Literature Desk :
Abu Zafar Obaidullah (8 February, 1934 – 19 March, 2001), a career civil servant by profession, was a first-rank poet of Bangladesh. Two of his long poems, namely, Aami-Kingbodontir-Kathaa Bolchhi and Bristi O Shahosi Purush-er Jonyo Pranthona have gained legendary renowence since their first publicaiton in late 1970s.
Abu Zafar Mohammad Obaidullah Khan (A.Z.M Obaidullah Khan) was born in Baherchar-Kshudrakathi village under Babuganj upazila of Barisal in Bangladesh. He was the second son of Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan, a former Speaker of the Pakistan national assembly. He received his primary education in Mymensingh town where his father Abdul Jabbar Khan was at that time working as the District Judge. In 1948, he passed Matriculation examination from the Mymensingh Zilla School. He passed the Intermediate of Arts examination as a student of the Dhaka College in 1950. Then he got admitted into the Dhaka University for studying English and after securing B.A. (Honours) and M.A. degrees he joined the same university in 1954 as a lecturer in the Department of English. He appeared in the Pakistan Superior Service Examinations and having stood second in the combined national merit list, he joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1957. He was promoted as Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in 1976 and after retiring in 1982, he accepted to be a Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources in 1982. Later he also served as Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United States of America. In 1992, he joined as Asstt Director General of FAO Regional Office in Bangkok from where he retired four years later. He died on March 19, 2001. He was the second eldest brother of journalist Enayetullah Khan and politician Rashed Khan Menon.
Abu Zafar Obaidullah actively participated in the Language Movement of 1952 . He composed “Kono Ek Ma-key” [Tr. To a Mother] for the first anthology on Ekushey, which is recited at the Central Shaheed Minar on February 21 every year.
Obaidullah Khan not only created a new type of poetry, but also introduced a new style. The root of Obaidullah Khan was in the soil of this country and so he wrote about lives of ordinary people and dreams, language and liberation movements and the struggles of our mass people including farmers, fishermen. He was not only one of the major poets of Bangladesh, but also became the spokesman of the Third World countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America by projecting their aspirations, demands and liberation struggles.
He founded ‘Padaboli’ which became the leading poetry movement of Bangladesh in 1980s.
Notably Obaidullah Khan was one of the pioneers of Dhaka-centric group theatre movement that commenced in the 1950s. Along with Syed Maksudus Saleheen, Taufiq Aziz Khan and Bazlul Karim he established Drama Circle in 1956.
Abu Zafar Obaidullah is acclaimed as a major poet of Bangladesh. Two major awards given to him are: Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award.
Poetry lovers of Dhaka established Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Foundation in 2002. Arif Nazrul was the Foundation president (2008). Among other regular activities this Foundation awards every year persons who are contributing in the national interest. Also, ‘Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Smriti Pathagar’ [memorial library] has been established in Babuganj of Barisal in 2003.
Poet Hasan Hafizur Rahman published Obaidullah’s first compilation of poetry at Sawghat Press in 1962. In 1999, all poems of Abu Zafar Obaidullah covering all eight of poetry books of the poet were compiled in a volume titled ‘Abu Zafar Obaidullah-er Kabitasamagra.’
Abu Zafar Obaidullah (8 February, 1934 – 19 March, 2001), a career civil servant by profession, was a first-rank poet of Bangladesh. Two of his long poems, namely, Aami-Kingbodontir-Kathaa Bolchhi and Bristi O Shahosi Purush-er Jonyo Pranthona have gained legendary renowence since their first publicaiton in late 1970s.
Abu Zafar Mohammad Obaidullah Khan (A.Z.M Obaidullah Khan) was born in Baherchar-Kshudrakathi village under Babuganj upazila of Barisal in Bangladesh. He was the second son of Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan, a former Speaker of the Pakistan national assembly. He received his primary education in Mymensingh town where his father Abdul Jabbar Khan was at that time working as the District Judge. In 1948, he passed Matriculation examination from the Mymensingh Zilla School. He passed the Intermediate of Arts examination as a student of the Dhaka College in 1950. Then he got admitted into the Dhaka University for studying English and after securing B.A. (Honours) and M.A. degrees he joined the same university in 1954 as a lecturer in the Department of English. He appeared in the Pakistan Superior Service Examinations and having stood second in the combined national merit list, he joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1957. He was promoted as Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in 1976 and after retiring in 1982, he accepted to be a Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources in 1982. Later he also served as Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United States of America. In 1992, he joined as Asstt Director General of FAO Regional Office in Bangkok from where he retired four years later. He died on March 19, 2001. He was the second eldest brother of journalist Enayetullah Khan and politician Rashed Khan Menon.
Abu Zafar Obaidullah actively participated in the Language Movement of 1952 . He composed “Kono Ek Ma-key” [Tr. To a Mother] for the first anthology on Ekushey, which is recited at the Central Shaheed Minar on February 21 every year.
Obaidullah Khan not only created a new type of poetry, but also introduced a new style. The root of Obaidullah Khan was in the soil of this country and so he wrote about lives of ordinary people and dreams, language and liberation movements and the struggles of our mass people including farmers, fishermen. He was not only one of the major poets of Bangladesh, but also became the spokesman of the Third World countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America by projecting their aspirations, demands and liberation struggles.
He founded ‘Padaboli’ which became the leading poetry movement of Bangladesh in 1980s.
Notably Obaidullah Khan was one of the pioneers of Dhaka-centric group theatre movement that commenced in the 1950s. Along with Syed Maksudus Saleheen, Taufiq Aziz Khan and Bazlul Karim he established Drama Circle in 1956.
Abu Zafar Obaidullah is acclaimed as a major poet of Bangladesh. Two major awards given to him are: Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award.
Poetry lovers of Dhaka established Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Foundation in 2002. Arif Nazrul was the Foundation president (2008). Among other regular activities this Foundation awards every year persons who are contributing in the national interest. Also, ‘Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Smriti Pathagar’ [memorial library] has been established in Babuganj of Barisal in 2003.
Poet Hasan Hafizur Rahman published Obaidullah’s first compilation of poetry at Sawghat Press in 1962. In 1999, all poems of Abu Zafar Obaidullah covering all eight of poetry books of the poet were compiled in a volume titled ‘Abu Zafar Obaidullah-er Kabitasamagra.’
Abu Zafar Obaidullah’s works:
Kokhono Rong Kokhono Shoor, Kamol-er Chokh, Ami Kingbadontir Kotha Bolchhi, Shohishnu Protikkha, Brishti Ebong Shahoshi Purush-er Jonyo Prarthona, Amar Shomoi Amar Shakol Katha, Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi, Yellow Sands’ Hills: China through Chinese Eyes, Rural Development – Problems and Prospects, Creative Development; Food and Faith.
