Abdur Rouf Choudhury
Encyclopedia
Abdur Rouf Choudhury was a Bengali
writer
Choudhury was born on 1 March 1929, in Habiganj District
, Bangladesh
(then part of Assam
) where his father Azhar Choudhury, a land owner, and his mother Nazmun Nesa Choudhury, a house wife resided.
, the writer
and philosopher Choudhury depicted a transparent portrait of modern Bengali’s life in abroad. He was a scholar of science
, with great intellectual abilities and eloquent of both pen and speech. He had a remarkable openness to modern Western
knowledge as well as Eastern
knowledge. Choudhury made a lasting contribution to Bengali literature
with his novels, travelogue
, essays and his introspective autobiographical and epistolary works.
His novels and short stories
were often set against an emergent urban background, but more commonly in cities outside Bangladesh
such as London
, Bedford
, Calcutta, Karachi
and Kohat
; where the majority of immigrant Bengali resided. Choudhury created his characters from highly diverse backgrounds and developed themes that revolved around the twists and turns of events, the conflicts and contradictions prevailing in the social processes. His characters embraced a new change; death of an old social values which were based on the ideas of corruptions, religious, political, economical; and the rise of the self-freedom, birth of a new society, these immediately preceded the social processes of the present day and hence are vital to identifying and understanding contemporary problems.
It is essential to analyses Choudhury’s writings in the light of the social scenario from 60s-90s, when deprivation and degradation were taken for granted in Bangladesh, London and India-Pakistan which were known by some and unknown by others. These realities some times were dedicated and made indelible in the name of religious sermons and social sanctions. Thus his main task was to focus readers' attention, by giving a frame-by-frame picture of the helplessness and inhuman predicament of the victims of injustice.
In Porodeshe Porobashi (Life on Distant Shores) Abdur Rouf Chowdhury has not only discovered London, where he stayed with fellow Sylhetis, but also discovered his own homeland. When you are far away, when you are detached from your object of love, your inner eye gets working and you discovery the truth. This discovery is ugly from a close look but is beautiful and lovable when seen from a distance. Most of us who stay in our homeland fail to take a close look at it. But the novelist succeeds in discovering his own land while staying overseas and thinking of it and loving it. Reality and nostalgia get mixed with each other to form a perfect image of the writer's homeland in his mind. Porodeshe Porobashi is a quality work of art by any standard. The writer is a powerful narrator and uses wit and humour quite deftly. He is a skilful user of words. The writer depends on autobiographical elements and has a philosophical outlook. He clearly understood the psyche of Bangladeshis staying abroad. He dips deep into the human mind, as he has written elsewhere about the book, the writer mixes reality with the light and shade of truth. Thus it is a true picture of common life. It is lively and hat at all dull, neither a travelogue nor a memoir, it is a novel with lively characters, a touching story of human suffering and a story of the eternal lonely man.
The wide canvas of words and tales of this artist brought out the plight of women in the male-dominated set-up of society. Over and above the Islamic-based code of beliefs of the society; male-domination society pushed woman into complete subjugation, making them property for the use of men, because of such a 'life-style's set-up, economical and social oppression was principally faced by women. This drove women to utter frustration and desperation. Choudhury portrayed women, their plight, and their helplessness in the face of this male-dominated society. On the other hand, he wrote about their sense of humanitarian values, their love, sorrows, their deep longing for a life as normal and beautiful as free women.
In the wake of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
, which surged up all over Bangladesh, was recounted in his writing Ekti Jatike Hotay (Legacy of a Nation). Abdur Rouf Choudhury believed that in today’s world men no longer wanted to keep themselves constricted within the sphere of a specified duty.
In Choudhury’s time, in a modern society with priest as its advocate and protector, religion lost all its progressivism. It went so far that religion became bogged down in rituals, superstitions and bigotry, while its proponents stank of greed, corruption, even debauchery: even the so-called mullahs could not keep themselves free from this downfall. Almost half the characters in his novels Sampan Crass (St. Pancras) and Aniketon represented the mainstay of the decadent society, while the other half, were absorbed with the emerging thoughts, ideals and values of the new society - humanist and secular in content.
