Shahidul Zahir

Shahidul Zahir, also spelt Shahidul Jahir, ( _bn. শহিদুল জহির) was an eminent post-modernist fictionist of Bangladesh. He wrote both short stories and novels, and was distinguished for his extra-ordinary prose-style. [ [http://www.prothom-alo.com/archive/news_details_fcat.php?dt=2008-09-12&issue_id=1043&cat_id=&nid=MzAwMTU=&fid=MTY= Shahidul Zahir - Bridging Gap between Language and Reality by Faizul Latif Chowdhury] ]

Life and career

Born Mohammad Shahidul Haque on 11 September 1953 in Bhuter Goli of Narinda in old Dhaka city area, fictionist Shahidul Zahir went to schools of Dhaka, Mymensingh and Chittagong. Later he went to the Dhaka College for his pre-university course. He studied Political Science at the Dhaka University for his Bachelor and Masters degrees. He also went to the American University in Washington DC and Birmingham University. He joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in the administrative cadre in 1981. He was performing as Secretary-in-charge of the Ministry for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs till his sudden death in 2008.

Shahidul Zahir was a confirmed bachelor and was often questioned on this. In an interview with Kamruzzaman Jahangir, the editor of the literary magazine "Katha", he told he was unable to explain this phenomenon : ‘I can tell nothing about this. This has just happened.’ [http://www.newagebd.com/2008/mar/28/mar28/xtra_also1.html New Age Xtra ] ] His family consisted of old mother and a mentally retarded sister. He spoke little and appeared to be introvert. It was difficult to make friends with him although he was known to be a very amiable person.

He died from cardiac failure on 23 March 2008 at the LabAid Hospital in Dhaka. His premature death brought end to a literary personality who was fully comptent and capable and was posied to enrich Bengali literature with his unique prose-style. His untimely death was mourned by the president and prime minister of the coutnry, in addition to the literary circle. He was buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard at Mirpur, Dhaka. [ [http://www.newagebd.com/2008/mar/24/front.html#21 Writer Shahidul Zahir passes away ] ] He left a huge number of literary fans who were impressed by his unique literary approach.

Literary works and style

Shahidul Zahir distinguished himself with his surrealist approach to fiction. [ [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/N_0213.htm Banglapedia: Novel ] ] He wrote both short stories and novels. His started to write in late-1970s. His first published story 'Bhalobasah" (tr. Love) clearly reflected influence of Bengali novelist Syed Waliullah. His first book of short stories, published in 1985, "Parapar" bore his tendency to portray human character in intricate language in the perspective of a thin story-line. He has been said to be a magic-realist in line with Latin American writers [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_novels] [ [http://www.thedailysangbad.com/index.php?news_id=999&nature=7&cat_id=64&date=2008-04-06 :: Sangbad Online :: ] ] and termed Zahir has been termed the new Marquez of Bangladesh. However, he admitted the influence of two contemporary novelist, namely Syed Shamsul Haque and Akhtaruzzaman Elias, in addition to Syed Waliullah. [http://www.ittefaq.com/content/2008/03/28/news0260.htm] Thematically, the story-lines of a number of stories bear the influence of Marxist paradigm. Also, in many novels and stories he has chosen the perspective of 1971, the year of liberation war of Bangladesh.

Sometimes he wrote poetry but never published any. Also, he translated Bengali poems into English when he had leisure [http://www.thedailysangbad.com/index.php?news_id=997&nature=7&cat_id=64&date=2008-04-06 :: Sangbad Online :: ] ] . Two lines from his flings at poetry is quoted below:

"... Yet we congregate once again
And a bud blooms into a flower through our time
A silvery "Rupchanda" floats in salty water..."
(Translated by Faizul Latif Chowdhury)

Publications

Shahidul Zahir published only six books during his life time. There are some published stories and novels that remain to be published in book form, in addition to some unpublished works. His last published story is titled "The Miracle of Life" which remains to be anthologized. One novel published in a magazine titled "Abu Ibrahim-er Mrityu" (tr. Death of Abu Ibrahim) also remains to be published as a book

* Parapar, 1985 : a collelction of short stories.
* Jibon O Rajnaitik Bastobota, 1988, First Novel.
* Se ratey purnima chilo, 1995, a novel.
* Dumur-kheko Manush O Onyanya Golp, 2000, a collelction of short stories.
* Dolu nodir Hawa O Onyanya Golp, 2004, a collelction of short stories.
* Mukher dike dekhi, 2006, a novel.

Two volumes have been published compiling selected short-stories and novels of Shahidul Zahir. These are [ [http://www.thedailysangbad.com/index.php?news_id=1004&nature=7&cat_id=64&date=2008-04-06 :: Sangbad Online :: ] ] :

* "Shahidul Zahir : Nirbachita Uponyash", February 2007, Pathak Samabesh, Dhaka.
* "Shahidul Zahir : Nirbachita Golpo", February 2007, Pathak Samabesh, Dhaka.

Phulkumar" and "Choturtha Matra

"Phulkumar" is a film which was based on a story by Shahidul Zahir. "Phulkumar", was made in 2000 by Ashique Mostafa, is adapted from his short story "Ei Shomoy". His another short story "Choturtha Matra" was the basis of an award wining video film by Nurul Alam Atique. [ [http://www.phulkumar.50megs.com/crew.html about crew ] ]

Awards

Shahidul Zahir was awarded the Kagoz Literary award in 2005, for "Dolu nodir Hawa O Onyanya Golpo" published in 2004. [ [http://www.newagebd.com/2005/apr/03/time.html Shahidul receives Kagoj Sahitya Puraskar] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.bangladeshinovels.com/Shahidul_Zahir.html Shahidul Zahir’s labyrinthine technique]
* [http://www.southasianmedia.net/profile/Bangladesh/bangladesh_lp_literature.cfm Bangladesh - Leading Personalities]