Abdul Hakim: Abdul Hakim Was a poet in medieval Bengal . He was born on the island of Sandwip in 1620. Hakim's most famous work perhaps is Nurnama, a depiction of the life of prophet Muhammad in lyrical Bangla. This work can be considered as an important step in creating a Bengali Muslim identity. However, what Nurnama is arguably more well known for is Hakim's great patriotism and specially his love for the Bangla language. In medieval ages, Persian and Arabic tended to be court languages all over the South Asia and perceived by some as the language to do literary work in.
Al Mahmud: Al Mahmud (born 1936) is one of the best Bangla poets and writers of Bangladesh . He is considered as one of the best Bengali poets to emerge from the 1950. He was born in Brahmanbari District. Mahmud started his career as a journalist. He was recognized as an outstanding poet after the publication of his volume of verse, Lok Lokantor, in 1963. Later books, such as Kaler Kalosh (1966), Sonali Kabin (1966), and Mayabi Porda Dule Otho (1976), established his position as one of the most prominent poets of the country. In addition to writing poetry, Al Mahmud has written short stories, novels and essays, among which 'Pankourir Rakta' and Upamohadesh are considered to be the most famous ones. He is often said as having enriched Bengali Poetry by his copious use of regional dialects. After the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, he joined the Daily Ganakantha as assistant editor. He was jailed for a year for being very critical of the then Awami League government. Later, he joined Bangladesh Shilpokala Academy and retired as its director.
Begum Roquia Sakhawat Hussain: Begum Roquia Sakhawat Hussain She was born Roquia Khatun but achieved prominence as Begum Roquia Sakhawat Hussain. Begum is an honorific, that is, a title of respect in addressing a woman. When she wrote in English, she transliterated her name as Rokeya. (1880-1932) was a prolific writer and a social worker in undivided Bengal in the early 20th century. She is most famous for her efforts on behalf of gender equality and other social issues. She established the first school aimed primarily at Muslim girls, which still exists today. She was a notable Muslim feminist; modern feminist writers such as Taslima Nasrin cite her as an influence.
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838–1894) Bongkim Chondro Chattopadhyay in the original Bengali. Chatterjee as spelt by the British was an Indian Bengali poet, novelist, essayist and journalist, most famous as the author of Bande Mataram, that inspired the freedom fighters of
Dinabandhu Mitra: Dinabandhu Mitra (1830–1873) the Bengali dramatist, was born in 1830 at village Chouberia in Gopalnagar, was the son of Kalachand Mitra. His given name was Gandharva Narayan, but he changed it to Dinabandhu Mitra. Dinabandhu Mitra's education started at a village pathshala. His father arranged a job for him on a zamindar's estate (1840). But the small boy fled to Kolkata, where he started working in the house of his uncle, Nilmani Mitra. Around 1846, he was admitted to the free school run by James Long. Dinabandhu was a bright student and won a number of scholarships. In 1850, he enrolled at
Hasan Azizul Huq: Hasan Azizul Huq He is a Bangladeshi writer, reputed for his short stories. He was born on 2 February 1939 in Jabgraam in Burdwan district of West Bengal, India . However, later his parents moved to Fultala, near the city of Khulna , Bangladesh . He taught in the department of philosophy of the Rajshahi University for a long time and retired as a professor of philosophy. He now lives in "Ujan", the name of his home near the campus of the Rajshahi University . Huq is well known for his experimentations with the language and introducing modern idioms in his writings. His use of language and symbolism has earned him critical acclaim. His stories explore the psychological depths of human beings as well as portray the lives of the peasants of Bangladesh.Huq has received most of the major literary awards of Bangladesh including the Bangla Academy Award in 1970.
Humayun Azad: Humayun Azad rarhi Khal Dhaka Bangladesh 28 April 1947 - Munich Germany 11 August 2004 was a prolific Bangladeshi author and scholar. He wrote more than seventy titles. He was widely known for his anti-establishment, anti-religion and anti-military voice and was reputed for caustic remarks.
Humayun Ahmed: Humayun Ahmed born 1948 is arguably the most popular Bengali writer of fiction and drama. He had a meteoric rise in Bangla literature" since the publication of his first novel, Nondito Noroke. Being a prolific writer, he has been publishing since the early 1970s. He was formerly a professor of Department of Chemistry at the Dhaka University Bangladesh . But now he is a full-time author and movie-maker.
