগুলো মানবিক দুর্ভোগের প্রতীকী চিত্র হয়ে উঠেছিল। এই স্কেচগুলো তাঁকে মানবিক দুর্ভোগ, সংগ্রাম প্রতিবাদে কেন্দ্রিত বাস্তববাদী পদ্ধতিতে তাঁর পথ খুঁজে পেতে সাহায্য করেছিল। একটি ৬৫ ফুট স্ক্রলের মাধ্যমে তিনি ১৯৬৯ সালের গণআন্দোলন চিত্রিত করেছিলেন এবংমনপুরানামে একটি ৩০ ফুট স্ক্রল পেইন্টিংয়ের মাধ্যমে তিনি ১৯৭০ সালের ধ্বংসাত্মক ঘূর্ণিঝড় মানুষের দুর্ভোগ দেখিয়েছিলেন। পরবর্তী স্কেচের মাধ্যমে তিনি সেই দুর্যোগে নিহত মানুষদের স্মরণ করেছিলেন।

১৯৭৫ সালে, জয়নুল আবেদীন সোনারগাঁয়ে একটি লোকজাদুঘর এবং ময়মনসিংহে শিল্পাচার্য জয়নুল আবেদীন সংগ্রহশালা নামে একটি গ্যালারি প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন। তিনি বাংলার ঐতিহ্য সংরক্ষণ এবং বাংলার শিল্পকে বাংলা সংস্কৃতির শিকড় থেকে পুনরায় চালু করার আন্দোলনে সক্রিয়ভাবে জড়িত হন। তিনি ১৯৭৬ সালের ২৮ মে ঢাকায় মৃত্যুবরণ করেন।

Vocabulary Box: Zainul Abedin

Words

Bangla

Synonyms

Antonyms

Painter (noun)

চিত্রশিল্পী

artist, illustrator

Extraordinary (adj)

অসাধারণ

exceptional, remarkable

ordinary, average

Famine (noun)

দুর্ভিক্ষ

starvation, food crisis

abundance, plenty

Vital (adj)

অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ

essential, crucial

unimportant, trivial

Characteristic (adj/noun)

বৈশিষ্ট্যময় / বৈশিষ্ট্য

typical, distinctive

uncharacteristic

Pioneer (noun)

অগ্রদূত

forerunner, trailblazer

follower

Scenic (adj)

দৃশ্যমান সুন্দর

picturesque, charming

dull, unpleasant

Inspiration (noun)

অনুপ্রেরণা

motivation, stimulation

discouragement

Spotlight (noun)

আলোচনার কেন্দ্রবিন্দু

limelight, public attention

obscurity, anonymity

Distinction (noun)

শ্রেষ্ঠতা বা পার্থক্য

honor, excellence

inferiority, insignificance

Realism (noun)

বাস্তবতাবাদ

practicality, authenticity

fantasy, illusion

Deprivation (noun)

বঞ্চনা

hardship, denial

abundance, wealth

Devastation (noun)

ধ্বংস

destruction, ruin

restoration, recovery

Helplessness (noun)

অসহায়ত্ব

powerlessness, vulnerability

strength, self-reliance

Starvation (noun)

অনাহার

hunger, famine

nourishment, plenty

Iconic (adj)

প্রতীকী / বিখ্যাত

symbolic, legendary

obscure, unknown

Suffering (noun)

দুর্ভোগ

pain, distress

comfort, relief

Protest (noun/verb)

প্রতিবাদ

objection, resistance

approval, support

Heritage (noun)

ঐতিহ্য

tradition, legacy

modernity, novelty

Calamity (noun)

দুর্যোগ

disaster, catastrophe

blessing, good fortune

 

Here are 50 multiple-choice questions based on the passage about Zainul Abedin:

