Shamsur Rahman (poet) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shamsur Rahman
Shamshur Rahman
Native name	শামসুর রাহমান
Born	(1929-10-23)23 October 1929 Dacca, British Bengal
Died	17 August 2006(2006-08-17) (aged 76) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Resting place	Banani Graveyard
Occupation	Poet, journalist, columnist
Language	Bengali
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Citizenship	Bangladeshi
Education	MA
Alma mater	Dhaka College University of Dhaka
Genre	Modernist
Notable awards	Ekushey Padak Bangla Academy Literary Award
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Shamsur Rahman (Bengali: শামসুর রাহমান; born October 23, 1929 – died August 17, 2006) was a famous poet, writer, and journalist from Bangladesh. He wrote more than sixty books of poetry. Many people consider him a very important person in Bengali literature from the late 1900s. He was even called the "unofficial poet laureate" of Bangladesh. His poems often talked about human kindness, relationships, young people's dreams, and the history of Bangladesh. He also wrote against strong religious beliefs that limit people's freedom.

Life and Education

Shamsur Rahman was born in Dhaka, which was then part of British Bengal. His family home was in a village called Paratoli, near the Meghna River. He was the third of thirteen children in his family.

He went to Pogos High School and finished in 1945. After that, he studied at Dhaka College. He started writing poems when he was about eighteen years old. He also studied English literature at the University of Dhaka. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1953. Later, he also received his Master of Arts (MA) degree.

While he was a student, he loved reading books. He once said that reading a book by Rabindranath Tagore changed him completely. In 1949, his poem Unissho Unoponchash was published in a magazine called Sonar Bangla.

Career in Journalism

Shamsur Rahman (right) at a Bengali Spring Festival event

Shamsur Rahman had a long career working for newspapers and magazines. He started as a co-editor at an English newspaper called Morning News in 1957. He also worked at Radio Pakistan for a short time.

After Bangladesh became independent, he wrote articles for the daily newspaper Dainik Bangla. In 1977, he became the editor of this newspaper. He also worked as an editor for Bichitra, a weekly magazine.

Even though he was a quiet person, he became a strong voice for freedom and modern ideas in the 1990s. He spoke out against religious groups that wanted to control people's lives. Because of this, some groups who disagreed with his ideas targeted him.

Poetry and Themes

Shamsur Rahman's first book of poems was called Prothom Gaan Dwityo Mrittyur Agey (First Song Before the Second Death). It was published in 1960. His poems often showed the political changes happening in Bangladesh during the 1960s and 1970s.

He wrote a famous poem called Asader Shirt about a big protest in 1969. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he wrote many inspiring poems. These poems were so powerful that freedom fighters would read them in their camps. Later, these war poems were collected in a book called Bondi Shibir Theke (From Confinement in Enemy Territory) in 1972.

He continued to write poems that reflected the history of Bangladesh. For example, he wrote Buk Tar Bangladesher Hridoy during a protest against a leader named Hussain Muhammad Ershad. This poem honored the sacrifice of a young man named Nur Hossain.

Poetic Style

Shamsur Rahman mostly wrote his poems in a style called free verse. This means the poems don't always rhyme or have a strict rhythm. He often used a rhythm style known as Poyaar or Okhshorbritto. He also wrote poems using other Bengali rhythm styles called Matrabritto and Shwarobritto.

Attack on His Life

On January 18, 1999, some attackers tried to kill Shamsur Rahman at his home in Dhaka. His wife was also hurt during the attack. Luckily, he survived this attempt on his life. The police investigated the attack, but the people accused were later found not guilty.

Later Years and Death

Shamsur Rahman's health started to get worse in the late 1990s. He had two major heart surgeries. He passed away on August 17, 2006, at the age of 76. He died from heart and kidney problems after being in a coma for 12 days.

What People Said About His Work

Many important writers and critics praised Shamsur Rahman's poetry.

Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, a friend and critic, said that Shamsur Rahman was deeply connected to his own culture. He believed that Rahman's language spoke to people everywhere.

Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam also admired Rahman's work. He said that Rahman built on the work of earlier poets but explored new areas and added new features to poetry.

Azfar Hussain noted that Rahman's poems helped shape Bengali poetry after famous poets like Tagore and Jibanananda Das. He also said that Rahman's poetry connected with many different people and inspired them to fight against unfairness.

In 1983, the writer Humayun Azad wrote a book called Shamsur Rahman : Nisshongo Sherpa (A Lonely Climber). This book looked closely at Shamsur Rahman's poems.

Tribute

On October 23, 2018, which would have been his 89th birthday, Google Doodle honored Shamsur Rahman.

Literary Works

Poetry

Short Stories

• Shamsur Rahmaner Golpo

Novels

Children's Literature

Autobiography

Collected Columns

Poems in Translation

Drama in Translation

Other Works

Awards

• Adamjee Award (1962)
• Bangla Academy Literary Award (1969)
• Ekushey Padak (1977)
• Swadhinata Dibosh Award (1991)
• Mitshubishi Award of Japan (1992)
• Ananda Puroshker from India (1994).
• TLM South Asian Literature Award for the Masters, 2006.

Sample Work

One of his most famous poems was written in 1971 during the liberation war in Bangladesh.

See also

In Spanish: Shamsur Rahman para niños