Nitun Kundu
Encyclopedia
Nitun Kundu (full name: Nitya Gopal Kundu (born: December 3, 1935 - September 15, 2006) was a Bangladesh
i artist, sculptor and entrepreneur
, who was known for bringing new trends in abstract and realistic art to the Bangladeshi arts scene. He was also well known for his furniture designs, pioneering the use of integrating wood with metal in Bangladesh
.
Born in Dinajpur
, he was the fourth among seven children. His parents were Gnanendranath Kundu and Binapani Kundu. He was married to Phalguni Kundu and had a daughter Amity and son Animesh.
He was a widely respected cultural figure, businessman and hero of the Bangladesh Liberation War
for his artistic contributions, and received a State funeral
that was attended by a cross-section of civil society and government.
in Dhaka
.
, Kundu worked with the celebrated artist Quamrul Hassan
at the public relations department of the Bangladesh Government-in-Exile at Mujibnagar
. In collaboration with Hassan and a group of highly talented artists namely Debdas Chakraborty, Nasir Biswas, Pranesh Mandal and Biren Shome; Kundu worked on numerous posters and works of art aimed at arousing the newly formed Mukti Bahini
liberation army and also raising awareness of the genocide being unleashed by the Pakistan Army
on the people of Bangladesh.
It was during this period he designed two posters which became among the most recognized works of art produced during the war. The first was a call to arms at a stage when the Mukti Bahini
was still desperately seeking volunteers to join its ranks. Sada Jagrata Banglar Mukti Bahini (translated as: Ever Awake the Freedom Fighters of Bengal). The second has become a rallying cry for progressive activists all over Bangladesh right through to today, particularly in face of rising communal tensions: Banglar Hindu, Banglar Bouddha, Banglar Christian, Banglar Musalman; Amra Sabai Bangali (translated as: Bengal's Hindus, Bengal's Buddhists, Bengal's Christians, Bengal's Muslims; we are ALL Bengalis).
The Liberation War was the inspiration for Kundu's most famous work, the sculpture Shabash Bangladesh
, a tribute to the fallen freedom fighters of the Mukti Bahini
. This is the largest sculpture in Bangladesh and is situated on the campus of Rajshahi University
.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i artist, sculptor and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, who was known for bringing new trends in abstract and realistic art to the Bangladeshi arts scene. He was also well known for his furniture designs, pioneering the use of integrating wood with metal in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
Born in Dinajpur
Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
Dinajpur is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.- Geography :Dinajpur is bounded by Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts in the north, Gaibandha and Joypurhat districts in the south, Nilphamari and Rangpurdistricts in the east, and the state of West Bengal, India...
, he was the fourth among seven children. His parents were Gnanendranath Kundu and Binapani Kundu. He was married to Phalguni Kundu and had a daughter Amity and son Animesh.
He was a widely respected cultural figure, businessman and hero of the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
for his artistic contributions, and received a State funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
that was attended by a cross-section of civil society and government.
Education and early career
Kundu graduated from Dhaka Art College (now the Institute of Fine Arts) in 1959, topping the entire class that year. In the years leading up to 1971, he worked at the USISUSIS
USIS may refer to:* United States Information Service, the overseas name for the United States Information Agency* United States Immigration Service, a name sometimes used in the past, possibly both formally and informally at different times, to refer to at least one of the many U.S. federal...
in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
.
Freedom fighter
During the Bangladesh Liberation WarBangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, Kundu worked with the celebrated artist Quamrul Hassan
Quamrul Hassan
Quamrul Hassan was a Bangladeshi artist. Hassan was born in Kolkata, India. In Bangladesh, Hassan's fame as an artist is perhaps only second to that of Zainul Abedin. Hassan is often referred to in Bangladesh as Potua, a word usually associated with folk artists, due to his down to earth style...
at the public relations department of the Bangladesh Government-in-Exile at Mujibnagar
Mujibnagar
Also See: Provisional Government of the People's Republic of BangladeshMujibnagar , formerly known as Baidyanathtala is a town in the Meherpur District of Bangladesh...
