Khondakar Ashraf Hossain
Portrait of a man standing in font of bookshelf
Hossain in 2008
Born(1950-01-04)4 January 1950
Joynagar, Jamalpur, Dhaka, East Bengal (now Bangladesh)
Died16 June 2013(2013-06-16) (aged 63)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Resting placeDhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Education
Alma mater
Occupations
  • poet
  • essayist
  • translator
  • editor
  • professor
Years active1980s-2012

Khondakar Ashraf Hossain (Bengali: খোন্দকার আশরাফ হোসেন; 4 January 1950 – 16 June 2013) was a leading postmodernist[1] poet, essayist, translator, and editor from Bangladesh. He wrote more than eighteen titles.[2][3]

Early life and education

Hossain was born on 4 January 1950 to a Bengali Muslim family of Khondakars in the village of Joynagar in Sarishabari, Jamalpur, then part of the Mymensingh District of East Bengal (now Bangladesh). He earned a BA degree in 1970, and an MA degree in 1971, both are in English and from the University of Dhaka. After he got MAs in linguistics and ELT from the University of Leeds in 1981.[4] He also obtained a PhD in English from the University of Dhaka and a postgraduate diploma in Teaching English Overseas from the University of Leeds in 1980.[5] His doctoral thesis is entitled Modernism and Beyond: Western Influence on Bangladeshi Poetry,[6] which he defended under Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam, another doyen and celebrated writer in the department.[1]

Professional and literary life

Hossain in 2012.

Hossain was a professor and chairman of the Department of English at the University of Dhaka.[7] In May 2013 he had been appointed as the third vice-chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University at Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.[4][8] He was also a member of the Syndicate & Faculty Selection Committee of the BRAC University.[4]

In his decades-long teaching career, he was immensely popular among his students for his unique lectures delivered with ready wit and remarkable quips.[1] He has published a number of collections of poetry and of essays in Bengali and English. About the readership of poetry, he says:

I am not at all concerned with the number of readers of poetry.

— [9]

Hossain translates from Bengali to English and from German and English to Bengali. His poems have been translated into English, German, French, Telugu and Hindi.[6] Hossain edits and publishes a literary magazine: Ekobingsho (English: The Twenty-First)[10][11] which was founded by Hossain himself in 1985 with its main focus on the new poetry of Bangladesh.

Theatrical work

Hossain patronized a drama group called Nagorik since the seventies, one of Bangladesh's leading theatrical groups, for which Hossein served as both president and dramatist.[12][13]

Critical reception

Hossain receiving honorary crest at 18th years celebration of Somujjol Subatas

Hossain wrote a wide variety of poems in lucid language and with innovative and suggestive imagery.[14] Expressiveness and eloquence in his poetry came from his successful, spontaneous combination of national and world heritage and mythology with his personal experience and feelings.[15] Though he began to write when postmodernism was blooming fast in the west, he denies to identify himself as an avowed post-modernist.[16] In his book On Behula's Raft's launch ceremony, he said about himself that "my soul is nourished by the alluvial soil and the moistures of riverine Bangladesh, which is my Behula".[17] Fakrul Alam considered his poems "humorous and witty" in some cases.[17] Syed Manzoorul Islam opined that Hossain at his initial stage was a romantic poet, but is now a realistic poet, as he is writing in a very self-conscious way.[17] His love poems are characterised by stark realism rather than by romantic euphoria.[14] Anisuzzaman deemed his poetry as the socio-political representation of Bangladesh.[17] He explored not only the contemporary social and political condition of his country but also "the grounds of existential philosophy in conceiving human life as fragile yet undying, as self-destructive yet eternal".[14] Hossain's poetry is noted for its engagement with philosophical concerns. For having some drishtantoist poems, he would be important in Bengali poetry.[18]

Death

Hossain, died of a heart attack in Lab-aid hospital in Dhaka at 12 noon on 16 June 2013.[1][19][20] He was undergoing treatment at Labaid Specialized Hospital, Dhaka since 14 June due to health complications. He suffered a major heart attack at 8:30 am and died around 11:00 am on 16 June.[21] The ailing professor was being treated when he died at the age of 63.[22]

Awards and honours

  • 1987 - Alaol Literary Award (for his poetry)
  • 1998 - West Bengal Little Magazine Award (for editing)[6]
  • 2013 - Jibananda Puraskar[8]

Bibliography

Published books

Literary work Number
Poetry 9
Anthologies 3
Prose 1
Prose collection 7
Translations 10
Total 29

