In SantuSaha, art meets development

Kazi Mostaque Ahmed :

If we want to make a list of Bangladesh artists who have effectively utilized their artistic impulses for the cause of human development, then SantuSaha must be placed on that list. For more than three decades, artist SantuSaha has devoted his efforts to the cause of human development, not only working as a visual artist, but also as an organizer, educator, and a voice for social conscience.

From his early days as a student, he aligned himself with various social development organizations, guided by a belief that art is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a moral engagement with the world.

Hailing from Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, SantuSaha’s alma mater was the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka where he completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in printmaking.

Later, he expanded his educational horizon through advanced studies in Human Resource Management as well as International Relations and Diplomacy, weaving together art, policy, and human values.

In 1994, this artist had an exhibition of human rights-based artworks titled “In Search of a Peaceful World” at Alliance Française in Dhaka.

The exhibition was a remarkable success. It was an early demonstration of his lifelong concern: the dignity of the human being in a turbulent and fractured world.

Years later, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Dhaka, hosted an exhibition of his works.

In 2010, his artistic engagement with global responsibility found further expression in an exhibition centered on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

SantuSaha worked as an education material developer in value-based education programs for many years, using pedagogical tools to spread ethical ideals.

He was actively involved in numerous initiatives of the United Nations Information Centre in Bangladesh.

Today, on his own initiative and in the spirit of voluntary service, he dedicates himself to raising public awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Sustainable Development Goals—also known as the Global Goals—were adopted in 2015 with a vision both ambitious and humane: to protect the planet, eradicate poverty, and establish peace, so that by 2030 all people may share a more just and livable world.

These goals rest upon three interwoven pillars: economic and social development, environmental protection and security, and good governance.

In total, the SDGs comprise 17 goals and 169 targets, unanimously endorsed by all United Nations member states with the aim of achieving those by 2030.

The seventeen goals encompass the full moral geography of our time: the eradication of poverty and hunger; health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; access to clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation, and infrastructure; the reduction of inequality; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; the protection of life below water and life on land; peace, justice, and strong institutions; and global partnerships to realize these shared aspirations.

Among the two landmark human development initiatives undertaken by the United Nations in recent decades, the Millennium Development Goals stand as a precursor to the SDGs.

Implemented from 2000 to 2015, the MDGs comprised eight goals and laid the groundwork for the broader and more inclusive vision of today’s SDGs.

The Sustainable Development Goals are, in essence, a continuation—and an expansion—of the MDGs.

They reflect the complex, multidimensional crises of the contemporary world and are universal in scope, applying equally to developed and developing nations, to the wealthy and the poor alike.

While the way to achieve is fraught with challenges, many countries have made measurable progress and continue to strive toward these shared objectives.

To envision a world free from hunger and poverty—a world grounded in peace and human dignity—the SDGs are not merely an option but a necessity.

There is no viable alternative if humanity is to preserve the planet and safeguard its fragile biodiversity.
SantuSaha was born and raised in this land.

From his earliest days, he has witnessed the harsh social realities of Bangladesh: the daily struggle for survival, the persistence of poverty, malnutrition, hunger and many other ills plaguing Bangladesh.

What he observed at home he later recognized across the developing world where hundreds of millions of lives are bound by similar hardship and resilience.

This collective human suffering has deeply moved him, burdened his conscience, and sharpened his sense of responsibility. He understands poverty not as an abstraction, but as a universal condition etched into lived experience.

It is from this profound awareness, this longing for a peaceful and humane world, that SantuSaha continues his work.

While commenting on SantuSaha’s art the prominent writer and sociologist Bulbon Osman once said, “In the art of SantuSaha, there is a presence of pain of the suffering humanity and a silent protest.”

With the aim of fostering public awareness of the SDGs, he engages students through an illustrated publication of his own creation.

In it, the goals are presented in simple, lucid language, accompanied by the artist’s original artworks and visual interpretations.

Through teaching programs conducted in educational institutions, he has conceived, planned, and carried out this initiative entirely on his own.

The response from students has been overwhelming.
This is an affirmation of the fact that art speaks the language of humanity.

(The writer is a senior
journalist).