Literature Desk :
Jasim Uddin (1903-1976) poet and litterateur, was born on 1 January 1903 in his maternal uncle’s home at Tambulkhana in Faridpur, son of Ansaruddin Mollah, a schoolteacher from Govindapur, Faridpur. Jasim Uddin studied for some time at Faridpur Welfare School. He then went to Faridpur District School, from where he Matriculated in 1921.
He completed IA from Rajendra College in 1924, and BA and MA in Bangla from the University of Calcutta in 1929 and 1931 respectively.
From 1931 to 1937, Jasim Uddin worked as Ramtanu Lahiri Assistant Research Fellow under Dinesh Chandra Sen, collecting folk literature. In 1938 he joined the University of Dhaka as lecturer. He left the University in 1944 to join the Department of Information and Broadcasting. He continued working there, first under the Bengal government and then under the East Pakistan Government, until his retirement as Deputy Director in 1962.
Jasim Uddin’s talent as a poet developed early. As a College student, he wrote the poem ‘Kobor’ (Grave). The poem, a dramatic monologue of an old man talking to his grandson in front of his wife’s grave, was included in school textbooks while Jasim Uddin was still a student at University.
Jasim Uddin’s first book of verse, Rakhali (Shepherd), was published in 1927. His other books are Noksi Kanthar Math (1929), Sojon Badiyar Ghat (1933), Rangila Nayer Majhi (1935), Matir Kanna (1951), Suchoyoni (1961), Podma Nodir Deshe (1969), Bhoyaboho Sei Dingulite (1972), Podmapar (1950), Beder Meye (1951), Pollibodhu (1956), Gramer Maya (1959), Thakur Barir Anginay (1961), Germanir Shohore Bondore (1975), Smoroner Soroni Bahi (1978), Bangalir Hasir Golpo, Dalim Kumar, etc. He also wrote a novel, Boba Kahini (1964). He edited two books on folk music : Jarigan (1968) and Murshida Gan (1977). Noksi Kanthar Math and Bangalir Hasir Galpa have been translated into English as The Field of the Embroidered Quilt and Folk Tales of East Pakistan respectively.
Called ‘Polli Kobi’ (Folk Poet), Jasim Uddin is the poet of rural Bengal, depicting the natural beauty of the rural world as well as the lives of ordinaty peasants. His poetic rhythms are drawn from folk poetry, easy on the ear and quick to imbed themselves in the memory. He was also a writer of fine prose, fluent, witty, and expressive.
Jasim Uddin was one of the pioneers of the progressive and non-communal cultural movement. In the 1950s when the government of Pakistan attempted to stop broadcasting Tagore songs, he protested boldly.
In 1969, Jasim Uddin was awarded the DLitt by Rabindra Bharati University. He also won several awards, including the President’s Award for Pride of Performance (1958), Ekushey Padak (1976) and Swadhinata Dibas Puruskar (posthumous, 1978). In 1974 he was also selected for the Bangla Academy Award but he refused it. Jasim Uddin died in Dhaka on 13 March 1976 and was buried in his own village. n
Jasim Uddin (1903-1976) poet and litterateur, was born on 1 January 1903 in his maternal uncle’s home at Tambulkhana in Faridpur, son of Ansaruddin Mollah, a schoolteacher from Govindapur, Faridpur. Jasim Uddin studied for some time at Faridpur Welfare School. He then went to Faridpur District School, from where he Matriculated in 1921.
He completed IA from Rajendra College in 1924, and BA and MA in Bangla from the University of Calcutta in 1929 and 1931 respectively.
From 1931 to 1937, Jasim Uddin worked as Ramtanu Lahiri Assistant Research Fellow under Dinesh Chandra Sen, collecting folk literature. In 1938 he joined the University of Dhaka as lecturer. He left the University in 1944 to join the Department of Information and Broadcasting. He continued working there, first under the Bengal government and then under the East Pakistan Government, until his retirement as Deputy Director in 1962.
Jasim Uddin’s talent as a poet developed early. As a College student, he wrote the poem ‘Kobor’ (Grave). The poem, a dramatic monologue of an old man talking to his grandson in front of his wife’s grave, was included in school textbooks while Jasim Uddin was still a student at University.
Jasim Uddin’s first book of verse, Rakhali (Shepherd), was published in 1927. His other books are Noksi Kanthar Math (1929), Sojon Badiyar Ghat (1933), Rangila Nayer Majhi (1935), Matir Kanna (1951), Suchoyoni (1961), Podma Nodir Deshe (1969), Bhoyaboho Sei Dingulite (1972), Podmapar (1950), Beder Meye (1951), Pollibodhu (1956), Gramer Maya (1959), Thakur Barir Anginay (1961), Germanir Shohore Bondore (1975), Smoroner Soroni Bahi (1978), Bangalir Hasir Golpo, Dalim Kumar, etc. He also wrote a novel, Boba Kahini (1964). He edited two books on folk music : Jarigan (1968) and Murshida Gan (1977). Noksi Kanthar Math and Bangalir Hasir Galpa have been translated into English as The Field of the Embroidered Quilt and Folk Tales of East Pakistan respectively.
Called ‘Polli Kobi’ (Folk Poet), Jasim Uddin is the poet of rural Bengal, depicting the natural beauty of the rural world as well as the lives of ordinaty peasants. His poetic rhythms are drawn from folk poetry, easy on the ear and quick to imbed themselves in the memory. He was also a writer of fine prose, fluent, witty, and expressive.
Jasim Uddin was one of the pioneers of the progressive and non-communal cultural movement. In the 1950s when the government of Pakistan attempted to stop broadcasting Tagore songs, he protested boldly.
In 1969, Jasim Uddin was awarded the DLitt by Rabindra Bharati University. He also won several awards, including the President’s Award for Pride of Performance (1958), Ekushey Padak (1976) and Swadhinata Dibas Puruskar (posthumous, 1978). In 1974 he was also selected for the Bangla Academy Award but he refused it. Jasim Uddin died in Dhaka on 13 March 1976 and was buried in his own village. n
