Humayun Ahmed Facebook
Several organizations are scheduled to honour the popular writer through different virtual programmes in various media platforms
The eighth death anniversary of eminent Bangladeshi writer, playwright, lyricist, academician and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed is being observed across the country on Sunday.
This year, his death anniversary is being observed by various organisations with limited programmes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several organizations are scheduled to honour the popular writer through different virtual programmes in various media platforms.
Fans and admirers are paying their tributes to the legend on their social media accounts.
Himu Paribahan, a noted fanbase group of the eminent writer, has been observing this day since 2013.
Due to the Covid-19 situation this year, the group has announced a nationwide three-day special arrangement, including tree plantation, special Facebook live sessions, online magazine-sketch and documentary presentations.
The organisation is known for paving their group-tribute on the writer's graveyard at Nuhash Palli every year. Due to the current situation, a two-member team is scheduled to pay floral tributes and offer fateha at the writer's graveyard at Nuhash Palli following health guidelines, according to the organisation's Facebook event plan.
Television channels will also air various programmes, highlighting the life and glorious career of the wordsmith.
Born at Kutubpur village in Mohanganj of Netrakona to Foyzur Rahman Ahmed and Ayesha Foyez on November 13, 1948, Humayun Ahmed died of colorectal cancer at the age of 63 at Bellevue Hospital in New York on July 19, 2012.
In his academic life, he passed the School Certificate (1965) from Bogura Zilla School, Intermediate from Dhaka College and earned his BSc and MSc degrees in Chemistry from Dhaka University.
He later joined the Dhaka University as a lecturer of Chemistry and later went to North Dakota State University in the United States to pursue his PhD in Polymer Chemistry.
Humayun Ahmed's debut novel – Nondito Noroke' (1972) – gave him the breakthrough and propelled his career as a writer. The Ekushey Padak winner writer wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh till date.
During his illustrious career, he won Bangla Academy Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Shishu Academy Award, Michael Madhusudan Padak, Bachsas Award and more, for his outstanding contributions to the Bengali culture and entertainment sphere.
As a content-maker in television, Ahmed debuted with a drama “Prothom Prohor” in 1983 for Bangladesh Television (BTV). His successful journey in television continued with popular drama serials “Ei Shob Din Ratri,” “Bohubrihi,” “Ayomoy,” “Nokkhotrer Raat,” “Aaj Robibar” and most notably, “Kothao Keu Nei,” which created a historic hype in the nation - surrounding the lead character “Baker Bhai,” portrayed by veteran actor Asaduzzaman Noor.
Humayun Ahmed also explored success as a filmmaker in the early 1990s and went on to make a total of eight films in his filmmaking career, each based on his own novels.
Two of his films, “Syamol Chhaya” in 2004 and “Ghetuputra Komola” in 2012 were the official Bangladeshi submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in their respective years.
He received seven Bangladesh National Film Awards in different categories for the films “Shonkhonil Karagar” as screenwriter, “Aguner Poroshmoni,” “Daruchini Dwip” and “Ghetuputra Komola.”
The iconic litterateur is survived by two sons, Ninit and Nishad, with his second wife and actor-director Meher Afroze Shaon; and three daughters - Nova, Shila, Bipasha and son Nuhash Humayun with his previous wife Gultekin Ahmed.
Nuhash Humayun is currently working in the television industry as a content-creator.
OP-ED: What Humayun Ahmed can teach us about communication
The media can take a page out of the novelist’s works to understand how to reach an audience
July 19 was the eighth death anniversary of Humayun Ahmed.
It is difficult to forget him even after so many years of his death, and there is no shortage of discussion about him this year too. However, his literary fame and popularity are discussed more in such discussions.
As I was not a student of literature, I cannot judge the literary value of his novels, songs, dramas, etc. But as a student of communication, I can say without a doubt that he was an extraordinary communicator, motivator, and story-teller who could capture the emotions and feelings of the people of this country. Moreover, he displayed his literary brilliance with an excellent sense of humour.
