102nd birth anniv celebration of writer of Kritadasher Hashi
Literary award to be distributed and memorial postal stamp to be released today
DL DESK, Dhaka
To celebrate the 102nd birth anniversary of noted novelist and short story writer Shawkat Osman in a befitting manner today, Kothashilpi Shawkat Osman Smriti Parishad is organising a celebration programme at the Sufia Kamal auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital.
Presided over by noted Language Movement veteran and Rabindra researcher Ahmad Rafiq, founder chairman of Apex Footwear Ltd Syed Manzur Elahi, former minister for Science and Technology architect Yafes Osman, Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Shyam Sundar Sikdar and Director General of Bangladesh Post Office Sushanta Kumar Mandal, among others, will attend the programme as guests.
Besides distributing the literary awards among the recipients, a memorial postal stamp will also be released today at the event in connection of celebrating the birth anniversary of Shawkat Osman.
Born in Hughli, West Bengal in 1917 he graduated in Economics and did his Masters in Bangla from Calcutta University.
His first novel Janani was published in 1958, and his Kritadasher Hashi is a widely acclaimed novel. His other novels are Boni Adam (1943), Samagam (1967), Chaurasandhi (1968), Raja Upakhyan (1971), Jahannam Haite Biday (1971), Dui Sainik (1973), Nekre Aranya (1973), Patanga Pinjar (1983), Rajsakkhi (1985), Jolangi (1986) and Puratan Khanjar (1987).
He also wrote short stories, poems, plays and essays. His short stories are Pinjrapol, Junu Apa o Anyanya Galpo, Sabek Kahini, Prostor Phalok, Upolakso, Netrapath, Ubhosringo, Janmo Jadi Tabo Bange, Monib o Tahar Kukur, Iswarer Protidandi and Bigata Kaler Galpo.
He also translated a large number of novels, short stories and plays into Bangla. Of some of his translated books are Nisho, Luknitashi, Bagdader Kavi, Time Machine, Panchti Kahini, Spainer Chhotagalpa, Panchti Natak, Daktar Abdullahar Karkhana, Prthibir Rabgamavche Manus, and Santaner Svikarokti.
The noted writer received many awards from the government of Pakistan, such as Bangla Academy Award (1962), Adamjee Literary Award (1966), President Award (1967). He was also given a number of awards by the government of BangladeshEkushey Padak (1983), Mahbubullah Foundation Prize (1983), Muktadhara Literary Award (1991), and Independence Day Award (1997).
Shawkat Osman died in Dhaka on May 14 in 1998.