Choudhury’s most vividly depicted the unity of Bengal
and the articulation of Bengali nationalism
in his novel Natun Diganta (New Horizon) vol. 1, 2, 3. This is the largest novel of the author (Abdur Rouf Choudhury). Based mainly on the political activities and the political leaders of Pakistan, of the Indian Subcontinent in board sense, the novel covers the span from 1968 to the Liberation War of Bangladesh (1971). The novel begins with no other character than that of Bhutto and gradually reveals his true nature. The readers will also get a vivid picture of greater “Undivided Bengal”, changes in the social structure and the creation of a socialist state. The author’s own experiences of tension, imagination and dreams combined together to produce a multi-faceted novel.
In Choudhury’s short-stories the write portrays the changes of village life brought by the time. He is very much in love with his motherland, the rivers and paddy fields. He portrays the London life of people from Sylhet
quite faithfully and in great detail. Researchers will find his works useful in the future. Abdur Rouf Choudhury handles a lot of characters and a wide range of time. Most of the writings are perfect picture of our society
, and it has a lovely appearance also. In some of his short stories
the writer gives a lot of importance to the physical state of human existence, society should get rid of its negative forces, and build strength on human body and its soul, both of which are deeply linked, and hence both are very important for human beings.
He was an understanding revolutionary
in his own right, ploughing alone a firm held furrow. He carried on his revolution through revealing revelations of all surviving social practices and norms. Unlike many others of his stature, Choudhury as a man, towers far above Choudhury as a writer, though he carved out a place for himself amongst the galaxy of contemporary novelists.
A Collection of Short-Stories
Essays
A Collection of poem
[Source: Jibani Granthamala: A Series of Literary biographies, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Feb 1991.]
received Drouhee Kotha-shahitayk Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award:
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Choudhury was born on 1 March 1929, in Habiganj District
Habiganj District
Habiganj is a district in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh. It is under Sylhet Division.Habiganj is the historical place where the Mukti Bahini started their first guerrilla movement against aggressor Pakistani Army. It is also the place full of memory of Syed Nasir Uddin, an associate of...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
(then part of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
) where his father Azhar Choudhury, a land owner, and his mother Nazmun Nesa Choudhury, a house wife resided.
Contributions
In his contributions to Bengali literatureBengali literature
Bengali literature is literary works written in Bengali language particularly from Bangladesh and the Indian provinces of West Bengal and Tripura. The history of Bengali literature traces back hundreds of years while it is impossible to separate the literary trends of the two Bengals during the...
, the writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and philosopher Choudhury depicted a transparent portrait of modern Bengali’s life in abroad. He was a scholar of science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, with great intellectual abilities and eloquent of both pen and speech. He had a remarkable openness to modern Western
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
knowledge as well as Eastern
Eastern world
__FORCETOC__The term Eastern world refers very broadly to the various cultures or social structures and philosophical systems of Eastern Asia or geographically the Eastern Culture...
knowledge. Choudhury made a lasting contribution to Bengali literature
Bengali literature
Bengali literature is literary works written in Bengali language particularly from Bangladesh and the Indian provinces of West Bengal and Tripura. The history of Bengali literature traces back hundreds of years while it is impossible to separate the literary trends of the two Bengals during the...
with his novels, travelogue
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
, essays and his introspective autobiographical and epistolary works.
His novels and short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
were often set against an emergent urban background, but more commonly in cities outside Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
such as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, Calcutta, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Kohat
Kohat
Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge...
; where the majority of immigrant Bengali resided. Choudhury created his characters from highly diverse backgrounds and developed themes that revolved around the twists and turns of events, the conflicts and contradictions prevailing in the social processes. His characters embraced a new change; death of an old social values which were based on the ideas of corruptions, religious, political, economical; and the rise of the self-freedom, birth of a new society, these immediately preceded the social processes of the present day and hence are vital to identifying and understanding contemporary problems.
