Cultural Correspondent
Various cultural organisations, television channels and book pulishers have organising a series of programmes marking the 65th birth anniversary of celebrated writer-filmmaker Humayun Ahmed on Wednesday.
The writer of about 200 fictions, Humayun influenced the readers and publishing industry in Bangladesh. He was also a trendsetter TV playwright and a successful filmmaker.
Born at Kutubpur in Netrakona on November 13, 1948. Humayun Ahmed shot to fame for his first novel Nandita Narake published in 1971 while he was a student of chemistry in Dhaka University.
To mark his birth anniversary, the publishers of Humayun’s books have organised a five-day solo book fair on the premises of Begum Sufia Kamal Central Public Library at Shahbagh in the city from Wednesday.
Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman inaugurated the fair at a gala opening ceremony as chief guest in the afternoon.
Humayun’s books – ‘Himu Dosh’, ‘Humayun Ahmed Rochonaboli-7’ and juvenile book ‘Kakaru’- will be unveiled in the fair scheduled to be concluded on Sunday.
Besides, satellite channels of the country also aired an array of special programmes on the life and works of the legend to pay tribute to him on the occasion.
In memory of Humayun, satellite television channels present an ary of programmes to mark the occasion.
Channel- i, arrange a day-long commemorative fair styled ‘Humayun Mela 2013’ on its premises Wednesday with prominent artistes of the country presenting write-ups, films, plays and songs of the late legend on the occasion.
The fair will feature write-ups, films, plays, songs, video CDs and of Humayun Ahmed alongside dance, recitation, interview, drawing and play performed by renowned artistes.
Fans and friends of Humayun inaugurated the fair through cutting a birthday cake and releasing balloons and festoons on Wednesday morning.
Channel i and Radio Bhumi telecast live the fair from 11.00am to 2.00pm.
The channel also aired a special programme titled ‘Smarone Humayun’ at 11.30pm Wednesday. Meher Afroz Shaon, Jayanto Chattopadhyay and SI Tutul attended the programme anchored by Moushumi Barua.
Maasranga Television aired a set of programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of Humayun Ahmed on Wednesday. The channel aired ‘Bahumatrik Humayun’, a special programmes hosted by Meher Afroz Shaon, at 8.00pm.
Renowned playwright Syed Shamsul Haque, Prof Syed Manjurul Islam, Tarik Anam Khan and Subir Nandi attended the programme.
Humayun’s two younger sons Nishad and Ninit also presented the show produced by Abul Hossain Khokan.
As part of celebrations of the birth anniversary of Humayun, GTV telecast ‘Je Thake Ankhi Pallobe’ a special commemorative programme featuring life and works of Humayun, at 5.40pm on Wednesday.
Rtv, a leading satellite television channel of the country, also celebrateed the occasion amid airing special programmes on the day.
‘Humayun Ahmed Smaran’, a special commemorative programme featuring Ahsan Habib, Shakur Mazid, Tarik Anam Khan and Munmun Ahmed, was aired on the channel on Wednesday evening.
Humayun Ahmed was born at Kutubpur in Netrakona in 1948. He studied chemistry at the Dhaka University. Later, he taught chemistry in his alma mater. He emerged in the Bengali literary world in the early 1970s.
Notably, as of February 2004, Ahmed continued to top the best-seller list of Bangla Academy’s Ekushe book fair, a feat that had been maintained over the previous two decades.
Humayun Ahmed was appointed as a special advisor to the Bangladesh Mission in the United Nations in 2012.
As a writer, Ahmed often displays a fascination for creating stories around supernatural events; his style is characterised as magic realism.
Humayun explored the film industry both as an author and director. He directs films based on his own stories. His first film, ‘Aguner Parashmoni’, based on the Liberation War, won the ‘National Film Award’ in total eight categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The theme of the Liberation War often comes across in his stories, often drawing upon Ahmed’s in-depth memories of that war and his father’s execution during the war of liberation.
In recognition of his versified contributions to the society, Humayun was awarded ‘Ekushey Padak’, ‘National Film Award’, ‘Lekhak Shibir Prize’, ‘Bangla Academy Award’, ‘Shishu Academy Award’, ‘Jainul Abedin Gold Medal’, ‘Michael Madhusudan Medal’, ‘Bacsas Prize’, ‘Humayun Qadir Memorial Prize’ and ‘ShellTec Award’.
Humayun Ahmed breathed his last in the USA on July 19, 2012.
Source: Weekly Holiday