Humayun Kabir Dhali:
Humayun Kabir Dhali born 30 October 1964 is a writer and journalist in Bangladesh . He has written 40 books, both fiction and non-fiction, which span a wide range of genres from science fiction to children stories. His first book, Mon Shudu mon Chuyesay, a love story, was published in 1991. Dusta Cheler Galpo is also a well-known Kishor novel. He has written more Tomar chokher jall, Dusta Cheler Galpo, Tiye Pakhir Janmadinay, Kaker Cha kongkaboti, Katush Kutush, Lejkata Bugh o Rajkonna, Neel Graher Rohossho, Ek Jay chilo Hunggor, Bilay Nengti, Kalo Murti Rohossho, Vuter Chow, Bilai Maw Kata Khow, Desh Bdesh er Rupkatha, Ek Dozon Rupkatha etc. Dhali is the editor of Begum Rokeya Rachana Samogra, Nirbachito Vuter Galpo, Maakey Niye Eksho Chara, Pakhir Galpo Pakhir Chara, Sera Kishor Rupkatha, Sresto Vuter Galpo etc. His child book Tiye Pakhir Janmadinay's English version "On the Birthday of A Parrot" has been included in the curriculum of Keben primary school, Turkey . His science fiction NEEL GRAHER ROHOSSHO has published by Nirmal Book Agency, Kolkata , India . Besides these, he worked in the Weekly Samikkhan He also worked as an assistant Editor in the Monthly Burigonga and the founder Editor on the only one education and career related magazine in Bangladesh named Panjeree Shikkha Sambad. During this time he worked in the root-level for the education system of Bangladesh .
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar:
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar 26 September 1820 – 29 July 1891 born was an Indian Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. Vidyasagar was a philosopher, academic, educator, writer, translator, printer, publisher, entrepreneur, reformer, and philanthropist. His efforts to simplify and modernize Bangla prose were significant. He also rationalized and simplified the Bengali alphabet and type, which had remained unchanged since Charles Wilkins and Panchanan Karmakar had cut the first wooden Bangla type fonts in 1780. He received the title "Vidyasagar" from the Calcutta Sanskrit College (where he graduated), due to his excellent performance in Sanskrit studies and philosophy. In Sanskrit, Vidya means knowledge or learning and Sagar means ocean or sea. This title was mainly given for his vast knowledge in all subjects which was compared to the vastness of the ocean.
Jahanara Imam: Jahanara Imam May 3, 1929 —June 26, 1994 was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is most widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. She was popularly known as "Shaheed Janani" (Mother of Martyrs). Jahanara Imam was born to a progressive Muslim family in Murshidabad, in West Bengal, India. She was the eldest daughter in a family of three brothers and four sisters. Her father Syed Abdul Ali was a Civil Servant in the Bengal Civil Service and she lived in many different parts of Bengal - wherever her father was posted. She had a very liberal upbringing and education and was an exceptionally spirited person. Her father recognized this and made sure she received the best possible education. Her mother Hamida Ali, who spent her entire life looking after her family and bringing up her children, also had high ambitions for her daughter. At that time there was a lot of social pressure against Muslim women pursuing further studies, but she was determined that Jahanara's education would not be constrained. Her parents' ambitions and their belief in education for women left a deep impression on Jahanara.After finishing her studies in 1945 in Carmichael College in Rangpur, Jahanara Imam went to Lady Brabourne College of Calcutta University and in 1947 obtained her Bachelor's Degree. She was an activist even during her Lady Brabourne College days. After the partition of India , she joined her family in Mymensingh in what became East Pakistan and started teaching at Vidyamoyee Govt. Girls High School . Next time in 1948 she married Shariful Alam Imam Ahmed, a Civil Engineer, whom she met in Rangpur while studying at Carmichael College . They settled in Dhaka and she joined Siddheswari Girl's School as Head Mistress. She was instrumental in transforming the school from its humble beginnings into one of the top girls schools in Dhaka.She was the first editor of the monthly women’s magazine called “Khawateen”. It started its publication in 1952 and she ran it successfully for several years.In 1960 she gave up her job as Head Mistress to concentrate on bringing up her two sons Rumi and Jami born in 1952 and 1954 respectively. She said to herself “I have given education to thousands of school children, now I should spend some time to bring up my own children”.During this time Jahanara Imam finished her Master's Degree in Bengali Language and Literature and a Bachelor's Degree in Education from DU (Dhaka Universityin) 1962 and 1963 respectively. After that she went back to full-time teaching. From 1966 to 1968 she worked as a lecturer in the Teacher’s Training College in Dhaka . From 1970 she also taught for several years on a part-time basis in the Institute of Modern Language in DU.She spent a significant part of her life in education. She visited the USA in 1964-65 as a Fulbright Scholar to San Diego University and again in 1977 under the International Visitor Program at the invitation of US Government.