It is essential to analyses Choudhury’s writings in the light of the social scenario from 60s-90s, when deprivation and degradation were taken for granted in Bangladesh, London and India-Pakistan which were known by some and unknown by others. These realities some times were dedicated and made indelible in the name of religious sermons and social sanctions. Thus his main task was to focus readers' attention, by giving a frame-by-frame picture of the helplessness and inhuman predicament of the victims of injustice.
In Porodeshe Porobashi (Life on Distant Shores) Abdur Rouf Chowdhury has not only discovered London, where he stayed with fellow Sylhetis, but also discovered his own homeland. When you are far away, when you are detached from your object of love, your inner eye gets working and you discovery the truth. This discovery is ugly from a close look but is beautiful and lovable when seen from a distance. Most of us who stay in our homeland fail to take a close look at it. But the novelist succeeds in discovering his own land while staying overseas and thinking of it and loving it. Reality and nostalgia get mixed with each other to form a perfect image of the writer's homeland in his mind. Porodeshe Porobashi is a quality work of art by any standard. The writer is a powerful narrator and uses wit and humour quite deftly. He is a skilful user of words. The writer depends on autobiographical elements and has a philosophical outlook. He clearly understood the psyche of Bangladeshis staying abroad. He dips deep into the human mind, as he has written elsewhere about the book, the writer mixes reality with the light and shade of truth. Thus it is a true picture of common life. It is lively and hat at all dull, neither a travelogue nor a memoir, it is a novel with lively characters, a touching story of human suffering and a story of the eternal lonely man.
The wide canvas of words and tales of this artist brought out the plight of women in the male-dominated set-up of society. Over and above the Islamic-based code of beliefs of the society; male-domination society pushed woman into complete subjugation, making them property for the use of men, because of such a 'life-style's set-up, economical and social oppression was principally faced by women. This drove women to utter frustration and desperation. Choudhury portrayed women, their plight, and their helplessness in the face of this male-dominated society. On the other hand, he wrote about their sense of humanitarian values, their love, sorrows, their deep longing for a life as normal and beautiful as free women.
In the wake of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, which surged up all over Bangladesh, was recounted in his writing Ekti Jatike Hotay (Legacy of a Nation). Abdur Rouf Choudhury believed that in today’s world men no longer wanted to keep themselves constricted within the sphere of a specified duty.
In Choudhury’s time, in a modern society with priest as its advocate and protector, religion lost all its progressivism. It went so far that religion became bogged down in rituals, superstitions and bigotry, while its proponents stank of greed, corruption, even debauchery: even the so-called mullahs could not keep themselves free from this downfall. Almost half the characters in his novels Sampan Crass (St. Pancras) and Aniketon represented the mainstay of the decadent society, while the other half, were absorbed with the emerging thoughts, ideals and values of the new society - humanist and secular in content.
Choudhury’s most vividly depicted the unity of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and the articulation of Bengali nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
in his novel Natun Diganta (New Horizon) vol. 1, 2, 3. This is the largest novel of the author (Abdur Rouf Choudhury). Based mainly on the political activities and the political leaders of Pakistan, of the Indian Subcontinent in board sense, the novel covers the span from 1968 to the Liberation War of Bangladesh (1971). The novel begins with no other character than that of Bhutto and gradually reveals his true nature. The readers will also get a vivid picture of greater “Undivided Bengal”, changes in the social structure and the creation of a socialist state. The author’s own experiences of tension, imagination and dreams combined together to produce a multi-faceted novel.
In Choudhury’s short-stories the write portrays the changes of village life brought by the time. He is very much in love with his motherland, the rivers and paddy fields. He portrays the London life of people from Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
quite faithfully and in great detail. Researchers will find his works useful in the future. Abdur Rouf Choudhury handles a lot of characters and a wide range of time. Most of the writings are perfect picture of our society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
, and it has a lovely appearance also. In some of his short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
the writer gives a lot of importance to the physical state of human existence, society should get rid of its negative forces, and build strength on human body and its soul, both of which are deeply linked, and hence both are very important for human beings.
