Waheedul Haq

Waheedul Haq (March 16, 1933 – January 27, 2007) was a journalist, writer, musicologist and an expert and teacher of Tagore songs.^[1] He was also a cultural leader, a campaigner-activist for social-political-cultural causes, and an organiser of several cultural institutions and events.

Early life

Waheedul was born on March 16, 1933 at Bhawal Monoharia village under Keraniganj Upazila. His father, Mazharul Haq, was a member of Bengal legislative assembly in 1946. His mother was Mewa Begum. Waheedul was the eldest among three brothers and two sisters. His brother Rezaul Haq is a journalist and another brother Ziaul Haq was a martyr in 1971. Waheedul grew up in the old part of Dhaka city and was educated in the Dhaka College.

Career

Waheedul Haq founded Chhayanat in 1961.^[2] Chhayanat played a vital role in the cultural-political movements during the late 1960s, prior to the country's liberation war. He also founded a number of other cultural organisations like Kanthashilon, Nalonda, Anandadhani, Fulki, Bratochari Samity and Bashanto Utsab Udjapon Parishad. He also formed the Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad in 1980. He was also involved in filmmaking and the film society movement during the 1960s. He also composed the musical scores for the Indian director Ritwik Ghatak's film Titash Ekti Nadir Naam.

Journalism

During his fifty-five-year-long career in journalism, Waheedul served in some major English dailies of the country, including The Daily Star, where he worked as an Assistant Editor and later as a Joint Editor. He was a shift in-charge of the Daily Observer in the 1960s. Since the late 1990s he worked as a freelance columnist in several newspapers including Bhorer Kagoj, Janakantha, The New Nation, The Morning News and The People.

Death

Waheedul died at Dhaka’s Birdem Hospital on 27 January 2007. He had been suffering from pneumonia, lung and kidney diseases and had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for few weeks.

Works

• Gaaner Bhetor Diye (Seen Through Music)
• Chetona Dharaye Esho (Come With The Stream Of Consciousness)
• Shangskriti Jagoroner Prothom Shurjo

Awards

• Ekushey Padak for music (2008)^[3]
• Independence Day Award for culture (2010)

References