Shahidul Zahir
Encyclopedia
Shaheedul Jahir, also spelt Shahidul Zahir, was an eminent post-modernist fictionist of Bangladesh
. He wrote both short stories and novels, and was distinguished for his extraordinary prose-style.
city. His father A.K Nural Haque was a govt. officer and his mother Jahanara Begum a housewife. His paternal home was in the village Hashil of Raigonj Upozilla of Sirajgonj district. His grandfather Jahiruddin (it seems Shaheed took the name Jahir from his Grandfather's name) was a teacher of the local NORMAL SCHOOL (During British Period) and his grandmother was Jinnatun Nesa.They both died long before,when his father was a child. His maternal grandparents were Azimuddin Ahmad and Hamida Begum of Amlapara, Sirajgonj Town, where he used to visit frequently on the occasion of summer holidays or EIDs during his childhood along with his family members.These places together with Fulbaria an Satkania, where he grew up, left deep impression in his mind and in the later years featured in many of his short stories and novels.Fictionist Shaheedul Jahir started his school at Silverdale KG School at the then 36 Rankin Street, Dhaka. Later he went to schools of Dhaka
, Fulbaria,Mymensingh and Satkania,Chittagong.From Satkania Model High School he passed his SSC Examination . Later he went to the Dhaka College
for his pre-university course(HSC). 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 1981 as an Assistant Secretary . He was serving as Secretary-in-charge of the Ministry for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs till his sudden death in 2008.
Shaheedul Jahir 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.’ His left behind a family consisted of 4 brothers and 4 sisters. His father died in 1990 and his mother lives with his younger brothers and sisters at his paternal home at Noyatola, Boro Moghbazar, Dhaka, where he used to reside before moving to govt. quarter after joining the Civil Service. 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 acute myocardial infarction (massive heart attack) on 23 March 2008 at the LabAid Cardiac 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 country, in addition to the literary circle. He was buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard at Mirpur, Dhaka. He left a huge number of literary fans who were impressed by his unique literary approach.
. 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 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
. Thematically, the storylines 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
.He also translated a few stories from English.
Sometimes he wrote poetry but never published any. Also, he translated Bengali poems into English when he had leisure. Two lines from his flings at poetry is quoted below:
Two volumes have been published compiling selected short-stories and novels of Shaheedul Jahir. These are:
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...
. He wrote both short stories and novels, and was distinguished for his extraordinary prose-style.
Life and career
Born Mohammad Shaheedul Haque on 11 September 1953 at 36 Bhuter Goli ( Bhojo Hari Shaha Street) of Narinda in old part of DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
city. His father A.K Nural Haque was a govt. officer and his mother Jahanara Begum a housewife. His paternal home was in the village Hashil of Raigonj Upozilla of Sirajgonj district. His grandfather Jahiruddin (it seems Shaheed took the name Jahir from his Grandfather's name) was a teacher of the local NORMAL SCHOOL (During British Period) and his grandmother was Jinnatun Nesa.They both died long before,when his father was a child. His maternal grandparents were Azimuddin Ahmad and Hamida Begum of Amlapara, Sirajgonj Town, where he used to visit frequently on the occasion of summer holidays or EIDs during his childhood along with his family members.These places together with Fulbaria an Satkania, where he grew up, left deep impression in his mind and in the later years featured in many of his short stories and novels.Fictionist Shaheedul Jahir started his school at Silverdale KG School at the then 36 Rankin Street, Dhaka. Later he went to schools of Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, Fulbaria,Mymensingh and Satkania,Chittagong.From Satkania Model High School he passed his SSC Examination . Later he went to 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...
for his pre-university course(HSC). He studied Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the Dhaka University for his Bachelor and Masters degrees. He also went to the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington DC and Birmingham University. He joined the Bangladesh Civil Service
Bangladesh Civil Service
Bangladesh Civil Service, more popularly known by its acronym BCS, is the elite civil service of the Government of Bangladesh. It originated from the Central Superior Services of Pakistan. Since independence it has been known by Act as Bangladesh Civil Service. The Bangladesh Public Service...
in 1981 as an Assistant Secretary . He was serving as Secretary-in-charge of the Ministry for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs till his sudden death in 2008.
Shaheedul Jahir 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.’ His left behind a family consisted of 4 brothers and 4 sisters. His father died in 1990 and his mother lives with his younger brothers and sisters at his paternal home at Noyatola, Boro Moghbazar, Dhaka, where he used to reside before moving to govt. quarter after joining the Civil Service. 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 acute myocardial infarction (massive heart attack) on 23 March 2008 at the LabAid Cardiac Hospital in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. His premature death brought end to a literary personality who was fully comptent and capable and was posied to enrich 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 unique prose-style. His untimely death was mourned by the president and prime minister of the country, in addition to the literary circle. He was buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard at Mirpur, Dhaka. He left a huge number of literary fans who were impressed by his unique literary approach.
Literary works and style
Shaheedul Jahir distinguished himself with his surrealist approach to fiction. 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 WaliullahSyed Waliullah
Syed Waliullah was a Bangladeshi novelist, short-story writer and playwright. He is most well known in Bangla literature for his first novel, Lalsalu...
. 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 and termed Zahir has been termed the new Marquez
Márquez
Márquez , meaning "son of Marcos", is a surname of Spanish origin that can refer to:People:*Alfonso Márquez, Mexican Major League Baseball umpire*Arturo Márquez, Mexican composer*David W...
of Bangladesh. However, he admitted the influence of two contemporary novelist, namely Syed Shamsul Haque
Syed Shamsul Haque
Syed Shamsul Haque , is a Bangladesh poets and writer. He was born in Kurigram.-Life:Syed Shamsul Haq was born in a small town called Kurigram on 27 December in 1935. His father was Syed Siddique Husain a homeopathic physician and mother Halima Khatun. His father came to Kurigram to pursue in...
and Akhtaruzzaman Elias, in addition to Syed Waliullah
Syed Waliullah
Syed Waliullah was a Bangladeshi novelist, short-story writer and playwright. He is most well known in Bangla literature for his first novel, Lalsalu...
. Thematically, the storylines 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
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...
.He also translated a few stories from English.
Sometimes he wrote poetry but never published any. Also, he translated Bengali poems into English when he had leisure. 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 ChowdhuryFaizul Latif ChowdhuryFaizul Latif Chowdhury is a career civil servant from Bangladesh currently working as a diplomat. A literary figure and an economist at the same time, he works on corruption in public administration, tax policy process, economics of tax evasion and tax avoidance, smuggling, international trade...
)
Publications
Shaheedul Jahir published only six books during his lifetime. 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), which was published in the magazine Nipun earlier, has already been published as a book by Mowla Brothers in February 2009 Ekushey Book Fair.- 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.
- Abu Ibrahimer Mrityu, February 2009, a Novel.
Two volumes have been published compiling selected short-stories and novels of Shaheedul Jahir. These are:
- Shaheedul Jahir : Nirbachita Uponyash, February 2007, Pathak Samabesh, Dhaka.
- Shaheedul Jahir : Nirbachita Golpo, February 2007, Pathak Samabesh, Dhaka.