Jahir Raihan:
Jahir 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 the Pakistan army and/or local collaborators during the last days of the war. Evidences have been found that he was killed among many others when some armed Bihari collaborators and disguised soldiers of Pakistan Army fired on them when they went to Mirpur, a distant place from the main city of Dhaka that was still being held by Pakistani/Bihari collaborators.
Jasimuddin: Jasimuddin (1903–1976) was a renowned Bangladeshi poet, songwriter, prose writer, folklore collector and radio personality. He is commonly known in Bangladesh as Polli Kobi, the Rural Poet for his faithful rendition of Bangla folklore in his works. Jasimuddin was also one of the pioneers of the progressive and non-communal cultural movement in East Pakistan . Jasimuddin was born in the village of Tambulkhana in Faridpur District on 1 January 1903 in the house of his maternal uncle. His father, Ansaruddin Mollah, was a school-teacher. Jasimuddin received early education at Faridpur Welfare School . He matriculated from Faridpur Zilla School in 1921. Jasimuddin completed IA from Rajendra College in 1924. He obtained his BA and MA degree in Bangla from the University of Calcutta in 1929 and 1931 respectively. From 1931 to 1937, Jasimuddin worked with Dinesh Chandra Sen as a collector of folk literature. Jasimuddin is one of the compilers of Purbo-Bongo Gitika (Ballads of East Bengal). He collected more than 10,000 folk songs, some of which has been included in his song compilations Jari Gaan and Murshida Gaan. He also wrote voluminously on the interpretation and philosophy of Bengali folklore. Jasimuddin joined the Dhaka University in 1938 as a Lecturer. He left the university in 1944 and joined the Department of Information and Broadcasting. He worked there until his retirement as Deputy Director in 1962. Jasimuddin died on 13 March 1976 and was buried near his ancestral home at Gobindapur, Faridpur.
Kaykobad: Kaikobad (1857-1951) was a Bengali epic poet and writer. He was born in 1857 in the village of Agla in the Upazila of Nawabganj, in the district of Dhaka, in what is now Bangladesh . He was the son of Shahamatullah Al Qureshi, a lawyer at the Dhaka District Judge Court . Kaikobad studied at Pogose School and Saint Gregory School in Dhaka . He then went to Dhaka Madrasah where he studied up to the Entrance Examination. However, he did not sit for the examinations, returning instead to his native village to take up the job of postmaster, where he worked until his retirement. In 1932, he presided over the main session of the Bangiya Muslim Sahitya Sammelan in Kolkata.
Kazi Nazrul Islam: Kazi Nazrul Islam 25 May 1899–27 August 1976 was a Bangladeshi poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi (Rebel Poet). Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed works through his life, Nazrul is officially recognised as the national poet of Bangladesh and commemorated in India.Born into a Muslim quazi (justice) family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After serving in the British Indian Army, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in Kolkata. He assailed the British Rajin India and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as "Bidrohi" and "Bhangar Gaan" ("The Song of Destruction"), as well as his publication "Dhumketu". His impassioned activism in the Indian independence movement often led to his imprisonment by British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" ("Deposition of a Political Prisoner"). Exploring the life and conditions of the downtrodden masses of India , Nazrul worked for their emancipation. Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best-known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali ghazals. Nazrul wrote and composed music for his nearly 4,000 songs, collectively known as Nazrul songs (Nazrul geetu), which are widely popular today. At the age of 43 (in 1942) he began suffering from an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. It is often said, the reason was slow poisoning by British Government. It caused Nazrul's health to decline steadily and forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the Governmen Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later.