  1. Zainul Abedin was a: (a) Poet (b) Musician (c) Painter (d) Writer
  2. When was Zainul Abedin born? (a) 28 May, 1976 (b) 29 December, 1914 (c) 1944 (d) 1938
  3. When did Zainul Abedin pass away? (a) 29 December, 1914 (b) 28 May, 1976 (c) 1943 (d) 1969
  4. Zainul Abedin became well known in 1944 for his paintings on: (a) Beautiful landscapes (b) The great man-made famine in Bengal (c) Traditional festivals (d) Portraits of kings
  5. What kind of talent did Zainul Abedin possess? (a) Musical (b) Extraordinary (c) Athletic (d) Literary
  6. In which country was Zainul Abedin internationally recognized for his paintings? (a) India (b) Bangladesh (c) United Kingdom (d) Pakistan
  7. What vital role did Zainul Abedin play in Bangladesh? (a) In politics (b) In the art movement (c) In sports (d) In education only
  8. What institution was Zainul Abedin the founding Principal of? (a) University of Dhaka (b) Government School of Art in Calcutta (c) Government Institute of Arts (Now Faculty of Fine Arts) (d) Slade School of Art
  9. What are Zainul Abedin’s paintings on Bengal Famine considered? (a) His early experiments (b) His least known works (c) His most characteristic works (d) His abstract paintings
  10. What title did his homeland honour Zainul Abedin with? (a) Bangabandhu (b) Jatiya Kobi (c) Shilpacharya (d) Deshratna
  11. What does ‘Shilpacharya’ mean? (a) The great leader (b) The great teacher of arts (c) The great painter (d) The great freedom fighter
  12. Zainul Abedin was a pioneer of which movement? (a) The classical art movement (b) The folk art movement (c) The modern art movement (d) The impressionist movement
  13. Zainul Abedin is rightly considered as the founding father of: (a) Bengali literature (b) Bangladeshi modern arts (c) Indian classical music (d) Pakistani drama
  14. Where was Zainul Abedin born? (a) Dhaka (b) Mymensingh (c) Sonargaon (d) Kishoregonj
  15. Most of Zainul Abedin’s childhood was spent near the banks of which river? (a) Padma River (b) Meghna River (c) Brahmaputra River (d) Jamuna River
  16. What inspired Zainul Abedin from his early life? (a) City life (b) The river and the open nature (c) Famous paintings (d) Academic books
  17. The Brahmaputra River remained a great source of inspiration for Abedin throughout his: (a) Childhood (b) Education (c) Career (d) Retirement
  18. What kind of paintings did Abedin draw as a tribute to the Brahmaputra River? (a) Oil paintings (b) Acrylic paintings (c) Water colour paintings (d) Sketch pen drawings
  19. Which award did Zainul Abedin earn in the All India Exhibition in 1938? (a) Lifetime Achievement Award (b) Governor’s Gold Medal (c) National Art Prize (d) People’s Choice Award
  20. What did the 1938 award give Abedin? (a) Money (b) A job (c) The confidence to create his own visual style (d) An opportunity to travel
  21. Where did Abedin first get admitted to study art? (a) Slade School of Art (b) Government School of Art in Calcutta (c) Dhaka University (d) Lahore Art College
  22. How many years did Abedin learn European academic style in Calcutta? (a) Two years (b) Three years (c) Five years (d) Ten years
  23. After graduation, Abedin joined the faculty of: (a) A new art school (b) The same school in Calcutta (c) A different university (d) A private studio
  24. What distinction did Zainul Abedin achieve at the Government School of Art in Calcutta? (a) He was the youngest student. (b) He was the first Muslim student to obtain ‘First Class’ with distinction. (c) He became the principal immediately. (d) He won an international competition there.
  25. In which year did Zainul Abedin go to London to study at Slade School of Art? (a) 1938 (b) 1943 (c) 1951 (d) 1975
  26. How long did Zainul Abedin study at Slade School of Art in London? (a) One year (b) Two years (c) Five years (d) Ten years