He was an understanding revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
in his own right, ploughing alone a firm held furrow. He carried on his revolution through revealing revelations of all surviving social practices and norms. Unlike many others of his stature, Choudhury as a man, towers far above Choudhury as a writer, though he carved out a place for himself amongst the galaxy of contemporary novelists.
Works
Novels- Nuton Diganta (New Horizon), vol 1, 1992.
- Shampan Cross (St. Pancras), 1993.
- Nuton Diganta (New Horizon), vol 2, 1994.
- Porodeshe Porpashi (Life on Distant Shores), Dhaka 2003.
- Nuton Diganta Samagra (New Horizon), Vol 1, 2, 3, Dhaka, 2005.
- Aniketan, Dhaka 2007.
- Nam Mucha Jai Na, Dhaka, 1989.
A Collection of Short-Stories
- Golpo-samvar, Vol.1, Dhaka, 1995.
- Bideshi Bristi, Vol.2, Dhaka, 2001.
- Golpa-salpa, Vol.3, Dhaka, 2005.
Essays
- Ekti Jatike Hotay, Dhaka, 2003.
- Rabindra and Nazrul, Dhaka, 2000.
- Nazruler Sangeet Jagat, Dhaka, 2000.
- Rabindrer Sangeet Jagat, Dhaka, 2000.
- Joge Joge Bangladesh (History of Bengal), Dhaka, 2003.
- Mohan Ekushe, Dhaka, 2008.
- Islamer Nabi, Dhaka, 1990.
- Bible and Mohammed, Dhaka, 1991.
- Dhormer Nirjash (Final words on Religion), Dhaka, 2000.
- Mohammed (Prophet of Islam), Dhaka, 2004.
- Je Kotha Bola Jai Na, Dhaka, 2007.
A Collection of poem
- 1971, London 1971.
Chronology
- 1934, entered 'Khanjanpur' Primary School.
- 1936, entered 'Sherpur' English School at class three.
- 1938, entered 'Shadhuhati' Middle English School and in 1939 sat for M.E. final exam and received first division.
- 1940, completed F.E final and received first division.
- Mid 1943, his father Azhar Choudhury died.
- Late 1943, entered 'Habiganj Brindabon' College. Completed his IA in 1945 and BA in 1947.
- Late 1947, left college to work in Silchor. Started work in a shop as a bookkeeper.
- 1948, left Silchor and started teaching at 'Aaushkandi' High School.
- 1949, joined Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air ForceThe Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
. - 1950, sent to Kawrangi Creek for one year further training.
- 1951, got married to Shirin Choudhury.
- 1955-56, was an external candidate of University of DhakaUniversity of DhakaThe University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
, reg no P-64. - End of 1956, went for a journey by ship with his wife to Calcutta, ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and KarachiKarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Later moved to Kuhat with his wife. - 1961, applied to come to Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
for Further Training as a Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air ForceThe Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
's Serviceman. - 1962, first came to Bedford to work for Royal Aircraft Establishment, Ministry of AviationMinistry of AviationMinistry of Aviation was a department of the United Kingdom government, established in 1959. Its responsibilities included the regulation of civil aviation and the supply of military aircraft, which it took on from the Ministry of Supply....
. - 1963, founded the BedfordBedfordBedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
Association and became the General Secretary. Started writing 'A name cannot be deleted', a research book to combat non-Muslims misinterpretation of Islam. - 1964, became the member of Bedford constituency Labour Party. Started writing 'Bible and Mohammed', another research book to combat non-Muslims misinterpretation of Islam.
