Remembrance
A Passionate Poet
Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah
Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah was the poet of love. His literary works – mainly his poems – bear the essence of his love for the proletariat, a passion for the beauty and a revolutionary urge to overthrow the corrupt capitalist society.
Rudra was born on October 16, 1956 in Barisal. His father Sheikh Waliullah was a physician. Rudra was the eldest among 10 children.
Muhammad Shahidullah was his family name. He added “Rudro” with his name during registration for the SSC exam.
From a tender age Rudra was a passionate reader. He built his first library at the age of 10 by pinching money from his grandma's casket. He named the library Bonophul (The wild flower). He was also the founder of the first cricket team of Mongla area.
His first published poem is Ami Ishwar Ami Shoitan (I am God, I am Satan). It was published in the Daily Azad on November 26, 1972 when he was a student of class 10.
Rudra reciting his own poem
The liberation war movements, the destruction during the war and its aftermath influenced his literature a lot.
Upodruto Upokul (The Endangered Shore) was his first book of poems. It became hugely popular earns him accolades.
For his book of poetry Firey Chai Shornogram, he was given Munir Chowdhury Literary Award.
On January 29, 1981 Rudra married feminist writer Taslima Nasreen. After five years of being together the couple separated in 1986.
Rudra was also active in the anti-dictatorship movement of the late eighties. He was the member of the founding committee of a coalition of 42 cultural organisations that were committed to toppling the dictatorial government.
He was also the publication secretary of Bangladesh Shongit Porishod. He became an enlisted singer of Bangladesh Television on May 6, 1991.
He authored and composed many songs. For his widely popular song Bhalo Achhi Bhalo Theko he won the Best Songwriter (Posthumous) Award, conferred to him by Bangladesh Association of Film Journalists.
Within his short but creative lifetime, he has authored seven books of poems, short stories and a poetical drama. He was the editor of many famous literary corpus such as Durbinito, Chuattorer Proshob Jontrona, Shorup Onnesha etc.
On June 21, 1991 he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and after 10/15 minutes he breathed his last at the age of 35.
— MSKC
Reference:
* Joboni Gronthomela, Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah (Topon Bagchi), Bangla Academy.
* Facebook page Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah
* https://www.facebook.com/Rudrooo
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