Manik Bandopadhyay: Manik Bandopadhay (19 May 1908 – 3 December 1956) Born as Prabodh Kumar Bandhopadhay to Harihar Bandhopadhay and Neeroda Devi, is one of the founding fathers of modern Bangla fiction. During a short life of forty eight years, plagued simultaneously with ailment and financial crisis, he produced forty two novels and more than two hundred short-stories. His important works include Padma Nadir Majhi (Tr. The Boatman of Padma River ) and Putul Nacher Etikatha and Chatushkone. One day when he was sitting with his friends in their college canteen one of his friend told could he publish the story in "Bichitra" paper he said that he could publish his first story "Atshi mami". In those days "Bichitra" paper was famous & only famous writer could write. One day he went to "Bichitra" paper's office & posted the story on the editor's letter box.At the end of the story he wrote his name as Manik Bandhopadhay. After four months the story was published & the story became famous in Kolkata & from then he was popularly known as Manik Bandhopadhay.His stories and novels were published in various literary magaziens of the then Bengal. They included Bichitra, Bangasree, Purbasha, AnandaBazaar Patrika, Jugantor, Satyajug, Probashi, Desh, Chaturanga, NoroNari, Notun Jiban, Bosumati, Golp-Bharati, Mouchak, Pathshala, Rang-Mashal, NoboShakti, Swadhinata, Agami, Kalantar, Parichaya, Notun Sahitya, Diganta, Sanskriti, Mukhopotro, Provati, Ononnya, Ultorath, Elomelo, Bharatbarsha, Modhyabitta, Sharodi, Sonar Bangla, Agami, Ononya, Krishak, Purnima, Rupantar and Swaraj.During his lifetime, Manik published as many as fifty seven titles. He has also taken shots at composing poetry.
Michael Madhusudan Dutt:
Michael Madhusudan Dutt ( 25 January 1824 – 29 June 1873 ) was a popular 19th century Bangladeshi poet and dramatist. He was born in Sagardari, on the bank of Kopothakho River , a village in Keshobpur Upozila, Jessore District, East Bengal (now in Bangladesh ). He was a pioneer of Bengali drama. His famous work Meghnadh Badh Kabya, is a tragic. It consists of nine cantos and is quite exceptional in Bengali literature both in terms of style and content. He also wrote poems about the sorrows andafflictions of love as spoken by women. From an early age, Madhusudan desired to be an Englishman in form and manner. Born to a Hindu landed gentry family, he converted to Christianity to the ire of his family and adopted the first name, Michael. However, he was to regret his desire for England and the Occident Bangla sonnet. He pioneered what came to be called amitrakshar chhanda. Dutt died in Kolkata, India on 29 June 1873 . in later life when he talked ardently of his homeland as is seen in his poems and sonnets from this period. Madhusudan is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets in Bengali literature and the father of
Mir Mosharraf Hossain:
Mir Mosharraf Hossain was born in the village of Lahinipara in Kumarkhali PS of Kushtia now in Bangladesh. His widely accepted date of birth is 13th November 1847.But some researchers also claim his date of birth is 26th October, 1847 . His father Mir Moazzem Hossain was one of the few Muslim zamindars of nineteenth century Bengal. His mother's name is Daulatunnesa. In 1865 he married Aziz-un-Nesa. But he was very unhappy with her. As a result he married again in 1874. His second wife was Bibi Kulsum then only twelve years old.He is perhaps most famous for his novel Bishad Shindhu, depicting the tale of Martyrdom of Hossain or Husayn bin Ali British India . Mir Mosharraf Hossain was secular and promoted peace between Hindus and Muslims. His other works include Jamindar Darpan, a play on the plight of common people under the zamindars and their struggle against them. in Karbala.He was one of the first Muslim writers to emerge from colonial
Munier Chowdhury: Munier Chowdhury (born: 27 November 1925 - died: 14 December 1971 ) Munier Chowdhury is survived by his wife Lily Chowdhury and three sons Ahmed Munier, Ashfaq Munier and Asif Munier. Ashfaq Munier is at present the CEO of the Bangladeshi satellite channel ATN NEWS. Asif Munier is a leading activist for human rights in the country and was a founder member of Projonmo Ekattor, a leading human rights group in Bangladesh , which initiated the building of the Rayer Bazar Smriti Shoudho (Rayer Bazar Memorial) in Dhaka . This memorial was built on the barren land on which the Pakistani army dumped the bodies of the intellectuals after murdering them. Projonmo Ekattor also campaigns for the trial of war criminals of 1971. Asif Munier also runs his own theatre group, Bongorongo, through which he stages his fathers plays regularly. On 14 December 1971 Munier Chowdhury, along with a large number of Bengali intellectuals, educators, doctors and engineers, was kidnapped from their houses and later tortured and executed by the Pakistan Army and its Bengali collaborators, only 2 days before the end of the Bangladesh War. His body was never found.