- 1965, started making regular donations to Pakistan Relief Fund. Started writing 'Final words on ReligionReligionReligion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
', another research book to combat Muslims misinterpretation of Islam. - 1966, became a member of the Election Commission of the National Federation of Pakistan Association of Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Left Ministry of Aviation and returned to Bangladesh. - 1968, started writing on reform policy of the Madrassaha Education of PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The President of Pakistan appreciated Choudhury’s reform policy and wrote '...attempts are being made to reform Madrassaha education...the process of the change has to be gradual' [a letter written to Pakistan's Education Minister, 1968]. Returned to EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and joined Illist Automation, St AlbansSt AlbansSt Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
. Lived there for several years. Founded St Albans Pakistan Association, and was the first President of the Association. Started writing 'Jesus', a research book. - 1971, founded the Bangladesh Action Committee, St Albans, and sent regular donations to Bangladesh Aid Committee and the Bangladesh Fund. He received much correspondence from the Head of the Mission of the People’s republic of Bangladesh (Calcutta and London), and the High Commissioner (Calcutta), Shirley WilliamsShirley Williams, Baroness Williams of CrosbyShirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby PC is a British politician and academic. Originally a Labour Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, she was one of the "Gang of Four" rebels who founded the Social Democratic Party in 1981...
MP, Nigel FisherNigel FisherSir Nigel Thomas Loveridge Fisher MC was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.Fisher was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was in the Welsh Guards of the British Army during World War II, serving as a major in north west Europe. He was awarded the...
MC MP, Mervyn PikeMervyn PikeIrene Mervyn Parnicott Pike, Baroness Pike, commonly known as Mervyn Pike, DBE was a British Conservative politician....
MP, Victor GoodhewVictor GoodhewSir Victor Henry Goodhew was a British politician. He was Conservative Member of Parliament for St Albans for 24 years, from 1959 to 1983, and was an early member of the Conservative Monday Club...
MP, Peter ShorePeter ShorePeter David Shore, Baron Shore of Stepney PC was a British Labour politician and former Cabinet Minister, noted in part for his opposition to the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community. His idiosyncratic left-wing nationalism led to comparison with the French politician...
MP and many others. - 1971, joined 'Janomot', a Bengali Newspaper, as a regular columnist and expressed his own frustration in written outbursts against the Pakistan's attack on Bangladesh. These writings were later incorporated in his book 'Blood Legacy of a Nation'.
- 1972, 18 February, received a letter from the Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur RahmanSheikh Mujibur RahmanSheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
after returning to Bangladesh. - 1972, visited Moscow. Started writing essays on conflicts and contradictions prevailing in the social processes of the Bengali society. Later a few of these have been included in the collection of eassys.
- 1972, joined The Post Office and moved to London.
- 1974, founded Mukimpur Primary School.
- 1979, started writing his autobiographyAutobiographyAn autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, 'My life'. End of the same year he lost his mother Nazmun Nesa Choudhury. - 1983, Shirin Choudhury moved to Britain with their third and fourth children. Started rewriting 'New Horizon', his first novel.
- 1987, founded the King’s CrossKings Cross, LondonKing's Cross is an area of London partly in the London Borough of Camden and partly in the London Borough of Islington. It is an inner-city district located 2.5 miles north of Charing Cross. The area formerly had a reputation for being a red light district and run-down. However, rapid regeneration...
Mosque and Islamic Centre and became the Chair. Started writing 'St Pancras', his second novel. - 1988, started translating 'Prophet of Islam' by K S R Rao.
- 1989, retired from The Post Office and returned with his wife to Bangladesh.
- 1989-1996, wrote and published many of his work.
- 1990, founded Habiganj Islamic Orphans School and became Treasurer of Islamic Foundation, Habiganj.
- 1993, received Life Membership of Bangla AcademyBangla AcademyBangla Academy , established on 3 December 1955, is the national academy for promoting Bangla language in Bangladesh. The main office of the organization is located at the Burdwan House, once a part of the campus of the University of Dhaka, beside Suhrawardy Udyan.-History:The importance of...
