Abu Zafar Obaidullah
Encyclopedia
Abu Zafar Obaidullah a career civil servant by profession, was a first-rank poet of Bangladesh
. Two of his long poems, namely, 'Aami-Kingbodontir-Kathaa Bolchi' and 'Bristi O Shahosi Purush-er Jonyo Pranthona' have gained legendary renowence since their first publicaiton in late 1970s.
on 8 February 1934, in undivided India
. He was the second son of Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan
, a former speaker of the Pakistan national assembly
. He received his primary education in Mymensingh
town where his father Abdul Jabbar Khan was at that time working as the District Judge. In 1948, he passed Matriculation examination from the Mymensingh Zilla School
. He passed the Intermediate of Arts examination as a student of the Dhaka College
in 1950. Then he got admitted into the Dhaka University for studying English
and after securing B.A. (Honours) and M.A. degrees he joined the same university in 1954 as a lecturer in the Department of English. He appeared in the Pakistan Superior Service Examinations and having stood second in the combined national merit list, he joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1957. He was promoted as Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in 1976 and after retiring in 1982, he accecpted to be a minister for Agriculture and Water Resources in 1982. Later he also served as Bangladesh's Ambassador to the United States of America. In 1992, he joined as Asstt Director General of FAO Regional Office in Bangkok from where he retired four years later. He died on March 19, 2001. He was the second eldest brother of journalist Enayetullah Khan and politician Rashed Khan Menon
.
countries of Asia
, Africa
and Latin America
by projecting their aspirations, demands and liberation struggles.
Notably Obaidullah Khan was one of the pioneers of Dhaka-centric group theatre movement that commenced in the 1950s. Along with Syed Maksudus Saleheen, Taufiq Aziz Khan and Bazlul Karim he established Drama Circle in 1956.
Also, "Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Smriti Pathagar" [memorial library] has been established in Babuganj of Barisal in 2003.
published Obaidullah's first compilation of poetry at Sawghat Press in 1962. In 1999, all poems of Abu Zafar Obaidullah covering all eight of poetry books of the poet were compiled in a volume titled "Abu Zafar Obaidullah-er Kabitasamagra".
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...
. Two of his long poems, namely, 'Aami-Kingbodontir-Kathaa Bolchi' and 'Bristi O Shahosi Purush-er Jonyo Pranthona' have gained legendary renowence since their first publicaiton in late 1970s.
Life and career
On February 8, 1934 poet Abu Zafar Mohammad Obaidullah Khan (A. Z. M. Obaidullah Khan) was born in Baherchar-Kshudrakathi village under Babuganj upazila of Barisal districtBarisal District
Barisal is a district in southern Bangladesh. It is also the headquarters of Barisal Division.-Geography and climate:Latitude: 22.75, Longitude: 90.36, Altitude: 4....
on 8 February 1934, in undivided India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the second son of Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan
Abdul Jabbar Khan
Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan was the 6th Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. He was Preceded by Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry.- External links:*...
, a former speaker of the Pakistan national assembly
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
. He received his primary education in Mymensingh
Mymensingh
Mymensingh , pronounced moy-mon-shing-haw, is a city of Bangladesh situated on the river Brahmaputra. It is the headquarters of the administrative unit Mymensingh District. Mymensingh is the anglicized pronunciation of the original name Momenshahi, referring to a ruler called Momen Shah. The cadet...
town where his father Abdul Jabbar Khan was at that time working as the District Judge. In 1948, he passed Matriculation examination from the Mymensingh Zilla School
Mymensingh Zilla School
Mymensingh Zilla School is a boys-only school in Bangladesh established in 1853. The school is located within 10 minute of rickshaw ride from the center of the town. In a residential area, the school is quiet without significant noise from the main street. This school has the facility for study...