Nurul Momen:
Nurul Momen was born on November 25, 1908 , as son of Nurul Arefin, a physician and landlord in Alfadanga, at that time part of Jessore. He went to primary school in Calcutta and was admitted in 1916 into Zila School in Khulna. At the age of ten he wrote his first poem, Shondhya (Evening), in the same verse as Tagore’s Shonar Tory. In 1919 it was published in the then reputed journal Dhrubotara. In 1920, he was enrolled in the Dhaka Muslim High School where he resided in the Dafrin Hostel. After matriculation in 1924 he studied at Dhaka Intermediate College. Passing intermediate, he enrolled for an B.A. at the newly established DU (Dhaka University) from 1926 on.While he was residing at at "Muslim Hall" of Dahaka University, the varioushalls staged the then new play Muktadhara by Radindranath Tagore. After some initial resistance, Momen received the main role of “Botu”. This ignited his passion for drama and even earned him a prize, but was also the only time that he performed as actor himself. After receiving his B.A. from Dhaka University in 1929, he studied law at the Department of Law, University of Calcutta. Upon completing his B.L. examinations in 1936 he started practicing at the Calcutta High Court.
Shahriar Kabir Is a Bangladeshi journalist, filmmaker, human rights activist, and author of more than 70 books focusing on human rights, communalism, fundamentalism, history, and the Bangladesh war of independence. Shahriar Kabir has been imprisoned twice for protesting against government-sponsored minority persecution and was declared aprisoner of cobscience Amnesty International while several international journalist forums and human rights defenders campaigned for his release. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his contribution to Bengali literature, he has addressed at least sixty international conferences, seminars, and workshops on issues of peace, communal harmony, and human rights. Shahriar Kabir after completing his schooling in 1968 with Higher Secondary Certificate in 1968 and formal education in 1971 Mr. Kabir began his journalist career. As a freedom fighter he participated in our liberation-war against the Pakistani occupation force in 1971. After liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistani occupation force Shahriar joined ‘Vichitra’ group- a left leaning Marxism based liberal group formed centering a popular Weekly Magazine called ‘Vichitra’ in 1972. There he served as a member of the editorial board ending with Executive Editor in 1992. He was a regular contributor not only of his own Magazine of all important dailies and earned reputation as an analytical and critical columnist. His critical articles created a host friends amongst the humanist liberal and secular circles but equal number of enemies in the establishment as well as among the fundamentalists and communalists.
Shamsur Rahman:
Shamsur Rahman (October 23, 1929 – August 17, 2006) was a Bangladeshi poet, columnist and journalist. Rahman, who emerged in the latter half of the 20th century, wrote more than sixty books of poetry and is considered a key figure in Bengali literature. He was regarded the unofficial poet laureate of Bangladesh . Major themes in his poetry and writings include liberal humanism, human relations, romanticised rebellion of youth, the emergence of and consequent events in Bangladesh , and opposition to religious fundamentalism. Shamsur Rahman was born in his grandfather's house 46 no. Mahut-Tuli, Dhaka. His paternal home is situated on the bank of the river Meghna, a village named Pahartoli, near the Raipura thana of Narshingdi district. He was the fourth of thirteen children. He studied at Pogos High School from where he passed matriculation in 1945. Later he took his I.A. as a student of the Dhaka College. Shamsur Rahman started writing poetry at the age of eighteen, just after graduating from the Dhaka College. He studied English literature at the DU (Dhaka University) for three years but did not take the examination. After a break of three years he got admitted to the B.A. pass course and received his B.A. in 1953. He also received his M.A. in the same subject where he stood second in second division. In his leisure after the matriculation, he read the Golpo Guccho of Rabindranath Tagore. He told that this book took him into the extra ordinary world and transformed him into an altogether different personality. In 1949, his poem "Unissho Unoponchash" was published in "Sonar Bangla" which was then edited by Nalinikishor Guho. He had a long career as a journalist and served as the editor of a national daily, Dainik Bangla and the weekly Bichitra in the 1980s. A shy person by nature, he became an outspoken liberal intellectual in the 1990s against religious fundamentalism and reactionary nationalism in Bangladesh. As a consequence, he became a frequent target of the politically conservative as well as Islamists of the country. This culminated in the January 1999 attack on his life by the militant Harlatul-Jihad-al-Islam. He survived the attempt. His health broke down towards the end of 1990s and on two occasions he received major cardiac surgery. He died in 2006 of heart and kidney failure after having been in a coma for 12 days.