. In collaboration with Hassan and a group of highly talented artists namely Debdas Chakraborty, Nasir Biswas, Pranesh Mandal and Biren Shome; Kundu worked on numerous posters and works of art aimed at arousing the newly formed Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...
liberation army and also raising awareness of the genocide being unleashed by the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
on the people of Bangladesh.
It was during this period he designed two posters which became among the most recognized works of art produced during the war. The first was a call to arms at a stage when the Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...
was still desperately seeking volunteers to join its ranks. Sada Jagrata Banglar Mukti Bahini (translated as: Ever Awake the Freedom Fighters of Bengal). The second has become a rallying cry for progressive activists all over Bangladesh right through to today, particularly in face of rising communal tensions: Banglar Hindu, Banglar Bouddha, Banglar Christian, Banglar Musalman; Amra Sabai Bangali (translated as: Bengal's Hindus, Bengal's Buddhists, Bengal's Christians, Bengal's Muslims; we are ALL Bengalis).
The Liberation War was the inspiration for Kundu's most famous work, the sculpture Shabash Bangladesh
Shabash Bangladesh
Shabash Bangladesh is one of the most renowned sculptures in Bangladesh. It is located at Rajshahi University premises. Shabash Bangladesh is another state of the art sculpture created to pay tribute to those killed in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.Nitun Kundu is the sculptor of Shabash...
, a tribute to the fallen freedom fighters of the Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...
. This is the largest sculpture in Bangladesh and is situated on the campus of Rajshahi University
Rajshahi University
Rajshahi University or University of Rajshahi is a public university located in Rajshahi, a city in north-western Bangladesh...
.
Furniture Pioneer
In the 1975, following a brief stint at Bitopi advertising agency, Nitun Kundu established his own company, a furniture store featuring his own designs, Otobi. Within a relatively short period, Otobi became the most prominent Bangladeshi furniture brand, emphasizing the new nation's pride in its refound cultural identity after independence. Otobi quickly grew to become one of Bangladesh's top exported brands, with sales primarily to India and the South East Asian countries.Famous works
- Sada Jagrata Banglar Muktibahini (poster)
- Amra Sabai Bangali (poster)
- Banglar Bir Muktijoddha (poster)
- Shabash Bangladesh (sculpture at Rajshahi UniversityRajshahi UniversityRajshahi University or University of Rajshahi is a public university located in Rajshahi, a city in north-western Bangladesh...
) - SAARC FountainSAARC FountainAcronym of SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.It established in December 1985 by the head of States of Bangladesh,India,Pakistan,Sri Lanka,Nepal,Bhutan and Maldives.However SAARC Fountain located at pantha Path in Dhaka city.On the eve of one SAARC Summit Bangladesh Government...
at Karwan Bazar, DhakaDhakaDhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... - Fountain, Dhaka High CourtDhaka High CourtThe Dhaka High Court is one of the most important high courts in Bangladesh, located in the capital of Dhaka with jurisdiction for the Dhaka District....
, DhakaDhakaDhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... - Sampan, Shah Amanat International AirportShah Amanat International AirportShah Amanat International Airport , named after an Islamic saint, is an international airport serving Bangladesh's south-eastern port city of Chittagong and the Bangladesh Air Force. It is Bangladesh's second largest airport...
, ChittagongChittagongChittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading... - Kadam Fountain, National Press ClubNational Press ClubThe National Press Club is a professional organization and private social club for journalists. It is located in Washington, D.C. Its membership consists of journalists, former journalists, government information officers, and those considered to be regular news sources. It is well-known for its...
, Dhaka
Awards and honors
- Ekushey PadakEkushey PadakEkushey Padak is one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 that took place on February 21, 1952.-2001:*Shah Abdul Karim...
- Daily Star-DHL Best Entrepreneur Award
- National Film Award
- President Gold Cup
- Notun Kuri Award (Bangladesh TelevisionBangladesh TelevisionBangladesh Television , also known by the acronym BTV, is the state-owned Television network in Bangladesh. It started broadcasting as Pakistan Television in what was then East Pakistan on 25 December 1964. It was renamed Bangladesh Television after the independence in 1971. Broadcasts in full...
)