Humayun Ahmed
Encyclopedia
Humayun Ahmed (born 1948) is a Bangladeshi author, dramatist and director of film and television. He broke through since the publication of his first novel, Nandita Naraké. He is a former professor of Department of Chemistry at the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...

, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

.

Immediately following the publication of his debut novel, Ahmed emerged as one of the most prominent novelists and story-writers in Bangladesh catering for the youths and masses. He is yet to reach the educated class and, despite this short coming, Humayun Ahmed's books have been bestsellers. He has also achieved success as a screenwriter for television since the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, he entered the movie-world and proved to be a successful filmmaker in spite of clear departure from the trend of traditional Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

i movies.

Humayun Ahmed often shows a fascination for creating stories around supernatural events; his style is characterized as magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...

.

Early life

Humayun Ahmed was born in Kutubpur, Mymensingh
Mymensingh
Mymensingh , pronounced moy-mon-shing-haw, is a city of Bangladesh situated on the river Brahmaputra. It is the headquarters of the administrative unit Mymensingh District. Mymensingh is the anglicized pronunciation of the original name Momenshahi, referring to a ruler called Momen Shah. The cadet...

, East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...

 (present-day Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

).His father, Foyzur Rahman Ahmed, a police officer and writer, died in the liberation war of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....

 in 1971. His mother is Ayesha Foyez. Humayun's younger brother, Muhammed Zafar Iqbal
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is a Bangladeshi writer of children’s books and science-fiction and also a well-known political columnist. He is a professor of Computer Science & Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, though originally educated as a physicist.-Early life:Muhammed...

, a university professor, is also a writer of mostly science fiction genre and a newspaper columnist. Another brother, Ahsan Habib
Ahsan Habib (cartoonist)
Ahsan Habib is a Bangladeshi cartoonist, writer and editor of Unmad, the popular satire magazine.-Family:Ahsan is the third son of Foyezur Rahman and Ayesha Foyez. His father, a police officer, was killed by the Pakistani army during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. Elder brother Humayun...

, is the editor of Unmad
Unmad
"UNmad" is a Bangladeshi humor magazine, which was founded by Ishtiaq Hossain and Kazi Khalid Ashraf in 1978. "UNmad" is a Bengali word, which means 'paranoid', or, 'mad'...

, a cartoon magazine.

Ahmed was married to Gultekin, granddaughter of Principal Ibrahim Khan, in 1973. The couple got divorced in 2003. Ahmed later married his long time affair, a TV actress, Meher Afroz Shaon.

Education and teaching career

Ahmed attended Chittagong Collegiate School
Chittagong Collegiate School
The Chittagong Collegiate School is a secondary school in Chittagong, the southern port city in Bangladesh. Established in 1836, it is one of the oldest schools in the country.The headmaster of the school is Mohammad Aziz Uddin.-History:...

, Comilla Zilla School
Comilla Zilla School
Comilla Zilla School is a boy's school in Comilla, a city in Bangladesh. It is one of the oldest schools in the country.Now a days, it is one of the top site of secondary education in this land.For about two centuries this school has produced thousands of students who have made enormous...

 and Bogra Zilla School
Bogra Zilla School
Bogra Zilla School is the oldest high school in the Bogra district of Bangladesh and one of the top-ranked schools in the country. It provides education from class three to class ten . It was a private English medium school before becoming a public school.-History:Bogra Zilla School was...

. He passed HSC
Higher Secondary (School) Certificate
The Higher Secondary Certificate, also known as HSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Goa in India after successfully completing at least twelve years of schooling, that is two years...

 exam from the Dhaka College
Dhaka College
, located in Dhaka, is one of Bangladesh's earliest and most prestigious higher educational institutions. It offers both four years bachelor's and one years masters course in various majors, but it is best known for HSC...

. He studied chemistry in the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...

. Ahmed joined the Department of Chemistry in the same university as a lecturer. He obtained his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

 in polymer chemistry
Polymer chemistry
Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is a multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers or macromolecules. According to IUPAC recommendations, macromolecules refer to the individual molecular chains and are the domain of chemistry...

 from North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...

 under the guidance of Professor Joseph Edward Glass. Later he resigned from the faculty of University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...

 stating the reason of getting more involvement in his literature career.

Literature

While Ahmed was a student in University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...

