Remembering Shamsur Rahman
Yesterday marked the 93rd birth anniversary of poet, writer, and journalist Shamsur Rahman, widely regarded as a pivotal figure in Bangla literature in the latter part of the 20th century.
Marking the occasion, Bangla Academy will hold a lecture session today at the Academy's Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room. Prominent researcher and poet Prof Khaled Hossain will present the keynote lecture at the event.
The Ekushey Padak winning litterateur was born on October 23, 1929, in Old Dhaka to Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury and Amena Khatun. His ancestral home is in Paratali village of Narsingdi district.
Graduating with an honours in English literature from Dhaka University in 1953, he began his career as a journalist in Daily Morning News in 1956.
He went on to work for a number of media organisations since then, including Radio Pakistan, Daily Pakistan -- later renamed Dainik Bangla after the Independence, later serving as the editor of Dainik Bangla and Weekly Bichitra from 1977-1987.
After starting at the age of 18, Shamsur penned 66 poetry books till his death on August 17, 2006.
He wrote the famous poem "Asad Er Shirt" during the mass uprising of 1969. During the 1971 Liberation War, he wrote a number of poems, later published in his poetry collection "Bondi Shibir Theke" in 1972.
"Shadhinota Tumi" is one of his most popular poems, dedicated to the 1971 Liberation War heroes.
He has authored several short stories and novels too.
For his contribution to Bengali literature, he received many prestigious awards, including Bangla Academy Literary Award (1969), Ekushey Padak (1977), and Independence Award (1991).
Comments