Bangladeshi Strong Writer Humayun Azad 1947 - 2004

Humayun Azad (Bangla: হুমায়ূন আজাদ) (Rarhi Khal, Dhaka Bangladesh, 28 April 1947 - Munich, Germany, 11 August 2004) was a prolific Bangladeshi author and scholar. He wrote more than seventy titles. He was widely known for his anti-establishment, anti-religion and anti-military voice and was reputed for caustic remarks.

Humayun Azad
Born	April 28, 1947(1947-04-28) Rarhi Khal, Dhaka Bangladesh
Died	August 11, 2004(2004-08-11) Munich, Germany.
Occupation	prolific Bangladeshi author and scholar

After graduating from the University of Dhaka in Bengali language and literature, Humayun Azad, in 1976, obtained his PhD in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh. He later served as a teacher of Bengali Language and literature at the University of Dhaka and in his early career produced pioneering works on Bangla linguistics, notably Bengali syntax. He was regarded as a leading linguist of the one-thousand-year-old Bangla (Bengali) language.

Towards the end of 1980s, he started to write newspaper column focusing on contemporary socio-political issues. His commentaries continued throughout the 1990s and were later published as books as they grew in numbers. Through his writings of 1990s, he established himself as a freethinker and appeared to be an agnostic. He openly criticized in his works religious extremism, as well as Islam, the major religion in Bangladesh.

Professor Azad published the first comprehensive feminist book in Bengali on the subject of women titled Naari (Bangla for 'Woman') in 1992. Largely akin to The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir in contents and ideas, Naari became a best-seller and earned Humayun Azad popularity as an author. In this work Azad painstakingly compiled the feminist ideas of the West that underlie the feminist contributions of the subcontinent's socio-political reformers and drew attention to the anti-women attitude of some acclaimed Bengali writers including Rabindranath Tagore. The work, critical of the patriarchal and male-chauvinistic attitude of religion towards women, attracted negative reaction from the conservatives. The Government of Bangladesh banned the book in 1995. The ban was eventually lifted in 2000, following a legal battle that Humayun Azad won in the High Court of the country.

Assassination attempt

Azad had been fearing for his life ever since excerpts of his new novel, Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad (Pakistan's national anthem; Blessed be the Sacred Land) was first published in the Daily Ittefaq's Eid supplement in 2003. In that write-up he tried to expose the politics and ideology of Islamic fundamentalists of Bangladesh. After that book published he started receiving various threats from the fundamentalists. In an email to Mukto-mona, an independent website, where he was then a member, Azad wrote, "The Ittefaq published a novel by me named Pak Sar Zamin Shaad Baad in its Eid issue in December 3. It deals with the condition of Bangladesh for the last two years. Now the (religious) fundamentalists are bringing out regular processions against me, demanding exemplary punishment. The attached two files with this letter will help you understand",.

On February 27, 2004, he became the victim of a vicious assassination attempt by assailants near the campus of the University of Dhaka during Bangla Academy book fair. A week prior to Dr Azad's assault, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, one of the renowned religious leaders of Bangladesh demanded, in the parliament, that Dr Azad's political satire Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad be banned and demanded the introduction of the Blasphemy Act on the author. Even though in 2006 the commander of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) admitted to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) interrogators that his operatives carried out the attacks on writer Humayun Azad and another teacher of Rajshahi University in 2004, the official position of Azad's attempt of assassination is still 'unidentified'.

On August 11, 2004, Professor Azad died in his apartment in Munich, Germany, where he had moved just a week prior to conducting research on the nineteenth century German romantic poet Heinrich Heine. His body was brought home and he was put in his grave in Rarhikhal, his rural homeland.

Literary Achievements

Literary career of Humayun Azad started with poetry. However, his poems did not show any notable poetic fervour. On the other hand his literary essays, particularly those based on original research, carried significant value.

He earned reputation as a newspaper columnist towards the end of 1980s. These were merciless attacks on social and political injustice, hypocrisy and corruption. He was uncowed in protesting military rule. His collected his critical remarks in a book styled Humayun Azader Probochonguccho which is apparently an influence of Flaubert's Dictionary of Accepted Ideas .

Publication of Naari, a feminist work on woman, earned him general popularity and paved way for establishing himself in the literary world of Bangladesh. He started to write novels in 1990s which sold well. Azad's writings indicate his distaste for corrupted politicians, abusive military rules and the fundamentalist Islam.

Nevertheless, his prose shows a well-knit and compact style of his own. His formation of sentence, choice of words and syntax are very characteristic of him. Although he often fell victim to the temptation of using fiction as a vehicle of conspicuous political and philosophical message, he distinguished himself with his catachrestic style and diction.