Poetry

  • Tin Ramanir Qasida (1984)
  • Partho Tomar Teebro Teer (1986)
  • Jibaner Saman Chumuk (1989)
  • Sundari O Ghrinar Ghungur (1991)
  • Jamuna Parba (1998)
  • Janmo Baul (2001)
  • Tomar Namey Brishti Namey (2008)
  • Aiona Dekhey Andha Manush (2010)
  • "Kuyashar Mushayara" 2013

Anthologies

  • Nirbachito Kabita' (1995)
  • Kabita Samgraha
  • On Behula's Raft (2008)[23]

Prose

  • Romantic and Modern: Latitudes and Longitudes of Poetry

Collections of essays

  • Bangladesher Kabita: Antaranga Abalokan (A Study on Bangladeshi Poetry)
  • Chirayata Puraan (Classical Mythology)
  • Kabitar Antarjami
  • Adhunik Uttaradhunik o Annyanya
  • Prasango (Bengali Poetry in the contexts of Modernism, postmodernism and other trends)
  • Bishwakabitar Sonali Shasya (Gleanings from World Poetry)
  • Modernism and Beyond: Western Influences on Bangladeshi poetry

Criritism

  • Rabindranath, Yeats Ebang Gitanjali (2008)[24]
  • Bangalir Dwidha O Rabindranath Ebang Bibidho Tatyatalash (2013)[25]

Translations

Editorial

  • The Dhaka University Studies (Journal of the Faculty of Arts), Editor
  • Ekobingsho ("The Twenty-Firs", a poetry magazine), Editor[13]
  • Selected Poems of Nirmalendu Goon (Edited, with an introduction)
  • The Bangla Academy English–Bengali Dictionary (Co-edited, with a note on pronunciation)
  • An English Anthology (Co-edited, published by Department of English, Dhaka University)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Zaynul Abedin (8 March 2015). "Khondakar Ashraf Hossain". The Daily Star. Dhaka. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  2. ↑ Ahmed, Mohiuddin (2002). Six Seasons Review (vol. 2, Number 3&4). University Press Limited. ISBN 978-984-05-1652-0.
  3. ↑ "Anti-India forces involved in mutiny: Bangladesh author". The Times of India. 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Professor Dr. Khondakar Ashraf Hossain". BRACU. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Khondakar Ashraf Hossain, Department of English, University of Dhaka Archived 18 June 2013 at archive.today
  6. 1 2 3 "Khondakar Ashraf Hossain". The University Press Limited. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Khondakar Ashraf Hossain". Foundationsaarcwriters.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  8. 1 2 "New VC at JKKNIU". The Independent. Dhaka. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Imran, Nadee Naboneeta (27 September 2012). "Khondakar Ashraf Hossain". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  10. ↑ Arif, Hakim (2012). "Poetry". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  11. ↑ "Ekobingsho". Ekobingsho. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  12. ↑ 104. Padma Meghna Jamuna - 207 208 - PADMA MEGHNA
  13. 1 2 "Khondakar Ashraf Hossain's 2nd death anniversary observed". The Daily Observer. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 "A poetic soul nourished by geography". The Daily Star. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  15. ↑ Selina Hossain, Nurul Islam and Mobarak Hossain, ed. (2000). Bangla Academy Dictionary of Writers. Dhaka: Bangla Academy. p. 99. ISBN 984-07-4052-0.
  16. ↑ Mukul, Akramuzzaman; Shoma, Nasima (27 April 2012). "A Conversation with Poet Khondakar Ashraf Hossain". The Independent. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "On Behula's Raft launched". The Independent. Dhaka. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  18. ↑ খোন্দকার আশরাফ হোসেন একজন দর্শনসচেতন সাহিত্যিক. Alokito Bangla (Opinion) (in Bengali). 17 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Khondakar Ashraf no more". bdnews24.com. 4 January 1950. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Prof. Ashraf Hossain passes away". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Prof Khondakar Ashraf Hossain passes away". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "Professor Khondakar Ashraf Hossain dies". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "On Behula's Raft: Selected Poems". uplbooks.com.bd. UPL. 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  24. ↑ রবীন্দ্রনাথ ইয়েট্‌স গীতাঞ্জালি. porua (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  25. ↑ বাঙালির দ্বিধা ও রবীন্দ্রনাথ এবং বিবিধ তত্ত্বতালাশ. porua (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 March 2018.
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