Humayun Ahmed

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Humayun Ahmed (Bangla:হুমায়ুন আহমেদ) is a popular Bangladeshi novelist and dramatist, whose stories and novels often involve the lives of middle-class people. He has recently emerged as a successful filmmaker, and was elected as one of the ten best living Bangalis. He is considered the father of modern Bangladeshi science fiction.

Humayun Ahmed
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Humayun Ahmed

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[edit] Family and Background

Ahmed's father Foyzur Rahman, a police officer and literature aficionado, was murdered by the Pakistani army during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.[citation needed] Ahmed's younger brother Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is an accomplished columnist, professor and writer of children's and science fiction books. Their brother, Ahsan Habib, is editor of `Unmad' and a cartoonist as well as popular writer.

[edit] Education and Teaching Career

Humayun Ahmed attended Chittagong Collegiate School and Bogra Zilla School for his secondary education. Receiving excellent scores in both his Secondary School Certificate (S.S.C.) and Higher Secondary Certificate (H.S.C.) examinations, he then obtained second position in combined merit list in H.S.C. from Dhaka Board. After graduating from the University of Dhaka with excellent grades, Humayun Ahmed joined the department of chemistry in the same university as a lecturer. He obtained a PhD. in polymer chemistry from the North Dakota State University. He retired as a Professor of the Department of Chemistry (according to his novel “Chobi Bananor Galpo”) of the University of Dhaka. He is also an honorary fellow in writing at the University of Iowa.

[edit] Literature

Humayun Ahmed had a meteoric rise in Bangla literature. His first novel, Nondito Noroke (In blissful hell), written while he was still a student of University of Dhaka, gained immediate popularity and critical acclaim. Ahmed Sharif, a famous critic, predicted his to be the beginning of a great literary career. Equally successful was his second novel, Shankhanil Karagar (The ocean blue prison), later made into a successful film by Nasiruddin Yusuf. Humayun Ahmed went on to become one of the most prolific writers in Bangla literature, having published around one hundred and fifty novels to date.

Along with his more traditional novels and short stories, Ahmed is often credited with creating or maturing many literary genres in Bangladesh. The rise of Bangla science fiction can almost solely be attributed to Ahmed and Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, his brother.

His contribution to the comic genre is also considerable; his televised drama Bohubrihi was one of the most successful productions of the national TV, and its characters are still household names twenty years later. The drama combined a subtle, comic wit with a social message—as did his successful comic essay collection Elebele. Ahmed later rewrote Bohubrihi as a novel.

Though set in the realities of middle class life, Humayun 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 kindness—a characteristic of Humayun Ahmed’s writing.

[edit] Liberation war related writings

Another recurring theme in Ahmed's literature is the liberation war, which affected him deeply. His father was executed by the Pakistan Army during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. He, along with his mother and siblings, had to hide to survive. Humayun Ahmed has written a play named 1971, several novels like Aguner Parashmoni (The Touchstone of Fire), Shyamal Chhaya (Green Shadows) and a recent novel named Jochhna O Jananir Galpo (The Tale of Moonlight and the Mother) based on the Liberation War. The novel Jochhna O Jananir Galpo has already received huge popularity and critical acclaim. His comic novel Bahubrihi ends with the character named Farid training parrots to say Tui Rajakar (you are a traitor), with the goal of sending these parrots to Bangladeshi collaborators during the war, and this gained a huge popularity among the people of Bangladesh.

[edit] Television and film

Humayun Ahmed has transformed himself into a prominent film and television personality. His first television drama, "Ei Shob Din Ratri" (Story of our lives), gained popularity in the mid eighties. He followed this with the comedy series "Bohubrihi", the historical drama series "Ayomoy", and the urban drama series "Kothao Keu Nei" (There is not anybody in anywhere). The last featured an idealistic gang leader named Baker Bhai, who is wrongly convicted, and executed. Baker Bhai became such a popular character that before the last segment was aired, people across the country brought out processions protesting his death. Public prayers and death anniversaries have been arranged for this fictional character.

