The Personal Life of Humayun Ahmed
Rarely does a writer get so celebrated. But among the few greats that have lies the name of Bangladesh’s most celebrated literary guru Ahmed Humayun. The Bangladesh hall of fame recognizes this powerful icon as one of the most celebrated writers of the century. While many writers must have read the Humayun Ahmed books. Few have actually followed his life story.
Childhood
Ahmed also known as Kajol was born in Kutubpur Village in Netrakona in 1948. He lived with his parents until his father who was also a writer was murdered in the Liberation War in 1971. Because his father was a police officer Ahmed had the chance to travel a lot and attend many schools due to his father’s postings.
Education
In one of his many interviews he says that he had attended school in Sylhet, Comilla, Chittagong, Dinajpur and Bogra. But Ahmed was never the giving up type. He sat for his Secondary School Certificate examination as a student of Bogra Zilla, and his completed HSC from Dhaka College in 1967. Later on, he joined the University of Dhaka in Chemistry and passed with BSc (Honors) and MSc with First Class distinction.
Career
While Ahmed started his career as a lecturer and joined Bangladesh Agriculture University, his love for fiction and Non-Fiction literary had developed by watching his dad writing back then. In fact by 1972 Ahmed received his long awaited literary breakthrough when he published his novel Nondito Noroke, just a year after his father’s demise. At this time he had moved on from Bangladesh Agriculture University to teach chemistry in Dhaka University; before going to the US to earn his Ph. D in Polymer Chemistry from the prestigious North Dakota University.
Awards
His type of writing has been categorized as magical realism. And his books were the top sellers for a very long time in the 1990’s up until early 2000’s before his death. In fact Humayun Ahmed books won him the Bangla Academy Award (1981) and also the Ekushey Padak (1994) and many other notable prizes. His name has been cemented across.
Literature
While Nondito Noroke (In Blissful Hell) was his masterpiece it wasn’t his last literary works. Ahmed went on to write over 200 fictions and non-fiction works including Shonkhonil Karagar, Himu series, Misir Ali, and Shubro. He also wrote many other notable works based on the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. An event many have argued to have shaped Ahmed’s literary trails. Among the works he did on this line included Jyotsna O Jononir Golpo, Aguner Poroshmoni, and Srabon Megher Din.
Film/ TV
Ahmed moved into film and television and directed a number of high ranking movies some based on his personal literary works. His first television drama was the Prothom Prohor (1983). Some other television and film works included Ei Shob Din Ratri, Ayomoy, Aguner Poroshmoni (film) based on the Liberation War of 1971.
Personal Life and Death
Ahmed married Gultekin Khan in 1973. They had three daughters. He later divorced her and re-married to Meher Shaon. They had two sons. Ahmed died in 2012 from cancer and was buried in Bangladesh. But for many lovers of Humayun Ahmed books this literary giant still lives on.