Page 145 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

142 ART AND CRAFTS

It may be criticized by pointing out that more undaunted strength may have been infused
in to the sculpture. However, its vivid presence cannot be denied. Other than this, Abdur
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Razzaque’s sculpture named Anushilan (Training) at the Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet
in cement shows a freedom fighter in ambush waiting for the enemy.
The well-known sculpture of Bangladesh Aparajeyo Bangla (Undefeated Bengal) by
Abdullah Khalid stands in front of the Arts Faculty Building of the Dhaka University
(pl. 2.34). The construction of the sculpture was completed in 1979. It is 18ft high from
the ground. Of the three figures, the central character, a village youth stands in the
middle clutching the strap of a rifle in his hand and a grenade in the left. To the left of
him is an urban youth with a rifle. At the right is a young lady devoted to nursing with
a first aid box at her shoulder. These three represent the concerted strength of the whole
Bengali nation. The composition of the Aparajeyo Bangla is quite mature, the figures
are dynamic. 109 All things considered Aparajeyo Bangla is a pioneer in the field of
sculptures on the Liberation War. Another important creation of Abdullah Khalid is the
sculpture Angikar (Promise) placed at the Railway Lake of Chandpur town. A 22ft and
7 inch fist holding a stengun is the main theme of the sculpture which was completed
in 1988. The fist clutching the stengun reflects firmness and conviction.
Hamiduzzaman added a different dimension to the field of sculptures based on the War
of Liberation. His large-scale work is Samsaptak in front of the Library of
fig. 2.50 Abdur Jahangirnagar University. Samsaptak is the name of a classical fighter. Samsaptak is
Razzaque, Freedom seen with one arm and one leg amputated, holding a rifle in his single hand as he
Fighter, cement and lunges forward (fig. 2.51). The sculpture itself is 13ft. in height, made of bronze, and
concrete, 1972-73 is set on a base15 ft. high. The geometric movement of the sculpture adds a sharp
dynamism to it. Hamiduzzaman has executed Shadhinata
(Independence) on the Judge Court premises in Faridpur,
Muktijoddha (Freedom Fighter) at the Bangla Academy, 50 feet
high Jagrata Bangla (Alert Bangla) with a fist holding up a rifle
at the entrance of the Ashuganj Zia Fertilizer Factory and an 8ft.
high metal sculpture at the gate of Jalalabad Cantonment in
Sylhet. Moreover his important artworks in metal
commemorating the War of Liberation also include, Darja (Door)
(fig. 2.44), Jhulanta Manush (Hanging Men), Hamla (Attack),
Muktijoddha-1 (Freedom Fighter-1), and Muktijoddha-2
(Freedom Fighter-2). These are in bronze, copper and steel.
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Though artist Shamim Shikdar is better known for her sculpture
Swoparjita Sadhinata (Self Earned Independence), there are a
number of her sculptures at different places in Dhaka. The
construction work of Swoparjita Sadhinata on the island of a road
of the University of Dhaka ended in 1988. The 17ft. high
sculpture largely represents various events beginning from the
Language Movement of 1952 to the War of Liberation. Slogans
are inscribed between the panels. White cement, white marble and