For a long time, it seemed unlikely that I would develop any interest in reading books, other than those I had to read for academic purposes. I was never fond of reading novels or stories. All of that changed when one day, one of my college teachers mentioned a book named "Brishti Bilash", written by Humayun Ahmed.
He narrated a small part of the story from that book, and that was enough to pique my interest. The following day, I went to the college library and borrowed the book, and read the whole of it in just one day. And that's how it all started.
I began to enjoy reading novels and books as well. Till today, though I have read most of his books, whenever I feel sad or dejected, I take a Humayun Ahmed book from myself and immerse myself in it.
Humayun Ahmed has written more than 200 books, including novels, short stories and memoirs.
Some of the major characteristics that made his writing accessible to all are the simplicity in his writing, the emotional depth, and the social observation.
However, the main feature of his writings was the struggles and aspirations of middle-class families. Ahmed perfectly captured the life of the middle-class Bangladeshi family.
Shaping middle-class emotions
Humayun Ahmed's literary journey began with Nondito Noroke, which was later translated into English as "In Blissful Hell" by Muhammad Nurul Huda. The novel was written during the turbulent period of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was a chemistry student at Dhaka University when he wrote it.
In the novel, he focused on the everyday lives of urban middle-class families, employing a conversational and unadorned language reflective of the ordinary conversation among family members. Ahmed made the readers see their lives reflected in his stories.
Nondito Noroke tells a story of a Dhaka-based family, dealing with mental health issues and societal expectations after the Liberation War. Readers can easily connect with the themes of personal struggles and the uncertainties of a newly independent Bangladesh.
Similarly, another novel, Shonkhonil Karagar, deals with the themes of marriage, unemployment, and gender roles. It also offers a depiction of challenges women face in a patriarchal society.
Himu and Misir Ali – two iconic characters
Himu and Misir Ali, two of his iconic characters that we get to read about in a series of novels, made Ahmed's influence stronger among the young readers.
Himu, the wanderer in a yellow panjabi, rejects or denies societal norms. His character embodies a search for personal freedom that enchanted young readers.
By contrast, Misir Ali is a psychologist and detective who tries to solve mysteries with scientific answers. He is a character who challenges the existing superstitions in society and relies instead on logic.
Rewriting cultural identity
Humayun Ahmed's works played a major role in shaping a distinct Bangladeshi cultural identity in modern times.
In his stories, we find regional dialects, landscapes, and the post-independence ethos of Bangladesh.
Following his death in 2012, in an obituary titled "Tears for Humayun Ahmed: The Shakespeare of Bangladesh", the Times of India wrote, "Humayun was a custodian of the Bangladeshi literary culture whose contribution single-handedly shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka."
This shift was not just geographical but also cultural.
His novel "Jochhna O Jononir Golpo" deals with personal stories of sacrifice and loss that seeped into the collective memory of the nation during the 1971 Liberation War. Through this, Ahmed fostered a sense of national pride and identity among his readers.
His television dramas, such as Kothao Keu Nei, further intensified his influence among readers and audiences. The character Baker Bhai became a national topic, with readers and audiences staging protests against his fictional execution.
This ability to connect personal to societal made him a cultural architect of modern Bangladesh.
The use of magic realism adds a layer to his social commentary.
In "Himur Ache Jol", Himu's metaphorical journey on a launch serves as a critique of corruption, materialism and societal decay.
The cultural revolution
Ahmed revolutionised the literary market in Bangladesh. His books were among the best-selling books in the Ekushey Book Fair throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
He attracted a new generation of readers, particularly students, who found his stories relatable and engaging.
"Humayun Ahmed made a significant contribution to modern Bengali literature. His writings attracted the young generation of the country into reading books, creating a literary culture where none existed before," said writer Selina Hossain, in a 2013 interview.
His films, such as Aguner Poroshmoni, and television serials like Bohubrihi (1988), brought the stories of middle-class families to a wider audience.
In Bohubrihi, Humayun Ahmed portrays a dysfunctional yet loving family that reflects the complexities of middle-class life.
Legacy beyond Bangladesh
Ahmed has globalised Bangladeshi literature to the world as his works were translated into several languages, like English, Hindi, and Japanese.
His novels and short stories are still among the best sellers at the Ekushey Book Fair.
Humayun Ahmed died on July 19, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. His death left a profound void in Bengali literature.
Though he is not with us, his legacy continues to thrive.
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