SM Sultan
Painter
Bangladeshi painter who received the prestigious Ekushey Padak honor in 1982 and the Independence Day Award in 1993.
He was admitted into the Art School in Kolkata despite not having the proper qualifications. He later dropped out of the school to work in India as a freelance artist.
He was named the Man of Asia in 1982 by the University of Cambridge.
He was the son of a mason, and his early interest in art was sparked by his observation of and participation in his father's work. He never married, but he lived with multiple pets, including monkeys, dogs, and a mongoose.
His life story was told in director Tareque Masud's 1989 documentary film "Adam Surat" ("The Inner Strength").