  27. What artistic style was Zainul Abedin attracted to after feeling dissatisfaction with Oriental and European academic styles? (a) Impressionism (b) Cubism (c) Realism (d) Abstract art
  28. What new style did Zainul Abedin start after his return from London? (a) London Style (b) Modern Style (c) Bengali Style (d) Realistic Style
  29. After realizing the limitations of ‘Bengali Style’, Abedin went back to drawing art based on: (a) Historical events and myths (b) Nature, rural life and the daily struggles of men (c) Only abstract concepts (d) Only still life
  30. In what year did Zainul Abedin paint a series of sketches on the man-made famine? (a) 1914 (b) 1938 (c) 1943 (d) 1970
  31. What material did Zainul Abedin use for his Famine Sketches? (a) Oil paints on canvas (b) Chinese ink and brush on cheap packing paper (c) Charcoal on fine art paper (d) Acrylics on wood
  32. What are the sketches on the Bengal Famine known as? (a) Bengal Sketches (b) Hunger Series (c) Famine Sketches (d) Suffering Art
  33. What did the Famine Sketches depict? (a) Happy village scenes (b) Helplessness, deprivation, miseries, and death of poor people (c) Rich people enjoying food (d) Landscapes and rivers
  34. How did Zainul Abedin portray the starving people in his Famine Sketches? (a) As strong and resilient (b) Dying by the roadside (c) Working in fields (d) Eating healthy meals
  35. The Famine Sketches spread Zainul Abedin’s name and fame around the world as a famous and: (a) Political leader (b) Commercial artist (c) Humanitarian artist (d) Architect
  36. What did Abedin show through the skeletal figures in the famine sketches? (a) Happy villagers (b) The sinister face of the famine (c) Beautiful human anatomy (d) Dancers
  37. What did the famine drawings become iconic images of? (a) Delicious food (b) Human sufferings (c) Artistic techniques (d) Historical documents
  38. The Famine Sketches helped Abedin find his way into a realistic approach that focused on: (a) Abstract concepts (b) Human sufferings, struggle and protest (c) Joy and celebration (d) Landscapes
  39. What did Zainul Abedin depict through a 65 feet scroll? (a) The Brahmaputra River (b) The mass movement of 1969 (c) The Bengal Famine (d) Rural life
  40. What was the name of the 30 feet scroll painting about the devastating cyclone of 1970? (a) Famine Sketches (b) Brahmaputra Series (c) Monpura (d) Dhaka Life
  41. What did the ‘Monpura’ scroll painting show? (a) The beauty of islands (b) The devastating cyclone of 1970 and the sufferings of the people (c) A historical battle (d) The daily life of villagers
  42. In which year did Zainul Abedin set up a folk museum at Sonargaon? (a) 1969 (b) 1970 (c) 1975 (d) 1976
  43. Where did Zainul Abedin set up a folk museum? (a) Dhaka (b) Mymensingh (c) Sonargaon (d) Calcutta
  44. What is the name of the gallery Zainul Abedin set up in Mymensingh? (a) Mymensingh Art Gallery (b) Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Museum (c) Modern Art Gallery (d) Brahmaputra Art House
  45. What movement did Zainul Abedin become actively involved in later in his life? (a) Political reform (b) Scientific research (c) To preserve the heritage of Bengal and reintroduce Bengal art (d) Economic development
  46. From where did Zainul Abedin aim to reintroduce Bengal art? (a) From modern galleries (b) From foreign influences (c) From the roots of Bengali culture (d) From academic institutions
  47. In which city did Zainul Abedin pass away? (a) Kishoregonj (b) Calcutta (Kolkata) (c) London (d) Dhaka
  48. What was the medium used for the ‘Famine Sketches’? (a) Oil on canvas (b) Chinese ink and brush (c) Water colors (d) Charcoal on wood
  49. What was Zainul Abedin’s initial reaction to the Bengal Famine? (a) He ignored it (b) It touched his heart (c) He wrote a book about it (d) He moved away
  50. The passage states Zainul Abedin’s art was made to be realistic but also: (a) Abstract (b) Oriental (c) Modern in appearance (d) European academic