, he wrote his first novel, Nondito Noroke. He gained immediate popularity and critical acclaim. Equally successful was his second novel, Shankhanil Karagar (tr: "The Conch-blue Prison"), later made into a film by Nasiruddin Yusuf. Ahmed went on to become one of the most prolific writers in Bengali literature. More than one hundred and fifty novels have been published to date.

Along with his more traditional novels and short stories, Ahmed is often credited with creating or maturing many literary genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...

s in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

. The rise of Bengali science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 can largely be attributed to Humayun Ahmed and his younger brother Iqbal
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is a Bangladeshi writer of children’s books and science-fiction and also a well-known political columnist. He is a professor of Computer Science & Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, though originally educated as a physicist.-Early life:Muhammed...

.

Though set in the realities of middle class life, Ahmed's works display a particular penchant for the mysterious and unexplained. He himself and his literature are often referred to as "moon-struck," and references to the full moon in his prose are numerous. In almost every one of Ahmed's novels, there is at least one character who possesses an extraordinary milk of kindness—a characteristic of Ahmed’s writing. Also, he is prone to create funny characters through which he reveals social realities and passes on his message.

Translation work

Humayun Ahmed produced three books which were published by Sheba Prokashoni
Sheba Prokashoni
Sheba Prokashoni is a well-known publishing house in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was founded by Qazi Anwar Hussain. Sheba's books have enjoyed great popularity among young Bangladeshi readers, and it is particularly notable for its accessible translations of Western literary classics into the Bengali...

. A teacher of Dhaka University, he was in financial hardship when he heard that Qazi Anwar Hussain
Qazi Anwar Hussain
Qazi Anwar Husain is an author, publisher and translator from Bangladesh. He has used pen names like Bidyut Mitra...

 pays immediately for works of translation to be published from Sheba. He was given a book titled Man on Fire which he translated in seven days and Qazi Anwar Hussain gave him 300 Taka as soon as he appeared with the manuscript. It was published under the title "Omanush". He translated two more books for Sheba, Samrat and The Exorcist
The Exorcist
The Exorcist is a novel of supernatural suspense by William Peter Blatty, published by Harper & Row in 1971. It was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in the class of 1950 at Georgetown University, a Jesuit school...

.

Liberation War-related work

A recurring theme in Ahmed's literature is the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....

, which affected him deeply since during this war his father was killed by the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...

 and he, along with his mother and siblings, had to hide to survive. Inspired by the war are a play called 1971, and several novels such as Aguner Parashmoni ("The Touchstone of Fire"), Shyamal Chhaya ("Green Shadows"), and Jochhna O Jananir Galpo ("The Tale of Moonlight and the Mother"), Anil Bagchir ek din, Showrav

Other references abound: the comic novel
Bahubrihi ends with a character training parrots to say "tui rajakar, "you are a traitor," with the goal of sending these parrots to Bangladeshi collaborators during the war.

Academic work

Ahmed wrote a book on quantum chemistry named "কোয়ান্টাম রসায়ন" in Bengali. It was published from the Kakoli Prakashoni.

Television and film

His first television drama was
Ei Shob Din Ratri (Tale of our daily lives), and was followed by the comedy series Bohubrihi, the historical drama series Ayomoy, and the urban drama series Kothao Keu Nei (Nobody Anywhere). The last one featured an idealistic gang leader named Baker Bhai, who was wrongly convicted and executed. Baker Bhai became such a popular character that before the last episode was aired, people across the country brought out processions protesting his death sentence; public prayers and death anniversaries have been observed for this fictional character by Ahmed's fans. Nakshatrer Raat (The Night of the Stars) was a long serialized televised drama that explored many facets of modern human life and relationship.

Ahmed explored the film industry both as an author and director. He directs films based on his own stories. His first film, "Aguner Parashmoni", based on the liberation war
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....

, won the National Film Award in total eight categories, including Best Picture and Best Director. The theme of the Liberation War often comes across in his stories, often drawing upon Ahmed's in-depth memories of that war.

Ahmed's film Shyamal Chhaya was submitted by Bangladesh for Oscar nomination for best foreign language film. This film was also based on the liberation war of 1971
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....

. It portrayed a realistic picture of the liberation war without malice and prejudice.

Songs

Humayun Ahmed is not a professional song writer, but he has written a number songs mainly for the films and plays he has produced. Some of his songs are Ami Aaj Bhejabo Chokh Somudrer Joley, Chadni Poshor Ratey and Amaaar Achey Jol.