Sufia Kamal:
Sufia Kamal (June 20, 1911-November 20, 1999) was a poet, writer, organizer, feminist femiminist and activist from Bangladesh. She was born to a Muslim family in Barisal, Bangladesh. She is one of the most widely recognized cultural personalities in Bangladesh.When she died in 1999, she was buried with full state honors, the first woman in Bangladesh to receive this honor. Sufia Kamal was born in Shaestabad, daughter of a distinguished zamindar family, in Barisal. During her childhood, women's education was prohibited and she could not afford to get academic education. But she learnt Bangla, Hindi, English, Urdu, Arabic, Kurdish and Persian language from her house tutors. In 1918, she went to Kolkata with her mother where she came to meet with Begum Rokeya. She was first married at the age of 11 to her cousin Syed Nehal Hossain, then a law student. They had a daughter, Amena Kahar, and Mr. Hossain died in 1932. Five years later, Ms. Kamal married Kamaluddin Ahmed. In addition to her first daughter, Ms. Kamal is survived by two other daughters, Sultana Kamal and Saida Kamal; two sons, Shahed Kamal and Sajed Kamal; three grandsons, three granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. A short story "Shainik Bodhu" which she wrote was published in a local paper in 1923. She encountered prominent South Asian personalities, such as Begum Rokeya, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Mahatma Gandhi. Rokeya, who can be regarded the first female feminist of Bengal, had a lasting impression on her. Sufia Kamal's first poem, Bashanti (Of spring), was published in the then influential magazine, Saogat in 1926. In 1931 she became the first Bengali Muslim female to be the member of Indian Women Federation.
Syed Waliullah: Syed Waliullah (1922-1971) was a Bangladeshi novelist, short-story writer and playwright. He is most well known in Bangla literature for his first novel, Lalsalu. Syed Waliullah is often considered the pioneer of existential analysis of thecharacters psyche in the literature of Bangladesh. The last two of his three novels, specially Kando Nadi Kando, show his mastery in revealing the inner depths of his characters. However, his most famous work remains Lalsalu, some would argue because of its relativesimplicity. Lalsalu tells the story of Majid, a poor man from a devout muslim background. Majid comes to a remote village. He declares an old grave to be the majar (mausoleum) that of a pir (a Muslim saint), covers it with the traditional red cloth used for masoleums, and establishes his stronghold on the life of the people using the reflected power on him of the supposed saint. The novel shows his struggle with other religious figures trying to establish dominance, the undercurrent of pagan ideas among the people, and his own weaknesses. He is finally outdone by his second wife, the young and vigorous Jamila. Jamila, ever disrespectful, dies after Majid keeps her tied allnight near the majar. Majid comes to find her dead, but her feet irreverently touching the majar.
Swadesh Roy:
Swadesh Roy (Born 1961 in Khulna, Bangladesh) is a journalist and writer. He has written many books as well as poetry, short stories and essays. He has over 22 books published, some of which include Muniar Chok, Chibuk Paharer Shada Murti, Mousumi Bou, and Meghnar Buke Lata. His most recent book is Ma Shukhtara Dhekten. He is also a political analyst.He was born in the Khulna district in Bangladesh. From an early age he liked journalism, writing and politics. He moved to Dhaka. While in college, he got involved in student politics. He later took up political science and began writing columns and articles for newspapers and magazines.