Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud (known as Al Mahmud; 11 July 1936 – 15 February 2019) was a Bangladeshi poet, novelist, and short-story writer. He is considered one of the greatest Bengali poets to have emerged in the 20th century. His work in Bengali poetry is dominated by his frequent use of regional dialects. In the 1950s he was among those Bengali poets who were outspoken in their writing on such subjects as the events of the Bengali Language Movement, nationalism, political and economical repression, and the struggle against the West Pakistani government.

Early life and career

Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud was born on 11 July 1936 at Morail Village of Brahmanbaria District in present-day Bangladesh into an aristocratic Bengali Muslim Zamindar family that had the hereditary title of Mir. The ancestors of the family had migrated to the Indian Subcontinent to preach Islam. His father was Mir Abdur Rab and his mother was Raushan Ara Mir, his parents were cousins. His grandfather Mir Abdul Wahhab Mullah was a Mullah and Zamindar in Brahmanbaria district. Mir Abdul Wahhab was also a teacher and cleric in his local village school. His childhood and secondary education days were spent in this village which is located adjacent to Brahmanbaria town. Mahmud started his career as a journalist. He obtained widespread recognition after Lok Lokantor was published in 1963. In succession, he then penned Kaler Kalosh (1966), Sonali Kabin (1973), and Mayabi Porda Dule Otho (1976). His other notable poetical works include, Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash, Bakhtiyarer Ghora and Nodir Bhitorer Nodi. In addition to writing poetry, he wrote short stories, novels and essays such as Pankourir Rakta and Upamohadesh. In 1971 he went to India and worked there to build public opinion in favour of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. After the war, he joined The Daily Ganakantha as the assistant editor. He was jailed for a year during the regime of the Awami League government. Later, he joined Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1975 and retired in 1993 as director of the academy.

Literary work

Mahmud's literary work Shonali Kabin published in 1973, is considered as a landmark of Bengali poetry. Philosopher Sibnarayan Ray commented: "Al Mahmud has an extraordinary gift for telescopic discrete levels of experience; in his poems I find a marvelous fusion and wit which reminds me occasionally of Bishnu Dey. The complete secularism of his approach is also striking…he was born and brought up in a very conservative Muslim religious family; it is not a secularism forced by some ideology, but present naturally and ubiquitously in his metaphors, images and themes."

Selected works

• Lok Lokantor (1963) • Kaler Kalos (1966) • Shonali Kabin (1973) • Mayabi Porda Dule Otho (1976) • Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash • Bokhtiyarer Ghora 1984 • Dinjapon • Ditiyo Bhangon • Ekti Pakhi Lej Jhola • Subcontinental • The girl of fire • Second breakdown • Dahuki • Golpshomogro • Jebhabe Gore Uthi • Kishor Shomogro • Kobir Atmobisshash • Kobita Somogro- 1, 2 • Pankourir Rakta (1975) • Na Kono Shunnota Mani Na • Nodir Bhitorer Nodi • Pakhir Kache, Phooler Kache • Prem O Bhalobashar Kobita • Prem Prokritir Droho Ar Prarthonar Kobita • Upomohadesh • Trishera

Awards