Dhaka: Renowned artist Shahabuddin Ahmed on Sunday said it was the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War that has made an artist out of him.

‘It was the spirit of the Liberation War that influenced me to become an artist,’ said the maestro, who was awarded the French title ‘Chevalier De I’Ordre des et des Lettres’ (Knight in the Order of the Arts and Literature).

Shahabuddin came up with the remarks while addressing a reception organised by the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University in recognition of the award.

‘Joy Bangla is such a force…thousands of gory battles can be fought for it,’ he eulogised.

He also stressed the importance of nurturing the virtue of perseverance to become an artist saying ‘No one can shine with deception; it requires dedication and practice.’

Earlier in the programme held at Bakul Tala on the Faculty premises, students of the Faculty as well as officials of Bangla Academy and National Museum welcomed the artist with bouquets.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, eminent artists Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi, president of Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (Duta) Farid Uddin and dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Nesar Hossain also spoke at the programme.

Shahabuddin Ahmed, who now lives in Paris, was awarded the French title ‘Chevalier de I’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ in 2014. The award is given to artists for their outstanding works in the literary or artistic fields.

Before Shahabuddin, renowned educationist and linguist Dr Muhammad Shahidullah and mime artist Partha Pratim Majumder received the award in 1967 and 2011 respectively.