The 13th death anniversary of poet Shamsur Rahman, one of the most celebrated poets of contemporary Bangla literature, will be observed today.
Rahman’s friends, family members and well-wishers will observe the day with due respect.
Jatiya Kabita Parishad, a platform of poets, will place floral wreaths on Shamsur Rahman’s grave at Banani graveyard in the morning.
‘Every year we pay tribute to Shamsur Rahman on his death anniversary placing floral wreaths on his grave. We also organise commemorative programmes marking his birth anniversary,’ Tariq Sujat, Jatiya Kabita Parishad general secretary, told New Age.
Shamsur Rahman was born at his grandfather’s house in Mahuttuli, Dhaka on October 23, 1929 to Mokhlesur Rahman Choudhury and Amena Khatun.
He was admitted to class two of Pogos School in Dhaka. He passed his matriculation in 1945 and passed his intermediate from Dhaka College in 1947.
Shamsur Rahman started writing poems at the age of 18. His first poem Unishsha Unapanchash was published in 1943.
Shamsur Rahman took admission to the English department of Dhaka University. While a university student, five of his poems were published in Natun Kabita (1950), an anthology of poems of thirteen young poets.
Although he completed the three-year course he did not appear in the final exam. In 1953 he obtained BA (pass course) degree. After a lapse of some years he got admitted to MA in English but did not obtain MA degree.
Rahman authored a total of 60 collections of poems, besides novels and essays. Liberal humanism, human relations, youth, patriotism and opposition to religious fundamentalism are some of the recurrent themes that Rahman expressed in his poems.
Rahman’s first collection of poems, Prothom Gaan Dwityo Mrittyur Agey, was published in 1960.
From the 1960s, Rahman appeared as a leading poet in Bangla poetry with his many popular poems like Asad-er Shirt, Swadhinata Tumi and Tomake Pawar Jonno Hey Swadhinata. He also served as the editor of defunct national daily Dainik Bangla and weekly Bichitra in the 1980s.
Shamsur Rahman died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 77 in 2006.
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