Shahidul Jahir
Encyclopedia
Shahidul Jahir, also spelled Shahidul Zahir (September 11, 1953—March 23, 2008) was a Bangladesh
i novelist and short story writer. He was reputed for extraordinary prose style and diciton and considered a genuine founder of post-modern fiction in Bengali
.
, Bangladesh
in 1953 as Shahidul Huq, he joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in the Administrative cadre in 1981. In 2008, he was appointed as a Secretary in Charge of Ministry of CHT affairs to the Government of Bangladesh. A confirmed bachelor, he lived a quiet and a very simple life. Hardly he agreed for a formal interview for publication.
city) had been a recurring theme in many of his stories and novels.
Two of his short stories have been made into films, "Chaturtha Matra" by Nurul Alam Atik from the story with the same name and another, "Phul Kumar" from his short story,Ei Shamay. There has been other attempts to document and fictionalise Shahidul Jahir by Sarwar(?) based on Kothay Paabo Taare. Jahir's many memorable characters include Abdul Karim (the unemployed youth), Akalu (the village migrant) and Shefali (the mysterious girl whom nobody seems to find).
of Bangladesh, carrying on the legacy of magic-realism with strokes of his own unique surrealist style, deeply imbibing the politics, history and culture of Bangladesh, his own country home in Sirajganj
and his place of birth. However, his style also remidns of Syed Waliullah
, a modern Bengali
fictionist of Western lineage. He relied more on narration than dialogue between characters. His diction was symbolic and mystified. He resorted to colloquellism in order to infuse reality into the context and story-line. The name of his last published story was, "Miracle of Life". Here is an excerpt (translated from Bengali) from his swan song:
Short story collections
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 novelist and short story writer. He was reputed for extraordinary prose style and diciton and considered a genuine founder of post-modern fiction in Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
.
Life and career
Born in DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, 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...
in 1953 as Shahidul Huq, he joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in the Administrative cadre in 1981. In 2008, he was appointed as a Secretary in Charge of Ministry of CHT affairs to the Government of Bangladesh. A confirmed bachelor, he lived a quiet and a very simple life. Hardly he agreed for a formal interview for publication.
Works
In his writing career spreading over more than two decades, Jahir published only three novels (1988, 1995, 2006) and three collections of short stories (1985,1999,2004). Two collections of his selected novels and short stories wree published in 2007. His birthplace (Bhuter Goli in Narinda, part of the Old DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
city) had been a recurring theme in many of his stories and novels.
Two of his short stories have been made into films, "Chaturtha Matra" by Nurul Alam Atik from the story with the same name and another, "Phul Kumar" from his short story,Ei Shamay. There has been other attempts to document and fictionalise Shahidul Jahir by Sarwar(?) based on Kothay Paabo Taare. Jahir's many memorable characters include Abdul Karim (the unemployed youth), Akalu (the village migrant) and Shefali (the mysterious girl whom nobody seems to find).
Literary style
Shahidul Jahir was one of the most important contemporary writers in Bangladesh. He died very recently on March 23, 2008 in early morning. He was known by some as the MárquezGabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
of Bangladesh, carrying on the legacy of magic-realism with strokes of his own unique surrealist style, deeply imbibing the politics, history and culture of Bangladesh, his own country home in Sirajganj
Sirajganj
Sirajganj is a town in central Bangladesh, lying just west of the Brahmaputra River and about 70 mi. northwest of Dhaka.- Overview :...
and his place of birth. However, his style also remidns of Syed Waliullah
Syed Waliullah
Syed Waliullah was a Bangladeshi novelist, short-story writer and playwright. He is most well known in Bangla literature for his first novel, Lalsalu...
, a modern 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...
fictionist of Western lineage. He relied more on narration than dialogue between characters. His diction was symbolic and mystified. He resorted to colloquellism in order to infuse reality into the context and story-line. The name of his last published story was, "Miracle of Life". Here is an excerpt (translated from Bengali) from his swan song:
Awards
Shahidul Jahir was awarded the Kagaz Literary Award in 2005 for his collection of short stories, Dolu Nodir Hawa O Onnanno Galpo.Publications
Novels- Jeeban O Rajnaitik Bastabata (Novel;1988;??)
- She Raate Poornima Chhilo (1995;??)
- Mukher Dike Dekhi (Novel; 2006; Mowla Brothers, Dhaka)
- Shahidul Jahir: Selected Novels (Novels;2007; Shamabesh, Dhaka)
Short story collections
- Parapaar (1985; Muktodhara, Dhaka)
- Dumurkheko Manush O Onnanno Galpo (1999; Shilpataru Prakashani, Dhaka)
- Dolu Nodir Hawa O Onnanno Galpo (2004; Mowla Brothers,Dhaka)
- Shahidul Jahir: Selected Short Stories (Short Stories;2007;Shamabesh, Dhaka)
External links
- http://arts.bdnews24.com/?p=1265#more-1265
- http://arts.bdnews24.com/?p=1282#more-1282
- http://arts.bdnews24.com/?p=1294#more-1294
- http://www.newagebd.com/2008/mar/28/mar28/xtra_also1.html
- http://www.newagebd.com/2008/mar/28/mar28/xtra_also1.html
- http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/N_0213.htm
- Bengali novelsBengali novelsBengali novels occupy a major part of Bengali literature. Though the first Bengali novel was "Karuna O Phulmonir Bibaran", the Bengali novel actually started its journey with Durgeshnondini written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1865...
- http://www.newagebd.com/2008/mar/28/mar28/xtra_also1.html
- http://www.ittefaq.com/content/2008/03/28/news0260.htm