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Shamsuddin, Abu Jafar (1911-1988) journalist and writer,
was born on 12 March 1911 in the village of Dakshinbagh in gazipur,
dhaka,
son of Mohammad Akkas Ali Bhuiyan. His grandfather, Nadiruzzaman Bhuiyan,
a disciple of Moulana karamat
ali jaunpuri, was a local representative. After initial education
in his village pathshala, he passed the Junior Madrassah examination
in 1924 and the High Madrassah examination in 1929. He subsequently enrolled
at Dhaka Intermediate College but did not complete his studies.
Abu Jafar joined the daily soltan
as sub-editor. He also worked at the azad,
ittefaq,
Purbadesh and sangbad,
for which he wrote a weekly column, 'Baihasiker Parshvachinta', under
the pseudonym 'Alpadarshi'. From 1961 to 1972, he worked as assistant
translator at the bangla
academy.
Abu Jafar was initially a member of the Radical Democratic Party
of manabendra
nath roy. He then joined the newly established National
Awami Party (NAP, 1957) of Maulana abdul
hamid khan bhasani and was elected a member of its
Provincial Organising Committee. He was the convenor of the historical
Kagmari Summit Preparation Committee. He actively took part in
the language
movement. Later on, he performed many important duties
as a founder member of the Bangabandhu Council.
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Abu Jafar Shamsuddin |
Abu Jafar was a progressive writer who believed in secularism,
Bengali nationalism and socialism. At different times he was associated
with many social and cultural organisations such as the Bangladesh Peace
Council, Bangladesh Humanist Society, Executive Council of Bangla Academy,
Bangladesh Afro-Asian Writers' Union and Bangladesh-India Friendship Association.
Abu Jafar was essentially a novelist. His first novel, Parityakta Svami, was published in 1947. However, he also wrote in other genres, including the short story, essay, biography, autobiography, etc. His writings reflect his concern for the general masses and his liberal humanism. Among his notable works are the novels Bhawaler Upakhyan (1963), Padma Meghna Jamuna (1974), Sangkar Sangkirtan (1980), Deyal (1986). His collections of short stories include Jiban (1948), Rajen Thakurer Tirthayatra (1978), Lyangdi (1984). His essays have been collected in Chintar Bibartan O Purba Pakistani Sahitya (1964), Sociology of Bengal Politics (1973), Sochchar Uchcharan (1977), Lokayata Samaj O Bangali Sangskrti (1988).
In recognition of his social and literary contributions,
Abu Jafar was awarded the Bangla Academy Award (1968), Samakal Literary
Award (1979), Ekushey Padak (1983), Shaheed Nutan Chandra Singh Smriti
Padak (1986), Muktadhara Literary Award (1986) and Philips Award (posthumously
in 1988). Abu Jafar Shamsuddin died on 24 August 1988 and was buried in
his own village. [Saumitra Sekhar]
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