The Author of Humanism

Shahed Ali (1925-2001)

Shahed Ali (1925-2001) was one of the leading short story writers of Bangladesh and is considered to be one of the most significant literary figures of his time in the realm of Bengali literature. He was also an academician, a progressive thinker, a journalist, editor of multiple magazines and one of the founders of the cultural organisation named "Tamaddun Mazlish" that initiated the historic language movement. We remember this great personality on his 89th birth anniversary.

!    Shahed Ali was born in Sylhet on 24th May, 1925
!    After completing graduation from Sylhet MC college Shahed Ali completed his MA in Bengali language and literature from Dhaka University in 1950
!    His literary career began when he was a student of class eight
!    His first short story Asru (1940) was published in the monthly Saogat, a leading literary magazine at that time

With other compatriots Shahed Ali founded Tamaddun Majlish in 1958 to establish the status of Bengali as the state language
He later became the editor of the magazine named "Saynik" which served as the banner for the Bengali language movement
He was elected a Member of Legislative Assembly of the Government of East Pakistan in 1954
Later Shahed decided to quit politics when Ayub Khan imposed martial law in 1958

Six books of short stories of this great writer has been published that made him a renowned figure in Bengali literature
Shahed authored more than 50 stories and novels that were published in different literary journals but not as a book
He is acclaimed for his novella Hriday Nadi and Jibrailer Dana (Gabriel's Wings) which have been translated into different languages
His book Eki Shomotole (On the same plane) has been included in the university curriculum
His translation works include Road to Mecca, History by Heordotus, Fundamentals of Economics, History of Political Theory etc.

Shahed Ali received numerous awards for his contributions to literature
He was conferred the Bangla Academy Award in 1964 and Eksuhey Padak in 1989
Shahed Ali was also awarded the Tamgha E Imtiaz (1969), for his literary contributions which is one of the highest civilian awards of Pakistan
This great scholar and literary personality died on 7th November, 2001