Awards

* Bangla Academy Award

Quotations

* "Knowledge never springs from faith. It springs from doubt."
* "Nothing is more pleasurable than power."
* "Don't mention Taslima Nasrin to me - I may contract syphilis."
* "I didn't find more than five Bengalies, namely, Professor Abdur Razzaq, Ahmad Sharif, Shawkat Osman, poet Shamsur Rahman and painter Quamrul Hassan who deserved to be interviewed by me".
* "I have never referred Sheikh Mujib as Bangabandhu. I have no idol."
* "Bengali Mussalmans are a bizarre nation. Dictators can spell them with wonders."
* "The sublime constitution of Bangladesh was slaughtered within one hour" (referring to the enactment of the 4th Amendment of the Bangladesh Constitution by the Parliament under the leadership of Sheikh Mujib, on 25 January 1975.
* "Not a single atheist is corrupt, but all religious men are corrupt".
* "President Ershad added many new dimensions to military dictatorship ; He made military dictatorship multi-dimensional".
* “The concept of (Father of the Nation) is objectionable to me (referring to Sheikh Mujib being called the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh established in 1971).


Poetry

* Aloukik Ishtimar (অলৌকিক ইষ্টিমার) (1973)
* Jolo Chitabagh (জ্বলো চিতাবাঘ) (1980)
* Shob Kichu Noshtoder Odhikare Jabe (সব কিছু নষ্টদের অধিকারে যাবে) (1985)
* Jotoi Gobhire Jai Modhu Jotoi Uporay Jai Neel (যতোই গভীরে যাই মধু যতোই ওপরে যাই নীল) (1987)
* Ami Bachay Chilam Onnoder Shomoy (আমি বেঁচেছিলাম অন্যদের সময়ে) (1990)
* Humayun Azader Shreshtho Kobita (হুমায়ূন আজাদের শ্রেষ্ঠ কবিতা) (1993)
* Adhunik Bangla Kobita (আধুনিক বাংলা কবিতা) (1994)
* Kafone Mora Osrubindu (কাফনে মোড়া অশ্রুবিন্দু) (1998)
* Kabya Shonggroho (কাব্য সংগ্রহ) (1998)
* Chosha boi (1999)

Fictions

* Chappanno Hazar Borgomile (1994)
* Shob Kichu Bhenge Pore (1995)
* Manush Hishbe Amar Oporadhshomuho (1996)
* Jadukorer Mrittu (1996)
* Shuvobroto, Tar Shomporkito Shushomacher (1997)
* Rajnitibidgon (1998)
* Kobi Othoba Dondito Aupurush (1999)
* Nijer Shongge Nijer Jiboner Modhu (2000)
* Fali Fali Ko're Kata Chand (2001)
* Uponnashshonggroho-Ak (Collection of Novels, Vol.1) (2001)
* Sraboner Brishtite Roktojoba (2002)
* Uponnashshonggroho-Dui (Collection of Novels, Vol.2) (2001)
* Dosh Hazar Abong Aro Akti Dhorshon (2003)
* Pak Sar Jamin Saad Baad (2003)
* Ekti Khuner svapna (2004)

Criticism

* Rabindraprobondho/Rashtro O Shomajchinta (1973)
* Shamsur Rahman/Nishshonggo Sherpa (1983)
* Shilpokolar Bimanikikoron O Onnanno Probondho (1988)
* Bhasha-Andolon:Shahittik Potobhumi (1990)
* Naari (1992) (banned between November 19, 1995 and March 7, 2000)
* Protikkriashilotar Dirgho Chayar Niche (1992)
* Nibir Nilima (1992)
* Matal Torony (1992)
* Norokay Anonto Hritu (1992)
* Jolpai Ronger Andhokar (1992)
* Shimaboddhotar Shutro (1993)
* Adhar O Adhayo (1993)
* Amar Abishshash (1997)
* Parbotto Chattagram:Shobuj Paharer Bhetor Diye Probahito Hingshar Jhornadhara (1997)
* Nirbachito Probondho (1999)
* Mohabishsho (2000)
* Ditio Lingo (originated from Simone The Bevour) (2001)
* Amra Ki Ai Bangladesh Cheyechilam (2003)
* Amar Notun Jonmo (2005)

Linguistics

* Pronominalization in Bengali (1983)
* Bangla Bhashar Shotrumitro (1983)
* Bakkototto (1994)
* Bangla Bhasha Vol.1 (1984)
* Bangla Bhasha Vol.2 (1985)
* Tulonamulok O Oitihashik Bhashabiggan (1988)
* Arthobiggan (1999)

Teenage Literature

* Lal Neel Dipaboli Ba Bangla Shahitter Jiboni
* Fuler Gondhe Ghum Ashena (1985)
* Koto Nodi Shorobor Ba Bangla Bhashar Jiboni (1987)
* Abbuke Mone Pore (1989)
* Bukpokete Jonakipoka (1993)
* Amader Shohoray Akdol Debdut ( 1996)
* Andhokaray Gondhoraj (2003)

Others

* Humayun Azader Probochonguccho (1992)
* Shakkhatkar (1994)
* Attotayider Shonge Kothopokothon (1995)
* Bohumatrik Jotirmoy (1997)
* Rabindranath Thakurer Prothom Kobita ( 1997)
* Our Beautiful Bangladesh(2004)