Unlike European and American people, journalists and writers in our sub-continent still think that if they can’t write in a complicated way along with unfamiliar words, their creations will be underrated.
The argument behind is like this: If everyone understands my writings, then what kind of writer am I? Humayun Ahmed was able to break this notion with his simple, straightforward, and unpretentious language. As a skilled communicator, he was able to touch the hearts of his countless readers and viewers.
Humayun Ahmed has taught us that many complex ideas or psychological issues can be stated and conveyed easily.
Our mainstream media is now plagued with various problems. Newspapers are losing their readers and television channels are losing viewers. Unfortunately, our media has not yet learned from the hypnotic power of Humayun Ahmed to hold the audience. Many aspects of Humayun Ahmed’s life are now discussed, but his creativity is still less discussed from a communications point of view.
I think this is why the study of Humayun Ahmed is still relevant to the students of journalism, media, and communication. His plays, novels, stories, and movies reveal the deep complexities and depth of human relationships.
The diversity of human relationships, as reflected in his diverse creations, can be used as examples of communication theories for students of communication.
He was a real Bengali, a true son of the soil who understood the complex Bengali psychology of our men and women. He did not behave like other typical writers and intellectuals. He became a democratic institution -- people of all ideologies respected him equally in a multi-faceted society.
He understood that simplicity, drama, and spirituality are the mainstays of the life of the people of our country -- and it is reflected in almost all his creations. People have returned this understanding to him with love -- he has seen himself at the pinnacle of fame.
Another aspect of him that fascinates me in terms of communication is his ability to influence people’s psyche, or his motivational power. His dream of a young generation devoted to the service of the people, while wearing a yellow punjabi, had a profound effect on the youth.
In the last few years, especially during this corona period, we have been witnessing a strange, heartless, unfriendly people in Bangladesh. There could be many reasons for this -- but one reason must be that we don’t have a Humayun Ahmed now.
I firmly believe that if Humayun Ahmed were still alive now, our social life would not have deteriorated so much. His writings could have influenced us and evoked our human values. He was a philanthropist and built a school for the children in a remote area.
He also dreamed of a cancer hospital. But his greatest achievement was that he could instill in the readers the pain of tormented hearts through his work.
That is his greatest success, one that makes people cry and empathize with others. Not unexpectedly, such competence made him stand out from the crowd in the creative industry.
This is just my personal feeling. When it comes to understanding the media, I always ask everyone to study Humayun Ahmed. The human communication system in the 21st century has changed a lot. People want writing to be direct and communicative, where Humayun Ahmed especially excelled.
I still learn a lot from him. As a writer, the biggest challenge for me is to present my arguments in the simplest possible manner. At the same time, I can say, because of being related to the communications sector, that it is one of the most arduous jobs for a writer.
Must-Read Humayun Ahmed Novels
Seven long years have passed since Humayun Ahmed’s demise but his novels still tend to intrigue readers. Listed in this article are six novels by him that could provide an impressive gateway to Humayun Ahmed’s literary achievements.
AMI EBONG AMRA
Ami Ebong Amra is a chilling tale of a mysterious man who confides in Misir Ali to having committed two cold-blooded murders. Misir Ali decides to tackle this unnerving mystery, backed by details of the man’s own childhood. As Misir Ali delves further into the conundrum, he discovers the man’s lies and truths.
This novel is an endeared classic, having all the elements to spark one’s interest and sustain it throughout.
AAJ HIMUR BIYE
Aaj Himur Biye starts with Majeda, Himu’s aunt, having unceremoniously set him up with a rather temperamental and spirited young girl. Himu decides to help out the bride-to-be-but-in-distress, getting himself into implicating situations.
Released well into the 2000s, this novel proves that our beloved writer never lost his spark well into his writing career. As always, one cannot but crave more once the novel has been read.