Literary style

Until recently Bengali fiction has largely been dominated by the works and style of Bengali writers from the West Bengal. Humayun Ahmed has distinguished himself with a unique simple literary diction that quickly became extremely popular. His prose style is lucid and he resorts to dialogues rather than narration by an all-knowing story-teller. As a result his writing is compact and can be easily understood by a large audience. However, he depends heavily on a few stereotypical characters which behave in a predictable way, but are, nevertheless, very popular, because of the romanticism they carry. He has dealt with rural as well as urban life with equal intensity of observation. Frequently, he captures contemporary issues in his writings from a different angle. He is an optimist who is prone to focus on the positive aspects of human beings. His portrayal of a hooligan or a prostitute is usually non-judgmental. His human touch to stories hugely appeals to emotional Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...

 psychology. Also, his storylines often blend reality with supernatural episodes. This blend is in some ways similar to magic realism. In the contemporary literary world, perhaps none exists today who writes as spontaneously as Humayun Ahmed

Awards

  • Lekhak Shibir Prize (1973)
  • Bangla Academy Award
    Bangla Academy Award
    Bangla Academy Award is a literary award given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius in advancement and overall contribution in the field of Bangla language and literature....

     (1981)
  • Shishu Academy Award
  • Jainul Abedin Gold Medal
  • Michael Madhusudan Medal (1987)
  • Bacsas Prize (1988)
  • Humayun Qadir Memorial Prize (1990)
  • National Film Award (Best Story 1993, Best Film 1994, Best Dialogue 1994)
  • Ekushe Podok (1994)
  • ShellTec Award (2007)

Filmography

  • Aguner Parashmony
  • Aamar Achey Jol
  • Chondro Kotha
  • Dui Duari
    Dui Duari
    Dui Duari also is a Bangladeshi Bengali language film. The film released was 2000 in Bangladesh. Directed by Bangladeshi famous poet, film director-writer Humayun Ahmed. Produced and distributed by his self film Producer-distributor company called as Nuhash Chalachitra. Stars Riaz, Shawon, Mahfuz...

  • Durotto
  • Daruchini Dip
    Daruchini Dip
    Daruchini Dip also is a Bangladeshi Bengali language film. It was released in 2007 throughout Bangladesh. The film is based on the Bangladeshi novelist and film maker Humayun Ahmed’s popular novel of the same name. It was directed: by most popular TV actor Toukir Ahmed...

  • Ghetuputro Komola
  • Noy Nombor Bipod Shongket
  • Nondito Noroke
  • Priyotomesu
  • Shyamol Chaya
  • Srabon Megher Din
    Srabon Megher Din
    Srabon Megher Din also is a Bangladeshi Bengali language film. Srabon Megher Din released was 2000 in Bangladesh. Srabon Megher Din directed by Bangladeshi famous poet, film director and writer Humayun Ahmed. Produced and distributed by his self film Producer-distributor company called as Nuhash...

  • Shonkho Nil Karagare

Television drama

  • Aj Robibar / Serial
  • Aj Jorir Biye
  • Ayomoy / Serial
  • Ai Baishakhe
  • Aziz Shaheber Paap
  • Abaro Tin Jon
  • Amra Tin Jon
  • Anushondhan
  • Angti
  • Agun Majid
  • Akti Oloukik Vromon Kahini
  • Akdin Hothat
  • Ai Borshai
  • Bohubrihi / Serial
  • Bank Draft
  • Brikkho Manob
  • Bilati Jamai
  • Badol Diner Prothom Kodom Phool
  • Badla Diner Gaan
  • Bhoot Bilash
  • Brihonnola
  • Bonoo
  • Bon Kumari
  • Bua Bilash
  • Bon Batashi
  • Charan Rekha
  • Char Du Konay Char
  • Chele Dekha
  • Chipa Vhoot
  • Chandra Karigor / Serial
  • Chader Aloi Koyjon Jubok
  • Choitro Diner Gaan
  • Cherager Daitto
  • Chor
  • Chondro Grohon
  • Chowdhury Khalekuzzamaner Bishshwa Record
  • Dui Dokone Char
  • Ditio Jonmo
  • Einstein Abong
  • Esho
  • Eki Kando
  • Eka Eka
  • Ei Shob Din Ratri / Serial
  • Enayet Alir Chagol
  • Goni Shaheber Shesh Kichu Din
  • Guneen
  • Griho Shukh Private Limited
  • Gondho
  • Ghotona Shamanno
  • Hablonger Bazaray
  • Habiber Shongshar
  • Hamid Miar Ijjot
  • Himu
    Himu
    Himu is a popular fictional character created by the popular Bangladeshi writer Humayun Ahmed who appears in a disjunct series of novels.-Naming:...

