Noted poet Samudra Gupta passed away yesterday morning at the Narayana Hridayalaya Hospital in Bangalore, India, at the age of 62.
He was suffering from gallbladder cancer and had been taken to India for treatment on July 3.
Gupta, whose real name was Abdul Mannan, is survived by his wife and two daughters. His body is expected to be flown back to Bangladesh tomorrow.
The poet was born on June 23 in 1946 at Hashil village in Sirajganj. Gupta, whose real name was Abdul Mannan took the pen name of Samudra Gupta in the 60s and is now widely known by his pen name.
Through his writings, Gupta created a strong voice against communalism and fundamentalism, and created his own following.
During his long writing career, Gupta who was a journalist by profession -- penned 13 poetry books, one fiction and a poetry book with another writer. He also translated a number of other writers' works and edited several books while a large number of his short stories and articles were published.
His poems have been translated into different languages including English, Chinese, French, Hindi, Nepali, Sinhalese, Japanese, Urdu and Norwegian.
Gupta's famous works include Rode Jholshano Mukh, Swapnamongol Kabyo, Ekhono Utthan Achhey, Chokhey Chokh Rekhey, Ekaki Roudrer Dike, Shekorer Shokey etc.
The noted poet was honoured with different awards including the Humayun Kabir Award and Jessore Literature Award. He was also awarded the Poet Vishnu Dey Award and Language Day Honour by the government of Tripura state of India.
Gupta took part in mass upsurge in 1969 and was also a freedom fighter. In his professional life Gupta worked in different dailies and weeklies of the country. He was also a general secretary of National Poetry Council.
Primary and Mass Education Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury expressed deep shock at his death.
“The nation has lost a renowned poet,” she said in a statement.
Bangladesh Abritti Shamannay Parishad dedicated its regular recitation programme titled 'Eito Jibon Eito Madhuri' last evening at the Liberation War Museum to the poet.
Gupta's fervent writing against communalism, fundamentalism and imperialism would remain alive for all the progressive people in the country, leaders of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi said in a statement, adding that his poems would continue to inspire the democratic movements in the country.
Among others, the National Poetry Council, Bangabandhu Lekhak Parishad, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Biborton Sangskritik Kendra, Unmesh Sahitya-Sangskriti Sangshad, Gono Sangskriti Front, Jatiya Gono Front, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitri, Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB), Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, Bangladesh Writers' Club, Durneety Protirodh Andolon, World Poetry Center, Bangladesh and Dhaka University Film Society expressed deep shock at the poet's death.
The death of Samudra Gupta has created an irreparable vacuum in the realm of poetry of the country, different organisations said.