KOTHAO KEU NEI
This heart-rending tale follows Muna, who lives with her idealistic uncle and his family, and Baker Bhai, a bike-gang leader. With the progression of the novel, Muna takes on more dire responsibilities while Baker Bhai devotes himself to helping out other people.
This novel is raw and heart-breaking. Baker Bhai is an immortal character in Bangla literature, whose kindness and morality never fail to intrigue readers. Muna is dignified and sensible, whose misjudgements and oft-stated uptight behaviours fail to tamper her charm and poise. The novel leaves an everlasting impact on every mind.
JOCHNA O JONONIR GOLPO - MATAL HAOWA – DEYAL
These three books are Humayun Ahmed’s brilliant attempts to represent our history by means of fiction.
Jochna O Jononir Golpo is the first of three, released back in 2004. Based on the Liberation War of 1971, the story begins when a high school teacher visits his brother and recounts various incidents relating to the characters. One of Humayun Ahmed’s bests, it is a moving and beautiful tale. This novel spans over 500 pages, yet cannot be recommended enough.
Matal Haowa is a novel written in 2010, set around the time of the mass uprising of 1969. Though dubbed as historical fiction, it speaks more of the people of that time. The story kicks off when Nadia visits her home on vacation and is arranged to be married to a handsome and respectable man. With its progression, the novel gets rather unsettling and ends on a melancholic note. The book leaves readers feeling downhearted for every major character. Due to the writer’s attempt to incorporate his own experiences in the novel, it becomes even more riveting.
Deyal, published in 2013, is the last novel written by Humayun Ahmed. It centres the post-war political unrest with imaginary incorporations within real life events. The first five chapters were published separately before the release of the unfinished novel itself. While many complain about the novel being average compared to his previous works, it still provides quite an interesting picture of our well-known historic events.
Humayun Ahmed’s contribution to Bangla literature is unparalleled since the birth of Bangladesh. All his books are available nation-wide, so it is never too late to get your hands on them.
Humayun Ahmed remembered in Gazipur and Netrokona
At the writer’s birthplace, Netrokona, people gathered for prayers and rallies
Celebrated writer Humayun Ahmed’s eight death anniversary is being observed across Bangladesh. The arrangements this year were minimized due to the pandemic.
In Gazipur, there was a small gathering of fans at Nuhash Polli of Pirujali village. His wife, actor Meher Afroz Shaon and sons Ninit and Nishad Humayun visited the writer’s grave on Sunday at 12pm.
Shaon said she hasn’t been able to bring the entire family together to create a museum in Humayun Ahmed’s memory. She seeks every family member’s consent to build the museum by his grave at Nuhash Polli.
Mazharul Islam, owner of Onno Prokash, said: “The writer dreamt of establishing a world class cancer hospital, which couldn't be realized yet. He will forever remain in the hearts of his readers.”
At the writer’s birthplace, Netrokona, people gathered for prayers and rallies. Netrokona Himu Pathak Adda organized a discussion at the district press club. Netrokona press club secretary, Shyamolendu Pal, demanded to establish a research centre to let the next generation know about the writer’s work.
Humayun had built a school, Shahid Smriti Bidyapith, in 2006 on three acres of land in Kutubpur village to preserve his father’s memory. The head master of the school, Asaduzzaman, expressed how the writer is dearly missed there.
“Our guardian, Humayun Ahmed sir, build this institution for the underprivileged,” he said. “Memories of him haunt us now that he is no longer with us. We always pray for his departed soul.”
The literature icon is survived by two sons, Ninit and Nishad, with his second wife Meher Afroze Shaon and three daughters - Nova, Shila, Bipasha and son Nuhash Humayun with his first wife Gultekin Ahmed.
He won the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1981 and the Ekushey Padak in 1994 for his contribution to Bengali literature. After venturing into film-making in mid 90s, he won six Bangladesh National Film Awards.
