The New Nation - Internet Edition

Entertainment Report

To mark the 10th death anniversary of litterateur Shawkat Osman, Shawkat Osman Smriti Parishad organised a memorial programme at the Liberation War Museum on May 14. Eminent personalities reminisced on Shawkat Osman's life and works. Noted litterateur Selina Hossain said, "Memorial programmes are not enough to know Shawkat Osman. It is important to read all his writings. Shawkat Osman is synonymous with our literature."

National Professor Kabir Chowdhury was the chief guest. In his speech Kabir Chowdhury reminisced his early days with Shawkat Osman.

He said, "I was introduced to Shawkat Osman in the early 1950s. We travelled together to Turkey and Iran. He was a patriotic and brave person. Every country needs extraordinary individuals like him."

Among others, politician Hyder Akbar Khan Rono and artist Sabiul Alam spoke at the programme. Architect Yafes Osman, son of Shawkat Osman, read out several verses, written by him, as homage to his father. Singer Talat Sultana rendered Rabindra Sangeet 'Majhey Majhey Tabo Dekha Pai,' while Rafiqul Islam recited excerpts from Shawkat Osman's writing 'Kalratri Khandochitra.' Prof Bulbon Osman, elder son of Shawkat Osman, presided over the programme. He said, "Shawkat Osman's writing can be related to sociology. His literature should be studied from a sociological point of view."

Shawkat Osman's real name was Sheikh Azizur Rahman. He was one of the leading litterateurs in the last century in our country.

He was born in Hooghly, West Bengal in 1917. He wrote many novels, short stories, poems, drama, stories for children, essays and more.

Shawkat Osman's writings predominantly highlight messages against fundamentalism and chronicle tales of the oppressed. His novel 'Kritodasher Hanshi' - featuring an upsurge against dictatorship - is considered a classic.

Another Shawkat Osman classic, 'Janani,' was translated into English and has been acclaimed in many countries. Osman received the Bangla Academy Award in 1962 and the Independence Day Award in 1997. Shawkat Osman died on May 14, 1998.