Shahid Qadri

Shahid Qadri (born 14 August 1942) is a Bangladeshi poet and writer. He is one of the prominent poets of post-1947 Bengali poetry, who brought in a fresh air by introducing urbanism and a sense of modernity in terms of the use of urban-life-related diction.^[1] His poetry is infused with patriotism, cosmopolitanism and universalism at a time and while it deals with nature and urbanity, it delves deep into the conflicts and the sense of alienation pervading our modern life.^[1] For his poetry, he was awarded Bangla Academy Award in 1973.

Though he published only four books of poetry it is noted that "his tone, alliteration, images and the use of simile made him a unique contributor of Bengali verse."^[3]

Qadri was befriended with the great Shamsur Rahman though he was about 14 years younger than Mr. Rahman.^[4] The on-going adda by these two poets at Beauty Boarding, Dhaka, in the 50s and 60s became a legendary tale of the Bengali poetic world. At the age of 14, when he, was first published on Kabita, edited by Buddhadeb Bosu, who is also a major poet of the 30s, Qadri became a known figure among the poets of Dhaka and Kolkata.^[5]

After the publication of his third book, Qadri, however, stopped writing and started living in London and Germany. Later, in the 80s, he moved to the United States and started living in Boston, where he married his second wife, Dana Qadri, and lived together until she died in the late 90s. Now, he got back to writing again and published his fourth book in 2009. His coming back to the poetic world gave a sparking pleasure to many readers and well wishers. Though it is noted that "...in the last issue of Kali O Kolom [he] broke his near three decades of silence by penning two poems," ^[6] he actually broke his silence by contributing to the very first issue of Shabdaguchha, a bilingual poetry journal, published from New York.^[7]

His poems have been translated into English by many scholars, such as Kabir Chowdhury, Kaiser Haq, Farida Majid, and he was awarded the Bangla Academy Award in 1973.^[8] Mr. Qadri also received the Ekushey Padak, the highest national award of Bangladesh, in the category of Language and Literature, in 2011.

Publications

• Uttaradhikar (Inheritance, 1967)
• Tomake Abhibadan Priyatama (Salute to You, Dearest; 1974)
• Prem Biraha Bhalobasar Kabita (Poems of Love and Separation)
• Kothayo Kono Krondon Nai (Weepings Nowhere)
• Amar Chombongullo Pouchhaya Deo (Please, Convey my kisses)

References