Shahidullah Kaiser
Encyclopedia
Shahidullah Kaiser (1927–1971) was a Bangladesh
i novelist and writer. He was born on 16 February 1927 in the Mazupur village in what is now the Feni District
, Bangladesh
.
and obtained a Bachelors degree in economics with honours. Later, he enrolled in Masters of Arts at Calcutta University but did not finish getting the degree.
Kaiser was active in politics and cultural movements from his student days. Following the formation of Pakistan
in 1947, he became a member of the provincial Communist Party of East Pakistan
. He started working as a journalist in 1949 with the Ittefaq
in Dhaka
. In 1952, he participated actively in the Language Movement
. For his political role in the movement for protection of Bengali language
, Kaiser was arrested on 3 June 1952. He was later jailed for three and a half years. Right after his release in 1955, he was again arrested and jailed on a political crackdown on activists. A few years later he was released. In 1958, Kaiser joined as an associate editor of the Daily Sangbad - a Bengali language
daily - where he worked for the rest of his life. When the Military coup of 1958 put Ayub Khan in power, and martial law
was proclaimed, Kaiser was arrested again on 14 October 1958 and remained in jail for four years till his release in September 1962.
of 1971, the Pakistan Army
and its local collaborators initiated a plan for killing the leading Bengali intellectuals. As a part of it, Kaisar was rounded up on 14 December 1971. He never returned, nor was his body found. It is assumed that he was executed along with other intellectuals. His brother, Zahir Raihan
, a notable film-maker, also disappeared while searching for Kaisar.
is a famous author and novelist. She also served as a member of the parliament for the Awami League government between 1996-2001. Kaiser's daughter Shomi Kaiser is a famous actress of the country.
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...
i novelist and writer. He was born on 16 February 1927 in the Mazupur village in what is now the Feni District
Feni District
Feni is a small southern district of Bangladesh, bordering Tripura in India, Chittagong district, the Bay of Bengal, Noakhali district and Comilla district...
, 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...
.
Early life and education
Shahidullah Kaiser was born Abu Nayeem Mohammad Shahidullah. He studied at Presidency College, KolkataPresidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
and obtained a Bachelors degree in economics with honours. Later, he enrolled in Masters of Arts at Calcutta University but did not finish getting the degree.
Kaiser was active in politics and cultural movements from his student days. Following the formation of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , 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...
in 1947, he became a member of the provincial Communist Party of East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. He started working as a journalist in 1949 with the Ittefaq
Ittefaq
The Daily Ittefaq is a daily newspaper which is one of the most published and circulated newspaper published from Bangladesh. This newspaper printed in Bengali by Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited...
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...
. In 1952, he participated actively in the Language Movement
Language Movement
The Bengali Language Movement, also known as the Language Movement , was a political effort in Bangladesh , advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of Pakistan...
. For his political role in the movement for protection of Bengali language
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, Kaiser was arrested on 3 June 1952. He was later jailed for three and a half years. Right after his release in 1955, he was again arrested and jailed on a political crackdown on activists. A few years later he was released. In 1958, Kaiser joined as an associate editor of the Daily Sangbad - a Bengali language
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
daily - where he worked for the rest of his life. When the Military coup of 1958 put Ayub Khan in power, and martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was proclaimed, Kaiser was arrested again on 14 October 1958 and remained in jail for four years till his release in September 1962.
Literary works
- Sareng Bau (The Captain's Wife, 1962)
- Sangshaptak (The Indomitable Soldiers, 1965)
- Krishnachura Megh (Krishnachura Clouds)
- Timir Balay (The Circle of Darkness)
- Digante Phuler Agun (The Flaming Horizon)
- Samudra O Trsna (Sea and Thirst)
- Chandrabhaner Kanya (Chandrabhan's Daughter)
- Kabe Pohabe Bibhabari (When Will It Dawn?) (unfinished)
- Rajbandir Rojnamacha (The Diary of a Political Prisoner, 1962)
- Peshwar Theke Tashkhand (From Peshwar to Tashkent, 1966)
Death
At the end the Bangladesh Liberation WarBangladesh 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....
of 1971, the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
and its local collaborators initiated a plan for killing the leading Bengali intellectuals. As a part of it, Kaisar was rounded up on 14 December 1971. He never returned, nor was his body found. It is assumed that he was executed along with other intellectuals. His brother, Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
, a notable film-maker, also disappeared while searching for Kaisar.
Family
His wife Panna KaiserPanna Kaiser
Panna Kaiser , is a Bangladeshi author and novelist. She is the widow of Shahidullah Kaiser. She also served as a member of the parliament for the Awami League government between 1996-2001.-Novels:...
is a famous author and novelist. She also served as a member of the parliament for the Awami League government between 1996-2001. Kaiser's daughter Shomi Kaiser is a famous actress of the country.
See also
- 1971 East Pakistan Intellectuals massacre