Humayun Ahmed

Humayun Ahmed is one of the most popular Bengali writers of the twentieth century. He is considered the greatest writer after the independence of the country. He was a novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and lyricist. He is called a pioneer of modern Bengali science fiction literature. He is appreciated as Drama and Film Director. A number of his published novels since 2011 is more than two hundred. He is the founder of the new style of the narrative dialogue in Bengali literature. Several of his books have been translated into many languages of the world; quite a few books are included in the school, college and university courses. His most popular novels are ‘Nondito Noroke,' ‘Moddhanno,' ‘Jochna O Jononir Golpo,' ‘Matal Haowa,' etc. Some films made by him are “Dui Duari," “Srabon Megher Din," “Ure Jai Bok Pokkhi," “Ghetu Putro Komola”, etc.

He worked long as a professor of chemistry at Dhaka University. He gave up teaching for the sake of writing and film creation. In 1971 during the liberation war of Bangladesh Pakistani army detained and tortured him and fired him to murder. He miraculously survived.

In September 2011, stomach cancer found in his body. But though the tumor doesn’t spread outside, they did the treatment primarily, but it goes out of control within a short period. When the Cancer Hospital in the United States is starting to see the face of the success of the treatment he fell see again by the re-infection after the operation. On 19th July 2012, this popular writer died under treatment at Bellville Hospital in New York City.  His death created an unprecedented sorrow among all classes’ people of Bangladesh.

He was introduced to the world of fiction through the composition of nouvelle “Nondito Noroke." From the end of Seventy decades (1970) to 2012 until his death, he was the uncontested artisan of Bengali story-Novel. His popularity of his story-navels was unmatched by times. His main talent is making outstanding stories. Hi's made character Himu deeply intoxicated the youth group of Bangladesh. His mystery novels of Misir Ali got a special reception from the readers. His Films got the outstanding favor of the visitors. However, his television dramas were the most popular. Although not much, the songs made by him gained substantial popularity. A long emptied created in the Bengali literature and film because of his death.

Family and Childhood

Humayun Ahmed was born on 13th November 1948 in Kendua Upazila’s Kutubpur village in Netrokona District by of that time East Pakistan. His Father Foyzur Rahman and Mother Ayesha Akhtar Khatun his father was a police officer, he was killed on duty as the SDP of Pirojpur subdivision in 1971 during the liberation war of Bangladesh. His father did writing and published in the Newspapers. He published a novel when he was in Bogra. The name of the novel is Deep Neva Jar Ghore. His younger brother Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is a science teacher and novelist in the country; The youngest brother Ahsan Habib is a delightful writer and cartoonist. He died on 19 July 2012 at 11:20 PM BST at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.

Humayun Ahmed was named Shamsur Rahman in his childhood; his nickname was Kajal. His father Foyzur Rahman named his son’s name in harmony with him Shamsur Rahman. Later, he changed his name into Humayun Ahmed. According to Humayun Ahmed, his father loved to change the names of his children. In 1962-64 while they were in Chittagong, Humayun Ahmed’s name was Bacchus. His younger brother Muhammad Zafar Iqbal’s name was Babul, and younger sister Sufia’s name was Shefali.

The name of Humayun Ahmed’s first wife is Gultekin Ahmed. They were married in 1973. The couple had three daughters and two sons. The name of three daughters is Bipasha Ahmed, Nova Ahmed; Shila Ahmed and Nuhash Ahmed are the sons. Another son died prematurely. From the middle of 1990, Humayun Ahmed’s familiarity grows with the friend of Shila and actress who worked in several of his dramas and film's actress Shaon. To close the family turmoil he eventually broke up with Gultekin in 2005 and got married with Shaon in that year. Three children were born there. Firstborn daughter died. The names of the sons are Nishad Humayun and Ninit Humayun. Stomach cancer found in his body during medical treatment in Singapore in September 2011. He took treatment in Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Centre of New York.

Education and Career

Because of his father’s profession, Humayun Ahmed got the opportunity to attend many schools around the country. He gave SSC Exam from Bogura Zilla School and got second place in all groups of Rajshahi board. After that, he got admitted to Dhaka College and passed intermediate in the science group from here. He got a first-class BSc (Hons) and MSc degree in chemistry from Dhaka University. He was a resident student of Mohsin Hall, room no 564 and spent his student life there. After that, he got a Ph.D. from the North Dakota State University in the United States for the research on polymer chemistry. He started his career in 1973 as a lecturer of the Bangladesh Agriculture University. The first science fiction while working in the university is ‘Tomader Jonno Valobasha.' He joined the Dhaka University in 1974. He eventually quit is teaching when he got busy writing. This professor was very popular among the students.

Literature

He started his career by creating a short novel in his student life. The name of the novel of student associated with Mohsin hall of Dhaka University is ‘Nondito Noroke.' Due to the liberation war in it was impossible to publish the novel 1971. The book was first published in 1972 by Khan Brothers under the supervision of the poet-novelist Ahmed Sofa. A renowned scholar of Bangla language Ahmed Sharif wrote the introductory speech spontaneously created curiosity among the literature seekers. His second book is ‘Shonkhonil Karagar.' From then so far (2009) he published more than two hundred storybooks and novels. The main feature of his writing is story-enrichment. Besides he made many relevant effortlessly and convincingly, which is regarded as magic realism. His stories and novels are dialogues based. His description is modified and got the talent to pictures the character using a few words. Even though, there is no lacking of social consciousness it is significant their political impetus is absent in his writing. All compositions have a positive devotion; for that ‘Villain’ character of his composition got compassionate representation. In many compositions, it has been noticed his experience and of his own understanding. Moddhanno is one of his best novels written in the historical context. Jochna O Jononir Golpo is another large-scale composition that is made on Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971. But usually, he writes about contemporary events.

Personal Life

At the end of his life, he used to live in the elite residential area of the city Dhanmondi 3/A road’s apartment Dokhin Hawa made by him. His habit was to rise early in the morning; he used to write 10-11 in the morning. He felt comfortable to write on the ground. He used to draw when he gets free time. He loved to stay in his garden building Nuhash Polli made on 90 acres of land in Gazipur outside of Dhaka city in the last decade of his life. He liked to tell stories and joke too. He didn’t like the pretext. His hobby was to watch nature and behavior silently. However, he didn’t embroil himself in the narrow politics in the literary environment. His laconic, shy man though the huge success he loved to live behind. But the loneliness is not too much of his choice. He loved to take all his relatives and friends when he goes somewhere. His effects are severe and profound in Bangladesh; for that, his comment about national topics and crisis often media showed with huge importance.

Despite his unrivaled popularity, he lived his life behind the popularity and kept himself busy in writing and film making.