Al Mahmud

Al Mahmud
Mahmud in 2007
Native name আল মাহমুদ
Born Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud
(1936-07-11) 11 July 1936
Morail Village, Brahmanbaria District, Bengal Presidency, British India
Occupation Poet, journalist
Nationality Bangladeshi
Genre Poet, novelist, short-story writer
Subject Literature
Notable works Lok Lokantor
Kaler Kalosh
Sonali Kabin
Mayabi Porda Dule Otho
Notable awards Full list
Spouse Sayeda Nadira Begum
Children Mir Muhammad Monir

Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud (known as Al Mahmud; born on 11 July 1936) is a Bangladeshi poet, novelist, and short-story writer. He is considered one of the greatest Bengali poets to have emerged in the 20th century.[1] His work in Bengali poetry is dominated by his frequent use of regional dialects.[2] In the 1950s he was among those Bengali poets who were outspoken in their writing on such subjects as the events of the Bengali Language Movement, nationalism, political and economical repression, and the struggle against the West Pakistani government.[3]

Early life and career

Mahmud was born in Morail Village of Brahmanbaria District in present-day Bangladesh.[4] His childhood and secondary education days were spent in this village which is located adjacent to Brahmanbaria town.[4]

Mahmud started his career as a journalist. He obtained widespread recognition after Lok Lokantor was published in 1963. In succession, he wrote Kaler Kalosh (1966), Sonali Kabin (1966) and Mayabi Porda Dule Otho (1976).[5] His other notable poetical works include, Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash, Bakhtiyarer Ghora and Nodir Bhitorer Nodi.[6] In addition to writing poetry, he has written short stories, novels and essays such as Pankourir Rakta and Upamohadesh. He took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh as a freedom fighter in 1971.[1] After the war, he joined The Daily Ganakantha as the assistant editor. He was jailed for a year during the regime of Awami League government. Later, he joined Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1975 and retired in 1993 as director of the academy.

Literary work

Mahmud's literary work Shonali Kabin[7] published in 1973, is considered as a landmark of Bengali poetry.[6] Philosopher Sibnarayan Ray commented:

Al Mahmud has an extraordinary gift for telescopic discrete levels of experience; in his poems I find a marvelous fusion and wit which reminds me occasionally of Bishnu Dey. The complete secularism of his approach is also striking…he was born and brought up in a very conservative Muslim religious family; it is not a secularism forced by some ideology, but present naturally and ubiquitously in his metaphors, images and themes.

Selected works

  • Lok Lokantor (1963)
  • Kaler Kalos (1966)
  • Shonali Kabin (1966)
  • Mayabi Porda Dule Otho (1976)
  • Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash (The Goose of Arabian Nights)
  • Bokhtiyarer Ghora (The Horse of Bakhtiyar)
  • Dinjapon (Passing Days)
  • Ditiyo Bhangon (Second Collapse)
  • Ekti Pakhi Lej Jhola
  • Golpshomogro
  • Jebhabe Gore Uthi
  • Kishor Shomogro
  • Kobir Atmobisshash (The Confidence of Poet)
  • Kobita Somogro- 1, 2
  • Pankourir Rakta (1975) (Blood of Little cormorant)
  • Na Kono Shunnota Mani Na
  • Nodir Bhitorer Nodi (River Inside River)
  • Pakhir Kache, Phooler Kache (To Birds, To Flowers)
  • Prem O Bhalobashar Kobita (Poems of Love and Romance)
  • Prem Prokritir Droho Ar Prarthonar Kobita (Poems of Love and Prayer)
  • Premer Kobita Somogro
  • Upomohadesh (The Continent)
  • Upanyas Somogro- 1, 2, 3
  • Trishera

Awards

Mahmud in 2009
  • Bangla Academy Literary Award (1968)[6]
  • Joy Bangla Award (1972)
  • Humayun Kabir Memorial Award (1972)
  • Jibonananda Memorial Award (1972)
  • Kaji Motaher Hossain Literary Award (1976)
  • Kabi Jasim Uddin Award
  • Philips Literary Award (1986)
  • Ekushey Padak (1987)
  • Nasir Uddin Gold Award (1990)
  • Chattagram Sangskriti Kendro Farrukh Memorial Award (1995)[8]
  • Alakta Literary Award
  • Lalon Award (2011)

References

  1. 1 2 "Al Mahmud Turns 75". The Daily Star. 13 July 2011. Retrieved: 22 January 2014
  2. ↑ "Al Mahmud". Truly Bangladesh. Retrieved: 22 January 2014
  3. ↑ Arif, Hakim (2012). "Poetry". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  4. 1 2 Muhammad Musa (1998). Brahmanbariar Itibrittyo. Shetu Prokashoni, Brahmanbaria.
  5. ↑ "BangladeshiNovels Diyet Servisi". Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "Poet Al Mahmud Turns 73". The Daily Star. 11 July 2009. Retrieved: 23 January 2014
  7. ↑ "{title}" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Chattagram Sangskriti Kendro". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  • "Poet Al Mahmud turns 73". The Daily Star. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  • "Al Mahmud turns 75". The Daily Star. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  • "Poetic genius". The Daily Star. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  • "The Shame of Return". The Daily Star. 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  • ""Poetry is a work of a lifetime"". The Daily Star. 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
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