Here are the answers to the 50 multiple-choice questions about Zainul Abedin:

  1. (c) Painter
  2. (b) 29 December, 1914
  3. (b) 28 May, 1976
  4. (b) The great man-made famine in Bengal
  5. (b) Extraordinary
  6. (b) Bangladesh
  7. (b) In the art movement
  8. (c) Government Institute of Arts (Now Faculty of Fine Arts)
  9. (c) His most characteristic works
  10. (c) Shilpacharya
  11. (b) The great teacher of arts
  12. (c) The modern art movement
  13. (b) Bangladeshi modern arts
  14. (d) Kishoregonj
  15. (c) Brahmaputra River
  16. (b) The river and the open nature
  17. (c) Career
  18. (c) Water colour paintings
  19. (b) Governor’s Gold Medal
  20. (c) The confidence to create his own visual style
  21. (b) Government School of Art in Calcutta
  22. (c) Five years
  23. (b) The same school in Calcutta
  24. (b) He was the first Muslim student to obtain ‘First Class’ with distinction.
  25. (c) 1951
  26. (b) Two years
  27. (c) Realism
  28. (c) Bengali Style
  29. (b) Nature, rural life and the daily struggles of men
  30. (c) 1943
  31. (b) Chinese ink and brush on cheap packing paper
  32. (c) Famine Sketches
  33. (b) Helplessness, deprivation, miseries, and death of poor people
  34. (b) Dying by the roadside
  35. (c) Humanitarian artist
  36. (b) The sinister face of the famine
  37. (b) Human sufferings
  38. (b) Human sufferings, struggle and protest
  39. (b) The mass movement of 1969
  40. (c) Monpura
  41. (b) The devastating cyclone of 1970 and the sufferings of the people
  42. (c) 1975
  43. (c) Sonargaon
  44. (b) Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Museum
  45. (c) To preserve the heritage of Bengal and reintroduce Bengal art
  46. (c) From the roots of Bengali culture
  47. (d) Dhaka
  48. (b) Chinese ink and brush
  49. (b) It touched his heart
  50. (c) Modern in appearance

Here are 50 WH questions based on the passage about Zainul Abedin

  1. How did Zainul Abedin become famous?
  2. What were the themes of his famous sketches?
  3. Where did Zainul Abedin receive his art education?
  4. How did the Brahmaputra River influence his artwork?
  5. What style did he adopt after ‘Bengali Style’ failed?
  6. Why is Zainul Abedin called a humanitarian artist?
  7. When and where was Zainul Abedin born?
  8. What childhood experiences influenced his art?
  9. What was his first major artistic achievement?
  10. What award did he win in 1938?
  11. Where did he study art in India?
  12. What special distinction did he achieve in art school?
  13. Where did he go for further studies in 1951?
  14. What styles of art did he learn in London?
  15. Why was he dissatisfied with oriental art styles?
  16. What problems did he find with European academic style?
  17. What inspired his “Bengali Style” of painting?
  18. Why did he eventually abandon “Bengali Style”?
  19. What subjects did he turn to for his later artwork?
  20. What historical event inspired his famous famine sketches?
  21. What materials did he use for the famine sketches?
  22. Why did he use cheap packing paper for these sketches?
  23. How did the famine sketches portray human suffering?
  24. What emotions do his famine sketches express?
  25. How did these sketches make him internationally famous?
  26. What other major events did he depict in his art?
  27. How did he document the 1969 mass movement?
  28. What disaster did he show in his ‘Monpura’ painting?
  29. How large was his ‘Monpura’ scroll painting?
  30. What institutions did he establish in Bangladesh?
  31. Where is the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Museum located?
  32. What was his role in the Government Institute of Arts?
  33. Why was he given the title ‘Shilpacharya’?
  34. How did he contribute to preserving Bengali heritage?
  35. What was his position at Dhaka University?
  36. When did Zainul Abedin pass away?
  37. Where did he spend the last years of his life?
  38. How is he remembered in Bangladesh today?
  39. What made his artistic style unique?
  40. Why are his famine sketches considered important historically?
  41. How did his artwork reflect social issues?
  42. What techniques did he use in his paintings?
  43. How did his early life prepare him for being an artist?
  44. What recognition did he receive during his lifetime?
  45. How did he combine traditional and modern styles?
  46. What messages did his artwork convey?
  47. How did he portray nature in his paintings?
  48. What materials did he prefer for his artwork?
  49. How did his art education influence his later work?
  50. Why is he called the father of Bangladeshi modern art?

