• ZEBA HASAN

Sunil Das, an eminent artist of Kolkata (India) worldwide acknowledged for his proficiency in lines, brush strokes and application of vibrant colours. He created new metaphors and symbols as powerful means of substance for his paintings. Sunil resided at the place known as Kalighat in Kolkata populated with professional sex-workers living in overcrowded, filthy and unhygienic brothels in pitiable conditions, which basically perturbed Sunil Das and encouraged him to explore more about their life clandestine to the outer world. To his astonishment the whole community of sex-workers were uneducated, poor, ailing and life full of misery, pain, struggle and scarcity. This community was unaware of basic rights as human being and as a native. He explored about their psychological conflicts, repression, tension, fear and apprehensions and created an innovative image of a protagonist for his artworks. Such distressful situation enthused Sunil to dedicate his brush in unfolding layers of their sufferings. His main aim was to draw attention of people and authorities towards the marginalized community. His artworks entitled Prostitute I-IV (in series), Queen of Neemrana, Confrontation etc. are worth noticing examples. Sunil was more worried about the future of their children, he opined if they are provided with good education, they can become an asset in building the nation. Sunil boldly raised other vital issues related with female gender and expressed his curiosity why women are subjugated from ancient time and deprived from their basic rights? Why they are not treated with honor and dignity? He objected long continuing culture of using female images for cheap publicity and commercial benefits. In this manner Sunil, though an artist by profession but by working on this new paradigm related to sex-worker, his endeavors are like a social worker to eradicate evils and sufferings from marginalized community and to provide them with better living as per the constitutional fundamental rights.

Professional Sex-workers, Protagonist, Marginalized, Paradigm, Suffering, Repression.

"SUNIL DAS ON PROSTITUTES' REPRESSION IN INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.582-586, June-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905O91.pdf

"SUNIL DAS ON PROSTITUTES' REPRESSION IN INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp582-586, June-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905O91.pdf