ABUL HOSSAIN (1922-2014)

We mourn the loss of eminent poet Abul Hossain who died on 29th June in Dhaka.  The poet has been honoured with many awards, including Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Padabali Award, Nasiruddin Gold Medal, Mazharul Islam Kobita Puroshkar and more. He helped initiate modern trends in Bengali Literature in the forties and remains an inspiration to many in the contemporary era. Duswapna Theke Duswapne (1985), Haoa Tomar Kee Dussahos (1982), Ekhono Somoy Ache (1997), Aar Kisher Opekkha (2000) are among his most notable literary works. We remember him today in his own words from the poem On the Death of A Poet-Playwright (Translated by Kabir Chowdhury, Padma Meghna Jamuna, SAARC, 2009):

Suddenly the lights went out on the stage. Row after row Of men look all around. Strange, the hero himself Is not on the stage. The play has ended And the crowd looks about with tearful eyes.