Commemorating an artist

Among Shashi Bhushan's achievements is the setting up the first ever art institute of Bangladesh, Maheshwarpasha School of Art, in 1904. This was second only to the Kolkata Art School. After the Partition of 1947, the Maheshwarpasha School of Art was renamed as Shashi Bhushan Art College. In 1983, it emerged as Khulna Art College and is now in the process of being merged with the Khulna University as its Institute of Fine Arts.

Since childhood Shashi Bhushan used to make dolls, toys, violin and flutes. After Class 2, his study came to an end due to his father's death. It was during this time that Shashi Bhushan started painting especially in the oil medium. He sent some selected paintings to the Principal of Kolkata Art School Jyotindramohon Thakur and Vice Chancellor of Kolkata University Justice Gurudas Bandyopadhyay. The scholars sent him art materials in return. And thus Shashi Bhushan drew the notice of art critics.

The hard up artist used to send his paintings to different international exhibitions every year and soon became a professional artist. At an exhibition held in India, Shashi Bhushan drew a small postcard with 1200 lines, which, when seen slanted, revealed the natural beauty of Haridwar. A story goes that he once drew the scenic beauty of the London Tower on a grain of Balam rice. Shashi Bhushan's Matripuja, depicting the flinging of foreign cloth into the fire before the statue of Devi Durga, inspired his countrymen during the time of the Quit India Movement.

About 125 artworks by the students of Khulna Art College were displayed at the exhibition.