Answers

  1. He became famous through his 1944 famine sketches series. These depicted the devastating Bengal famine under British rule.
  2. His famous sketches portrayed human suffering during famines. They showed starving people dying on streets with powerful emotions.
  3. He studied at Calcutta’s Government School of Art for five years. Later he attended London’s Slade School of Art for advanced training.
  4. The Brahmaputra River inspired many of his paintings. Its scenic beauty appeared frequently in his watercolor works.
  5. After Bengali Style, he adopted realistic depictions of rural life. He wanted to show daily struggles in a modern yet authentic way.
  6. He’s called humanitarian for portraying human suffering compassionately. His famine sketches exposed social injustices powerfully.
  7. He was born December 29, 1914 in Kishoreganj. His childhood was spent near Brahmaputra River’s banks.
  8. The Brahmaputra’s natural beauty deeply influenced him. Open river landscapes became recurring themes in his art.
  9. His first major achievement was winning Governor’s Gold Medal. This was for his Brahmaputra watercolor series in 1938.
  10. In 1938, he earned Governor’s Gold Medal. This recognized his excellent Brahmaputra watercolor paintings.
  11. He studied at Government School of Art, Calcutta. This is now called Government College of Art and Craft.
  12. He was first Muslim student to get First Class distinction. He achieved this from Calcutta art school.
  13. In 1951, he went to Slade School of Art. This prestigious art school is in London.
  14. In London, he studied European academic styles. He also explored realistic approaches there.
  15. He found oriental styles too restrictive. They didn’t express contemporary realities well enough.
  16. European style seemed too rigid technically. It lacked emotional depth for local subjects.
  17. Bengali Style blended local themes with modern techniques. It aimed to create distinct regional art.
  18. Bengali Style became formulaic over time. It lost connection with ground realities.
  19. He turned to rural life and nature. These showed authentic Bangladeshi experiences better.
  20. The 1943 Bengal famine shocked him deeply. Its human tragedy inspired his most famous works.
  21. He used simple Chinese ink and brush. He sketched on cheap packing paper intentionally.
  22. Cheap paper matched the famine’s grim reality. It also showed art could be made anywhere.
  23. They showed skeletal figures begging for food. The sketches captured despair and helplessness.
  24. They express profound sadness and anger. Viewers feel victims’ pain intensely.
  25. Their raw emotion touched hearts worldwide. They established his reputation as master artist.
  26. He documented 1969 mass movement and 1970 cyclone. Both were major historical events.
  27. He created a 65-foot long scroll painting. It vividly captured the protest movement.
  28. ‘Monpura’ depicted 1970’s devastating cyclone. It showed survivors’ suffering powerfully.
  29. The Monpura scroll was 30 feet long. Its large size made the tragedy feel overwhelming.
  30. He established Sonargaon Folk Museum. He also founded Mymensingh art gallery.
  31. His museum is in Mymensingh town. It preserves his artworks and legacy.
  32. He was founding Principal of Dhaka’s art institute. This became Faculty of Fine Arts later.
  33. For his artistic excellence and teaching. The title means “Great Teacher of Arts”.
  34. He collected traditional Bengali artifacts. He promoted indigenous art forms actively.
  35. He served as Principal of art institute. He shaped Bangladesh’s modern art education.
  36. He died May 28, 1976 in Dhaka. He was 61 years old then.
  37. His last years were spent creating art. He also taught younger artists actively.
  38. He’s honored as national artistic icon. His birthday is celebrated as Art Day.
  39. He blended realism with social messages. His style was both technical and emotional.
  40. They document historical tragedy authentically. The sketches remain powerful social commentary.
  41. His art highlighted poverty and injustice. It gave voice to suffering people.
  42. He mastered ink, watercolor and scroll painting. His techniques served his messages perfectly.
  43. Riverine childhood developed his visual sensitivity. Early struggles gave him empathy for poor.
  44. He received Bangladesh’s highest cultural honors. International museums collected his works.
  45. He used traditional themes with modern methods. This created uniquely Bangladeshi modern art.
  46. They conveyed human dignity amid suffering. His art always carried social consciousness.
  47. He painted rivers and landscapes poetically. Nature appeared both beautiful and powerful.
  48. He preferred simple, accessible materials. His tools included ink, brush and cheap paper.
  49. Formal training gave him strong fundamentals. But he later developed his own vision.
  50. He pioneered Bangladesh’s modern art movement. His students and style shaped generations.