Poet Shahid Qadri passes away

"Have no fear, darling

I'll have it all arranged

The army will carry rose-bunches

On their shoulders,

March past and salute

Only you, darling."

A resolute poet, who wrote such verses, commanded Bangla poems for decades even after passing a great span of his life abroad.

Shahid Qadri, a leading name in contemporary Bangla poetry, breathed his last in New York around 7:00am (local time) yesterday, his wife Neera Qadri told newsmen.

He was 74.

Earlier, the poet was admitted to North Shore University Hospital with high blood pressure and fever.

Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Award winner Qadri is credited with bringing in a new sense of modernity and urbanism in post-1947 Bangla poetry. Infused with patriotism, cosmopolitanism and universalism, and in its treatment of nature and city life, his poetry delves deep into the conflicts and the sense of alienation pervading modern life.

It was Qadri's audacious genre of composing verse that he wanted a poet to command the flotilla in the Bay of Bengal (Ekjon kobi command korben Bangoposhagorer shobgulo ronotori) and wanted to ban smuggling of everything but love (Valobashar chorachalan chhara shobkichhu nishiddho hoye jabe).

Born on August 14, 1942, Qadri's work was first published, when he was only 14, in Kabita, a literary journal edited by Buddhadeb Bosu, a major poet of the 30's. Qadri subsequently became a well-known figure among the poets of Dhaka and Kolkata.

Though he was younger than great Bangla language poet Shamsur Rahman (14 years), he befriended him. The story of the ongoing adda by these two poets at Beauty Boarding, Dhaka, in the 50's and 60's became legendary.

Qadri published only a handful of poetry books but his tone, alliteration, images and the use of simile made him a unique contributor to Bangla verse.

His publications are; Uttaradhikar (Inheritance, 1967), Tomake Abhibadan Priyatama (Salute to You, Dearest; 1974), Prem Biraha Bhalobasar Kabita (Poems of Love and Separation), Kothayo Kono Krondon Nai (Weepings Nowhere) and Amar Chombongullo Pouchhaya Deo (Please, Convey my kisses).

After the publication of his third book, Qadri stopped writing, had a long lull and started living in the United Kingdom and Germany. Later, in the 80's, he moved to the United States. He broke his near three decades of silence penning some new poems for Bangladeshi literary magazine Kali O Kolom and for a bilingual poetry journal, published in New York, Shabdaguchha.

His poems have been translated into English by Kabir Chowdhury, Kaiser Haq, Farida Majid, and he was awarded the Bangla Academy Award in 1973. Qadri also received the Ekushey Padak in 2011.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock at his death.

In a message of condolence yesterday, she said modern Bengali literature has lost a bright star.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, litterateurs and poetry lovers also condoled his death.