Today is the 84th anniversary of birth of poet Shamsur Rahman, a leading poet of the contemporary Bangla literature.
Poet Shamsur Rahman (October 23, 1929 – August 17, 2006) emerged in the latter half of the 20th century and authored more than 60 collections of poems including Prothom Gaan Ditio Mrityur Agey, Roudro Karotitey, Biddhosto Nilima, Je Andho Sundori Kadey and Deshodrohi Hote Ichchhey Korey.
As a poet Rahman upheld humanism, human relations, romanticism, democracy, satire on religious fundamentalism and more.
He was also a columnist and journalist.
Shamsur Rahman was born on October 23, 1929 at his grandfather’s residence in the Old Dhaka.
He started his professional career as a co-editor in the English daily the Morning News in 1957.
After the war of independence, Shamsur Rahman became the editor of abolished Bangla daily Dainik Bangla and once popular weekly Bichitra.
As a poet Rahman created a distinctive style and could made bring a change in the poetic arena of Bangladesh. He was also very popular in Pashchimbanga in India.
His most acclaimed poem Swadhinota Tumi, composed in during the war of independence 1971 , perceives the existence of freedom in tiny incidents of daily errands of Bengali people that we generally overlook.
Rahman’s another poem on the war, Abhishap Dichchhi, reveals the rebellious trait of his character that is unlikely to the soft and humble image of the poet.
For his long illustrious career as a pot Shamsur Rahman was graced with innumerous awards at both national and international level including Adamjee Award, Bangla Academy Award, Ekushey Padak , Swadhinata Dibosh Award, Mitshubishi Award of Japan, Ananda Puroshker from India and TLM South Asian Literature Award for the Masters.
Rabindra Bharati University and Jadavpur University of India conferred honorary DLit degrees upon him.
He died on August 17, 2006 after suffering from old age complications.
Like the previous years, Jatio Kabita Parishad has organised a commemorative programme at the TSC of Dhaka University in this evening.
President of the organisation Habibullah Siraji said that the programme will feature discussion, recitation and music.
Professor emeritus Anmisuzzaman, artist Qayyum Chowdhury, theatre leader Ramendu Majumdar and researcher Mafidul Haque will discuss on the life and works of the poet.
Shamsur Rahman’s peers like poet Rafiq Azad, poet Belal Chowdhury and poet Rabiul Hussain will recite self-composed poems dedicating to the late Shamsur Rahman.
Bangla Academy also organised a similar commemorative programme on Tuesday evening at the Poet Shamsur Rahman Auditorium at the academy.
Both local and Indian poets including Amit Maity, Arabinda Chakraborty, Sanaul Haque Khan, Mrinal Mansur and others recited self-composed poems on Shamsur Rahman.
Recitation artistes Kazi Arif and Shahadat Hossain Nipu presented Rahman’s popular poems at the programme.
‘In response to Jatio Kabita Parishad’s request, we organised the programme a day before,’ director general of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan told New Age.
-With New Age input