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 Bangladesh Liberation War, received critical acclaim and won the National Film Award in 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 received an Oscar nomination for best foreign language film.

[edit] Criticism

Humayun Ahmed has received considerable criticism. One of the most common leveled at him is the quality of his work has deteriorated after he gained popularity and started writing for money at the request of his publishers. His brother Muhammed Zafar Iqbal once said "Humayun Ahmed has a great camera, but he only takes picture of birthday parties", referring to his brilliant prose but allegedly trivial subject matters.

Some also criticize his decision to resign as a Professor of University of Dhaka to become a full time writer/film director. His family life and divorce from his first wife and subsequent marriage to a young actress (Shawon) caused a much-publicized scandal in 2004.

[edit] Awards

  • Bangla Academy Award 1981
  • Shishu Academy Award
  • Ekushe Podok 1994
  • National Film Award (Best Story 1993, Best Film 1994, Best Dialogue 1994)
  • Lekhak Shibir Prize (1973)
  • Michael Madhusudan Medal (1987)
  • Bacsas Prize (1988)
  • Humayun Qadir Memorial Prize (1990)
  • Jainul Abedin Gold Medal

[edit] Works

[edit] Selected Novels

  • Nondito Noroke
  • Shongkhonil Karagar
  • Mondroshoptok
  • Durey Kothay
  • Showrov
  • Ni
  • Phera
  • Krishno Paksha
  • Shazghar
  • bashor
  • Grawrypur Junction
  • Nripoti (Drama)
  • Omanush
  • Bohubrihi
  • Eishob Din Ratri
  • Ashabori
  • Daruchini Dip
  • Shuvro
  • Nokhkhotrer Raat
  • Nishithini
  • Amar Achhey Jol
  • Kothao Kew Nei
  • Aguner Parashmony
  • Srabon Megher Din
  • Akash Bhora Megh
  • Mohapurush (Drama)
  • Jotsna O Jananir Galpo

[edit] Books on Liberation War

  • 1971
  • Aguner Parashmoni
  • Shyamal Chhaya
  • Jochhna O Jananir Galpo
  • Anil Bagchir Ekdin

[edit] Misir Ali Books

Misir Ali, the character of Humayun Ahmed, a very intelligent lone professor of Psychology of the University of Dhaka unveils secrets.

  • Devi
  • Nishithini
  • Brihonnola
  • Ami Misir Ali
  • Kohen Kabi Kalidash
  • Voy (Story collection)
  • Misir Alr Omomangshito Rohosho
  • Bagh-Bondi Misir Ali

[edit] Himu

  • Moyurakkhi
  • Himu
  • Ebong Himu
  • Himu Mama
  • Darojar Opashe
  • Himur Rupali Ratri
  • Halud Himu Kalo RAB
  • Chole Jay Bosonter Din
  • Himur Hatay Koyekti Nill Poddo

[edit] Science Fiction

  • Tomader Jonno Valobasa
  • Tara Tin Jon
  • Anonto Nakhatrobithi
  • Fiha Sameekaran
  • Erina
  • Kuhok
  • Ema
  • Omega Point
  • Sunno
  • Onno Bhuban
  • Ditio Manob
  • Ahok (Collection)

[edit] Supernatural

  • Advut Sob Golpo
  • Kalo Jadukar
  • Pipli Begum
  • Kani Daini
  • Kutu Miah

[edit] Satire

  • Elebele
  • Elebele-2

[edit] Collections

  • Five Novels of Nineteenseventies
  • Five Novels of Nineteeneighties
  • Five Novels of Nineteenninties
  • Best Novels
  • Premer Golpo Somogro
  • Odvut Sob Uponnas
  • Nirbachito Kishor Uponnas
  • Bhoot Samogro
  • Nirbachito Golpo

[edit] Filmography (as Director)

[edit] Television Drama

  • Eishob Dinratri (Story of Our Days)
  • Bohubrihi
  • Ayomoy
  • Kothao Keu Nei
  • Aj Robbar
  • Nokhkhotrer Raat
  • Ure Jai Bokpongkhi
  • Amra Tin Jon
  • Kala Koitor

[edit] External links

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