Shahidul Zahir was a Bangladeshi novelist and short story writer. Jibana o Rajnaitik Bastabata, Je Rate Purnima Chilo, Mukher Dike Dekhi are considered to his major contributions to Bengali literature. His novels and short stories are highly acclaimed for their originality of language and narrative technique.
Life and career
Mohammad Shaheedul Haque was born on 11 September 1953 at 36 Bhuter Goli of Narinda in the old part of Dhaka city. His father A.K Nural Haque was a govt. officer and his mother Jahanara Begum a housewife. His paternal home was in the village Hashil of Raigonj Upazilla of Sirajgonj district. His grandfather Jahiruddin was a teacher of the local Normal School and his grandmother was Jinnatun Nesa. They both had died long before, when his father was a child. His maternal grandparents were Azimuddin Ahmad and Hamida Begum of Amlapara, Sirajgonj Town, where he used to visit frequently on the occasion of summer holidays or EIDs during his childhood along with his family members. These places together with Fulbaria an Satkania, where he grew up, left a deep impression in his mind and in the later years featured in many of his short stories and novels. Fictionist Shaheedul Jahir started his school at Silverdale KG School at the then 36 Rankin Street, Dhaka. Later he went to schools of Dhaka, Fulbaria, Mymensingh and Satkania Upazila, Chittagong. From Satkania Model High School he passed his SSC Examination. Later he went to the Dhaka College for his pre-university course. He studied Political Science at the Dhaka University for his bachelor's and master's degrees. He also went to the American University in Washington DC and Birmingham University. He joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1981 as an Assistant Secretary. He was serving as Secretary-in-charge of the Ministry for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs till his death in 2008. Shaheedul Jahir was a confirmed bachelor and was often questioned on this. In an interview with Kamruzzaman Jahangir, the editor of the literary magazineKatha, he told he was unable to explain this phenomenon: 'I can tell nothing about this. This has just happened.' His left behind a family which consisted of 4 brothers and 4 sisters. His father died in 1990 and his mother lives with his younger brothers and sisters at his paternal home at Noyatola, Boro Moghbazar, Dhaka, where he used to reside before moving to govt. quarter after joining the Civil Service. He spoke little and appeared to be introvert. It was difficult to make friends with him although he was known to be a very amiable person. He died from acute myocardial infarction on 23 March 2008 at the LabAid Cardiac Hospital in Dhaka. His premature death brought an end to a literary personality who was fully competent and capable and was posied to enrich Bengali literature with his unique prose-style. His death was mourned by the president and prime minister of the country, in addition to the literary circle. He was buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard at Mirpur, Dhaka. He left a huge number of literary fans who were impressed by his unique literary approach.
Shaheedul Jahir distinguished himself with his surrealist approach to fiction. He wrote both short stories and novels. His started to write in late-1970s. His first published story 'Bhalobasah" clearly reflected influence of Bengali novelist Syed Waliullah. His first book of short stories, published in 1985, Parapar bore his tendency to portray human character in intricate language in the perspective of a thin story-line. He has been said to be a magic-realist in line with Latin American writers and termed Zahir has been termed the new Marquez of Bangladesh. However, he admitted the influence of two contemporary novelist, namely Syed Shamsul Haque and Akhtaruzzaman Elias, in addition to Syed Waliullah. Thematically, the storylines of a number of stories bear the influence of Marxist paradigm. Also, in many novels and stories he has chosen the perspective of 1971, the year of liberation war of Bangladesh. He also translated a few stories from English. Sometimes he wrote poetry but never published any. Also, he translated Bengali poems into English when he had leisure. Two lines from his flings at poetry is quoted below:
"... Yet we congregate once again
And a bud blooms into a flower through our time
A silvery Rupchanda floats in salty water..."
Publications
Jahir only published six books during his lifetime. There are some published stories and novels that remain to be published in book form, in addition to some unpublished works. His last published story is titled "The Miracle of Life" which remains to be anthologised. One novel published in a magazine titled Abu Ibrahim-er Mrityu, which was published in the magazine Nipun earlier, has already been published as a book by Mowla Brothers in February 2009 Ekushey Book Fair.
Dumur-kheko Manush O Onyanya Golp, 2000, a collection of short stories.
Dolu nodir Hawa O Onyanya Golp, 2004, a collection of short stories.
Mukher dike dekhi, 2006, a novel.
Abu Ibrahimer Mrityu, February 2009, a Novel.
Two volumes have been published compiling selected short stories and novels of Shaheedul Jahir. These are:
Shaheedul Jahir : Nirbachita Uponyash, February 2007, Pathak Samabesh, Dhaka.
Shaheedul Jahir : Nirbachita Golpo, February 2007, Pathak Samabesh, Dhaka.
''Phulkumar'', "Choturtha Matra",'' Kothaey Pabo Tarey'' and "Jonome Jonmantor"
Phulkumar is a film which was based on a story by Zahir. Phulkumar, was made in 2000 by Ashique Mostafa, is adapted from his short story "Ei Shomoy". His short story "Choturtha Matra" was the basis of an award-winning video film by Nurul Alam Atique. Nurul Alam Atique also made a television drama named Kothay Pabo Tarey from the story titled also as Kotay Pabo Tarey in 2009."Jonome jonmantor" Theatre production by Desh Natok from his well-known short story "Kathurey o darkak"
Awards
Shaheedul Jahir was awarded the Kagoz Literary award in 2005, for Dolu nodir Hawa O Onyanya Golpo published in 2004. He also received Alaol Literary Awards.
