Akhteruzzaman Elias

Akhteruzzaman Elias (12 February 1943 – 4 January 1997) was a Bangladeshi novelist and short story writer.[1] Despite writing only two novels, critics place Elias "in the pantheon of great Bengali novelists".[2] Elias "emerged as a powerful short-story writer"[3] in 1960s, and published his first novel, Chile Kotar Sepai in 1987 and his second and last Khowabnama in 1996 shortly before his death on 4 January 1997.[1]

Akhteruzzaman Elias
Native name
আখতারুজ্জামান ইলিয়াস
Born(1943-02-12)12 February 1943
Gotia, Gaibandha District, British Raj (now Bangladesh)
Died4 January 1997(1997-01-04) (aged 53)
Occupationnovelist, short story writer, academician
NationalityBangladeshi
EducationMaster of Arts
Alma materBogra Zilla School
Dhaka College
University of Dhaka
Notable worksKhoabnama, Chilekothar Sepai
Notable awardsBangla Academy Literary Award (1983)
Ekushey Padak (1998)

Early life and education

Elias was born at his maternal uncle's home in Gotia village in Gaibandha District.[1] His paternal home was in Chelopara, near Bogra. His father, Badiuzzaman Muhammad Elias, was a member of the East Bengal Provincial Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary of the Muslim League.[1]

Elias completed his Matriculation from Bogra Zilla School in 1958,[4] Intermediate from Dhaka College in 1960, and BA (Hons) and MA from the University of Dhaka in 1964.

Career

Elias started his career as a lecturer at Jagannath College and worked there till 1983.[1] He also worked subsequently as Deputy Director, Directorate of Primary Education, Vice-Principal of Music College, and Professor and Head of the Department of Bengali at Dhaka College.[1]

Novels
  • Chilekothar Sepai (The Soldier in the Attic) (1987) - details the psychological journey of a man during the turbulent period just prior to Bangladeshi independence in 1971. This novel also contains what is arguably the most authentic description of life in Puran Dhaka, the old and distinctive part of Dhaka.
  • Khoabnama (The Saga of Dreams) (1996) - Khoabnama depicts the socio-political scene in rural pre-partition Bangladesh.

Short story collections
  • Dojokher Om (The Warmth of Hell)
  • Dudhbhate Utpat (No Peace in Milk and Rice)
  • Onno Ghore Onno Shor (Another Tune in Another Room)
  • Khoari (Hangover)
  • Jal Shopno, Shopner Jal (Fake Dream , Dream of Fantasy)
  • Milir Hate Sten gun

Essay collections
  • Shongskritir Bhanga Shetu (Broken Bridge of Culture)

Awards
  • 1977 : Humayun Kabir Smrti Puraskar
  • 1983 : Bangla Academy Literary Award in Literature
  • 1987 : Alaol Sahitya Puraskar - Chilekothar Sepai
  • 1996 : Ananda Puraskar - Khwabnama
  • 1996 : Saadat Ali Akhand Puraskar - Khwabnama
  • 1996 : Kazi Mahbubullah Gold Medal - Khwabnama
  • 1999 : Ekushey Padak (posthumous)

References
  1. Shafiul Alam (2012). "Elias, Akhteruzzaman". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. Ekbal, Nikhat (2009). "Akhtaruzzaman Ilias". Great Muslims of Undivided India. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. p. 270. ISBN 9788178357560. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  3. Maksud, Syed Abul (April 2007). "Bangla Literature in the Twentieth Century". History of Bangladesh (1704-1971) (3rd ed.). Dhaka: The Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. p. 273. ISBN 984-512-337-6.
  4. Md.Mahbur Rahman (5 August 2006). "From Bogra : A Successful Seat of knowledge". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
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