  • Iblish
  • Jahir Karigor
  • Jatra
    Jatra
    Jatra can mean:* Jatra street festival* Jatra street festival or Carnival* Jatra form of entertainment* Jatra...

  • Jamunar Jol Dekhte Kalo
  • Janok
  • Jolay Vasha Poddo
  • Joota Baba
  • Jootar Baksho
  • Joyturi
  • Josnar Fool
  • Josna O Jononir Golpo
  • Jibon Japon
  • Kakaru
  • Kala Koitor / Serial
  • Khoab Nagor
  • Konay Dekha
  • Kuhok
  • Kobi / Serial
  • Khela
    Khela
    Khela is a Bengali film by Rituparno Ghosh. The film is about an idealistic director's quench to make a film with a boy who he thinks is just perfect for the role...

  • Kothao Keu Nei / Serial
  • Lilaboti
  • Mayaboti
  • Majhe Majhe Tobo Dekha Pai
  • Megh Boleche Jabo Jabo / Serial
  • Missed Call
    Missed call
    A missed call is a telephone call that is not answered by its intended recipient prior to the termination of ringing on the recipient's end. The ringing may be terminated by the caller simply by hanging up the receiver of a landline phone, or pressing the appropriate button on a mobile phone, or if...

  • Mofiz Miar Choritro Fuler Moto Pobitro
  • Montri Mohodoyer Agomon
  • Nattokar Hamid Shaheber Akdin
  • Natto Mongoler Kotha
  • Nogoray Daitto
  • Neem Phool
  • Nishad
  • Nishi Kabbo
  • Nil Botam
  • Nil Churi
  • Nil Toalay
  • Nitu Tomake Valobashi / 2 Episodes
  • Nitur Ghoray Fera
  • Noboni
  • Noya Riksha
  • Nuruddin Shornopodok
  • Nokkhotrer Raat / Serial
  • Ochena Bhubon
  • Ochin Ragini / 3 Episodes
  • Ochin Brikkho
  • Odekha Bhoobon
  • Oporanho
  • Ontorar Baba
  • Otoppor Shuvo Bibaho
  • Paap
    Paap
    Paap ) is a 2004 Bollywood film, directed by Pooja Bhatt in her directorial debut, and features John Abraham, Udita Goswami, Gulshan Grover and Mohan Agashe....

  • Pishach Mokbul
  • Package Shangbad
  • Pathor
  • Poddo
  • Pokhkhi Raj
  • Project Himalaya
  • Rail Gari Jhomajhom
  • Rohoshsho
  • Rumali
  • Rupali Ratri / 3 Episodes
  • Rupar Ghonta
  • Rubiks Cube
  • Shedin Chaitro Mash / Serial
  • Shourov
  • Shopno Shongini
  • Shopno O Shopnovongo
  • Shomporko
  • Shorno Kolosh
  • Showkot Shaheber Gari Kena
  • Shobai Geche Bonay
  • Schuri
  • Shamudro Bilash Private Limited
  • Shuvro
  • Tara Tin Jon
  • Tara Tin Jon Amra Jege Achi
  • Tara Tin Jon Jhamelai Achi
  • Tara Tin Jon Tea Master
  • Tara Tin Jon Fuchka Bilash
  • Tara Tin Jon He Prithibi Bidai
  • Tin Prohor
  • Trishna
    Trishna
    Trishna may refer to:* Tanha, the Buddhist concept of thirst or desire* Trishna , a drama directed and produced by Sippy Films in India* Trishna , a romance film directed by Pritam Jalan...

  • Tritio Noyon
  • Turuper Tash
  • Uray Jai Bok Pokhkhi / Serial
  • Vejabo Chokh Aj Shomudrer Jolay / 2 Episodes
  • Virus
    Virus
    A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...

  • Wang Pi
    Wang Pi
    Wang Pi was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, who was a close associate of Emperor Shunzong . He, along with his ally Wang Shuwen, was powerful during Emperor Shunzong's brief reign in 805, but soon lost power and died in exile.- Background and service under Li Song as Crown Prince :It is...

  • Zinda Kobor
  • 24 Carat Man


Books in English translation

  • 1971
  • Gouripur Junction (2008)
  • In Blissfull Hell (Somoy Prokashon, January, 2003)

External links

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