. He passed the Intermediate of Arts examination as a student of the Dhaka College
Dhaka College
, located in Dhaka, is one of Bangladesh's earliest and most prestigious higher educational institutions. It offers both four years bachelor's and one years masters course in various majors, but it is best known for HSC...
in 1950. Then he got admitted into the Dhaka University for studying English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and after securing B.A. (Honours) and M.A. degrees he joined the same university in 1954 as a lecturer in the Department of English. He appeared in the Pakistan Superior Service Examinations and having stood second in the combined national merit list, he joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1957. He was promoted as Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in 1976 and after retiring in 1982, he accecpted to be a minister for Agriculture and Water Resources in 1982. Later he also served as Bangladesh's Ambassador to the United States of America. In 1992, he joined as Asstt Director General of FAO Regional Office in Bangkok from where he retired four years later. He died on March 19, 2001. He was the second eldest brother of journalist Enayetullah Khan and politician Rashed Khan Menon
Rashed Khan Menon
Rashed Khan Menon is a Bangladeshi politician. He is the chairman of Workers Party of Bangladesh and a member of Jatiyo Sangsad, the parliament of Bangladesh. Menon is the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Education.-Early activism:Menon studied at Dhaka...
.
Participaiton in Language Movement
Abu Zafar Obaidullah actively participated in the Language Movement of 1952 . He composed "Kono Ek Ma-key" [Tr. To a Mother] for the first anthology on Ekushey, which is recited at the Central Shaheed Minar on February 21 every year.Poetry
Obaidullah Khan not only created a new type of poetry, but also introduced a new style. The root of Obaidullah Khan was in the soil of this country and so he wrote about lives of ordinary people and dreams, language and liberation movements and the struggles of our mass people including farmers, fishermen. He was not only one of the major poets of Bangladesh, but also became the spokesman of the Third WorldThird World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
countries of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
by projecting their aspirations, demands and liberation struggles.
Padaboli
He founded "padaboli" which became the leading poetry movement of Bangladesh in 1980s.Notably Obaidullah Khan was one of the pioneers of Dhaka-centric group theatre movement that commenced in the 1950s. Along with Syed Maksudus Saleheen, Taufiq Aziz Khan and Bazlul Karim he established Drama Circle in 1956.
Recognition and Awards
Abu Zafar Obaidullah is acclaimed as a major poet of Bangladesh. Two major awards given to him are :- Ekushey PadakEkushey PadakEkushey Padak is one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 that took place on February 21, 1952.-2001:*Shah Abdul Karim...
- Bangla Academy AwardBangla Academy AwardBangla Academy Award is a literary award given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius in advancement and overall contribution in the field of Bangla language and literature....
Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Foundation
Poetry lovers of Dhaka established Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Foundation in 2002. Currently Arif Nazrul is the Foundation president (2008). Among other regular activities this Foundation awards every year persons who are contributing in the national interest. In 2008, sixteen nationally renowned persons have been selected for the award. They are: Prof Muzaffer Ahmed, Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in Economics, Md Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Board of Investment in Administration, Rahat Khan, Editor of daily Ittefaq in Literature (Prose), Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Editor of The Bangladesh Observer, in Journalism, Dr Abul Hasan M Sadeque, Vice Chancellor of Asian University of Bangladesh, in Education, Sayed Abu Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed, Managing Director of Agrani Bank, in Banking, Nasir Ahmed in Poetry, Rahim Shah in Child Literature, Mainuddin Biswas and Eng Safiqur Rahman in Industry and Commerce, GM Afsar Uddin in Research, Mohammad JAhangir Molla in Lyrics, Rakhi Bhoumik in Music, Lion Sheikh Tofael Hossain in Social Welfare and Md Selim Master.Also, "Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Smriti Pathagar" [memorial library] has been established in Babuganj of Barisal in 2003.
Books
Poet Hasan Hafizur RahmanHasan Hafizur Rahman
Hasan Hafizur Rahman became the editor of the Daily Bangla right after the liberation in 1971. He also worked for the government as a high official and edited the book, The Liberation War of Bangladesh, which was published in 16 volumes...
published Obaidullah's first compilation of poetry at Sawghat Press in 1962. In 1999, all poems of Abu Zafar Obaidullah covering all eight of poetry books of the poet were compiled in a volume titled "Abu Zafar Obaidullah-er Kabitasamagra".
- Kokhono Rong Kokhono Shoor
- Kamol-er Chokh
- Ami Kingbadontir Katha Bolchhi
- Shohishnu Protikkha
- Brishti Ebong Shahoshi Purush-er Jonyo Prarthona
- Amar Shomoi Amar Shakol Katha
- Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi
- Yellow Sands' Hills: China through Chinese Eyes
- Rural Development - Problems and Prospects
- Creative Development; Food and Faith
- Abu Zafar Obaidullah-er Kabitasamagra