, Dhaka. - 1993, founder and Vice President of Habiganj Shahitya Parishod. Patron of Khela Ghor, Payra, Shet Payra, Shurja Shiri, Pithua Girls' School and Mukimpur Madrasha.
- 1994, founder and President of literary society 'Sangjojan', Habiganj.
- 1995, received Book Award.
- 1996, 23 February collapsed at the Literary Society's lecture, died at Red Cross Building, Habiganj at 11.30am.
[Source: Jibani Granthamala: A Series of Literary biographies, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Feb 1991.]
Rouf Award
Following Bengali writers and free-thinkersFreethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
received Drouhee Kotha-shahitayk Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award:
- Partho Sharati Choudhury (Poet)
- Shamshuzaman Khan (Folklorist)
- Razia KhanRazia KhanRazia Khan , is a modern female Bangladeshi author known for her contributions as a novelist.-Life:Her first creative impulses found expressions in rhymes, Brishti poriya jay/mushol dharay…….. She was only 8 then. By 15 she was writing full-fledged novels and at 18 she wrote Bot tolar Upannayash...
(Novelist) - Shirajul Islam Choudhury (Free-thinker)
- Shah Abdul KarimShah Abdul KarimShah Abdul Karim , was one of the most famous legends of Bangladeshi folk music. He specialized in Bengali Baul music. Born and brought up in the village of Ujan Dhol, in Derai Upazila of Sunamganj, he lived there until his death. He was awarded the Ekushey Padok in the year 2001 for his...
(BaulBaulBaul .Though Bauls comprise only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable. In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.-Etymology:The origin of the word...
) - Hasan Azizul HuqHasan Azizul HuqHasan Azizul Huq is a Bangladeshi writer, reputed for his short stories. He was born on 2 February 1939 in Jabgraam in Burdwan district of West Bengal, India...
(Writer) - Barun Ray (Free-thinker)
Comments & Reviews
- Abdul Mannan Syed, New Horizon: A new direction for Bengali novels, 2004.
- Biplob Maji, A new style for the world of Bengali novels, Amritalok:106, 2006.
- Ketoki Dyson, Life on Distant Shores by A R Choudhury, Feb 2005.
- Syed Mojurul Islam, New Horizan for Bengali, Feb 2005.
- Shirajul Islam Choudhury, A R Choudhury's works, 2001.
- Hasan Azizul Huq, A free-thinker, 2003.
- Selina Hussain, Women in Choudhury's writings, 1997.
- Shamshuzaman Khan, Folk culture in Choudhury's works, 1998.
- Jibani Granthamala: A Series of Literary biographies, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Feb 1999.
- Biletey Bish Shotoker Bangla Kobi,Rabbani Choudhury, Agamee PrakashaniAgamee PrakashaniAgamee Prakashani, based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a publishing house. It was established in 1986 by Osman Gani, who also happens to be the First Vice-President of the Bangladesh Gayan O Srijonshil Prakashak Samity . It has published more than 1300 title books since June 2010...
, Dhaka, Feb 2000. - Silver Jubilee Commemorative Volume of Bangladesh Independence, The Committee to Celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence, London, 1997.
- Brihattar Syleter Itihas (History of Greater Sylhet) Vol.1, Brihattar Sylheter Itihas Pranayan Parished, November 1997.
- Shoto Bochorer Sangbadikota, Sylhet Itihas Pranayan Parished, Jan 1998.
- Habiganj Porikroma, Habiganj Etihash Pronoyan Parished, Bangladesh, October 1994.
- Protayo, Shahitya Porishad, 1993.
- Habiganj-er Muslim Manosh, Habiganj.
- Habiganj-er Shahitoyang, Nandalal Sharma, Jhalabad Lokashahitya Porishad, Bangladesh, December 1992.
- Aajo Onek Rohoshya, London, 1997.
- Sharak 1 (Dhaka, 1997), Sharak 2 (Dhaka, 1998), Sharak 3, (Dhaka, 1999).