The Creator of Post-Modern Bengali Literature

Shahidul Jahir

If we think of the real founder of post modernism in Bengali literature we have to recall the works of Shahidul Jahir (September 11, 1953 – March 23, 2008). His extraordinary style of writing novels and short stories made him a distinguished figure of Bengali literature. We remember this eminent literary personality on his 6th death anniversary.

Born in 1953 in Dhaka, Shahid's actual name was Shahidul Huq
Shahidul was also a distinguished civil servant of Bangladesh Government and served as a Secretary
He was a confirmed bachelor
In an interview he had said about his single life, “I can't say anything about this. It has just happened.”
Shahidul was extremely reclusive and hardly gave newspaper interviews.

Shahidul had distinguished himself by his surrealist approach to fiction
Parapar, his first book of short stories, was published in 1985
The book reflects his tendency to portray human character in an intricate language, a perfect example of magic realism in Bengali literature
For his post-modernist approach in Bengali literature, Shahidul was called the Márquez of Bangladesh

Shahidul Jahir published only six books during his lifetime
His popular novels are Jeeban O Rajnaitik Bastabata, She Raate Poornima Chhilo and Mukher Dike Dekhi
His short story collections are Parapaar , Dumurkheko Manush O Onnanno Galpo, Dolu Nodir Hawa O Onnanno Galpo
The name of his last published story was “ Miracle of Life”
Shahidul admitted the influence of two contemporary novelists: Shamsul Haque and Akhtaruzzaman Elias, in addition to Syed Waliullah

Phulkumar a film by Ashiq Mostofa is adapted from his short story “Ei Shomoy”
His another short story "Choturtha Matra" was the basis of an award winning video film by Nurul Alam Atique
Nurul Alam Atique also made a television drama named Kothay Pabo Tarey from the story titled also as Kotay Pabo Tarey in 2009
For his literary works Shahidul was awarded with the Kagoz Literary Award and Alaol Sahitya Puroshkar
Shahidul died of cardiac arrest on March 23, 2008