Humayun Ahmed (Bengali: হুমায়ূন আহমেদ[ɦumajuːn aɦmed]; 13 November 1948 – 19 July 2012)[4][5] was a Bangladeshi novelist, dramatist, screenwriter, filmmaker, songwriter, scholar, and academic.[6] His breakthrough was his debut novel Nondito Noroke published in 1972.[7] He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books.[8][9] He was one of the most popular authors and filmmakers in post-independence Bangladesh.[10] Pakistani English newspaper Dawn referred to him as the cultural legend of Bangladesh.[11]
Ahmed wrote his debut novel Nondito Noroke(In Blissful Hell) during the 1971 Bangladesh independence war while he was a university student.[27][28] The novel was published in 1972 by the initiative of writer Ahmed Sofa under Khan Brother's Publishers.[29][30] From his very first novel, his themes included the aspirations of average middle-class urban families and portrayed quintessential moments of their lives.[31] His second novel was Shonkhonil Karagar.[32]
Ahmed wrote fictional series featuring recurring characters such as Himu (21 novels), Misir Ali (19 novels and 11 short stories), Shuvro (6 novels)[32][33][34] Other important non-rucurring characters are Baker Bhai, Tuni and more. He wrote several novels based on the Bangladesh Liberation War – Aguner Poroshmoni, Matal Hawa, Paap, 1971, Jochona O Jononir Golpo.,[32] and Deyal. He also wrote many romantic novels including Srabon Megher Din, Badol Diner Prothom Kodom Phool, Noboni, Krishnopoksho, Aj Dupure Tomar Nimontran, and Tumi Amai Dekechhile Chhutir Nimontrane.[32] His novel Gouripur Junction was translated in nine languages.[32]
Ahmed wrote autobiographies – Amar Chelebela, Ballpoint, Fountain Pen, Hiji-biji, Hotel Graver Inn, May Flower, Kath Pencil, Lilabotir Mrityu, New York-er Nil Akashe Jhokjhoke Rod and Rong Pencil.[35][36][37][38]
Television and film
Ahmed's first television drama was Prothom Prohor (1983), directed by Nawazish Ali Khan.[39] His first drama serial was Ei Shob Din Ratri (1985). This was followed by the comedy series Bohubrihi (1988), the historical drama series Ayomoy (1988), the urban drama series Kothao Keu Nei (1990), Nokkhotrer Raat (1996), and Aaj Robibar (1999). In addition, he made single episode dramas, most notably Nimful (1997).[40] Recurring characters in dramas directed and screenplayed by him are Tara Tin Jon and Alauddiner Cherager Doitto.
In 2009, Ahmed appeared as one of two judges for the reality television music competition show Khude Gaanraj.[47]
Actor Affan Mitul debuted with his drama Nuruddin Swarna Padak. It was produced and directed by Humayun Ahmed himself.
Music
Ahmed composed around 40 songs which he used in his films and television dramas.[48] The songs were based on the folk music of the north-eastern part of Bangladesh.[48] His notable singles include "Ekta Chhilo Shonar Konya", "Pubali Batashey", "O Amar Ural Ponkhi Rey", "Jodi Mon Kadey", "Ke Porailo Amar Chokh-e Kolonko Kajol", "Chadni Poshor Raite Ke Anay Shoron Kore", "Ami Aaj Bhejabo Chokh Somudrer Joley", "Cholona Brishtitey Bhiji", "Channi Poshor Raite Jeno Amar Moron Hoy", "Hablonger Bajarey Giya", "Boroshar Prothom Dine", Thikana Amar Notebook E Ache", "Baje Bongshi", "Aaj Jorir Biye", "Cholo Na Jai", "Chika Maro" and "Konya Nachilo Rey" etc.[48] The songs were rendered by Subir Nandi, Selim Chowdhury, S I Tutul, Meher Afroz Shaon, Sabina Yasmin, Agun, Kuddus Boyati and others.[48] In his most films and TV dramas, the music composer was Maksud Jamil Mintu.
Critical response
Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus assessed Ahmed's overall impact saying: "Humayun's works are the most profound and most fruitful that literature has experienced since the time of Tagore and Nazrul."[9] Similarly, according to poet Al Mahmud, "one golden age of Bengali literature ended with Tagore and Nazrul and another began with Ahmed".[9] Writer Imdadul Haq Milan considered him to be "the almighty lord of Bengali literature, controlling all their actions and thoughts".[9]Dawn, Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper, referred to him as the cultural legend of Bangladesh.[49]Times of India credited Humayun as "the person who single-handedly shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka".[9]Sunil Gangopadhyay described him as the most popular writer in the Bengali language for a century[50] and according to him, Ahmed was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[51] However, during his lifetime author Shahriar Kabir dismissed him for "always speaking for the establishment."[52] Literary critic Azfar Hussain said: "I am not surprised he talks like a pro-establishment writer. I find him ignorant."[52]
Controversy
On 11 May 2012, two chapters of Ahmed's future novel Deyal were published in the daily Prothom Alo.[53] 3 days later, Attorney General of Bangladesh Mahbubey Alam drew attention of the High Court on a discrepancy about a detail of the historical event of killing Sheikh Russel in Ahmed's writing.[54][53] The court later issued a suo moto rule and asked the authorities to provide Ahmed copies of relevant documents and judgements of the killing case, so that Ahmed could rectify the writing.[55][53]
Personal life
Ahmed married Gultekin Khan in 1973.[41][42][56] Together they had three daughters, Bipasha Ahmed, Shila Ahmed, Nova Ahmed and one son, Nuhash Humayun. Shila went on to become a television and film actress and Nuhash became a writer, film director, and producer.[57] Bipasha also acted in a supporting role in Nokkhotrer Raat and starred in Mayaboti. On 6 June 2004, Ahmed divorced Gultekin.[58] He then married actress Meher Afroz Shaon in 2004. He had two sons from the second marriage, Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun. He later had a daughter, Lilaboti, who suffered a neonatal death. A lake in Nuhash Palli was named after her.[59]
Ahmed was not religious, he drank red wine and had non-halal foods.[60]
Death
Ahmed had open-heart surgery at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.[61] A few years later, during a routine checkup, doctors found a cancerous tumor in his colon. On 14 September 2011, he was flown to Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York City for treatment.[61] During his stay there, he wrote the novel, Deyal, based on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman after the period of Bangladesh Liberation War.[62] In January 2011, he was appointed as a senior special adviser of the Bangladesh Mission to the United Nations.[63]
On 12 May 2012, Ahmed returned to Bangladesh for two weeks.[64] He died on 19 July 2012, at 11:20 pm BST at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.[8] There was some tension in the family over the selection of his burial site, but eventually his estate, Nuhash Palli was selected.[2]
Nuhash Palli
In 1987, Ahmed founded an estate, Nuhash Palli, named after his son Nuhash, near Pirujali village, 25 km from Gazipur City, in Gazipur District,[65] which grew to cover 40 bigha (approximately 14 acres).[66] He would spend much of his time at the estate when he was in Bangladesh. He formed a collection of statues there by local artist Asaduzzaman Khan and another of plants from around the world, particularly medicinal and fruit-bearing trees.[65]
Legacy
Exim Bank, a commercial bank and Anyadin, an entertainment magazine jointly introduced an award program, Humayun Ahmed Sahitya Puruskar, which would be conferred to two writers every year on Ahmed's birth anniversary – 12 November.[67]
Tamanna Khan (27 July 2012). "People's Writer". Star Weekend Magazine. Vol. 11, no. 30. The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.