Quamrul Hassan’s journals handed over to his daughter

Sumona Hassan (centre) receives the ‘Potua’ Quamrul journals from Nazmul Hassan.

Quamrul Hassan was one of the finest painters of Bangladesh. His works delineated the rural Bengal and its people. His accomplishments include volumes of drawings, sketches, and paintings. He also illustrated many books. He liked to work in pen, ink, gouache, Chinese ink and oil.
Nazmul Hassan, younger brother of the master artist stayed with him in the 1970s. During the time, Quamrul started maintaining a diary. Writing was his passion. The diary witnessed Quamrul going over many experiences. He also kept many rough khata for drawings and writings.
Recently, Nazmul Hassan handed over forty such journals belonging to Quamrul to Sumona Hassan, daughter of the late artist. Nazmul has requested to publish the journals without any editing.
Artists, art enthusiasts, historians and critics will have an opportunity to study many undiscovered facets of Quamrul Hassan from these records.
The first entry by the artist was on May 8 in 1977, on the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Quamrul Hassan was the chief guest at a programme in Mymensingh. After returning home, he first wrote and then drew a sketch of the Nobel laureate poet.
Kamal Lohani, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy; poet Ekhlasuddin Ahmed and Professor Bishwajit Chowdhury, among others, were present when the journals were handed over.