Comprehension Exercise 11

Humayun Ahmed

Fouzia Rahman Dipti (ENG 043 06161)

Books or novels or any kind of literary works not only give pleasure, but also produce inspiration, passion and lively things which can be used as a guide for human life. A novelist, who produces elements to be inspired, deals with the common people of Bangladesh by retaining all the elements of middle-class life through his creations, is successful.

The person who had been mesmerizing his readers and followers for 42 years was Humayun Ahmed. He was the best novelist of Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tagore. He became so much popular in his youth that he got the most prestigious ‘Ekushe Award’ at the age of 32. He was not only an author, but also a dramatist, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. He even wrote approximately 50 songs which are still so much popular among people of all age groups!

Humayun Ahmed was born on 13th November 1948. His father was a martyr freedom fighter in Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. He was a brilliant student and got record marks in his Secondary School Certificate examination in 1965. He stood second in the merit list in Rajshahi Education Board. He passed his Higher Secondary Certificate examination from Dhaka College. Then he got admitted in the University of Dhaka. He earned his Graduation and Post-Graduation with First Class distinction. The meritorious Humayun joined the University of Dhaka as a Lecturer of Chemistry Department after he had completed his education. Later he earned his PhD degree in Polymer Chemistry from North Dakota State University. Then he came back to Bangladesh and resumed his teaching profession in the University of Dhaka.

Humayun had started to write in his student life. His first publication was a novel named Nondito Noroke in 1973 which gave him huge popularity. He could manage to earn the love of millions of middle-class people of Bangladesh. He retained his popularity among all by writing about magic realism, social life, nature’s mystery etc. His genres were novel, short play, drama, screenplay, autobiography, column etc. His autobiographies touched millions of people’s hearts.  His most notable novels are Shongkhonil Karagar, Josna O Jononir Golpo, Lilaboti, Moddhanno, Badshah Namdar, Matal Hawa etc.  He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh. It is actually difficult to choose a particular one from his creation, because he had a golden hand. He got success from each of his literary creations. He became the literary and cultural legend of Bangladesh. Sunil Ganguly described him as the most popular writer in the Bengali language for a century and according to him, Humayun was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chatarjee. This popular writer also had written many science fictions in his life. He is the first writer of Bangladesh who wrote science fiction.

In mid 1990s he left the faculty job to devote all his time to writing and film production. He gave a new shape to television drama of Bangladesh. His famous dramas are Ei shob din-Ratri, Bohubrihi, Kothao Keu Nei etc. He became more popular after these telecasts. His famous films are Aguner Poroshmoni, Srabon Megher Din, Ghetu Putro Komola etc. Most of his films also got National Film Awards in different categories. He got many awards in his living days such as ‘Ekushe Podok’, ‘Bangla Academy Podok’, ‘National Film Awards’ etc. Ghetuputra Komola was selected as the Bangladeshi entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.

In his personal life he had two spouses, 3 daughters and 3 sons. His brother Dr. Zafar Iqbal is also a famous science fiction writer of Bangladesh.

In 2011, Humayun had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He died on 19 July 2012 at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. He was buried in ‘Nuhash Palli’. He had the capabilities to spread his dreams among all. He was a true legend of Bengali Literature.

Finally to recognize his works we can quote what Times of India wrote about him, ‘Humayun was a custodian of the Bangladeshi literary culture whose contribution single-handedly shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka without any war or revolution.’

(Source: Internet)

1. Multiple-choice questions:

a. What is the synonym of the word ‘retaining’?

    (i) Renouncing

    (ii) Giving up

    (iii) Holding

    (iv) Abandoning

b. What do literary works produce?

    (i) Hindrance

    (ii) Depression

    (iii) Discouragement

    (iv) Inspiration

c. From which university did Humayun Ahmed earn PHD degree?

    (i) University of Dhaka

    (ii) Rajshahi University

    (iii) North Dakota State University

    (iv) South University

d. Why did he leave the faculty job?

    (i) To devote all his time to writing and film production

    (ii) To become more popular

    (iii) To spend time with family and friends

    (iv) To go abroad and complete his PHD degree

e. Which one is the famous drama by Humayun Ahmed?

    (i) Ghetu Putro Komola

    (ii) Kothao Keu Nei

    (iii) Aguner Poroshmoni

    (iv) Srabon Megher Din

2. True or false?

a.       Books or novels can be used as a guide for human life.

b.      Humayun Ahmed became so much popular after his middle age.

c.       His first novel Nondito Noroke failed to bring popularity for him.

d.      According to Sunil Ganguly, Humayun was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chatarjee.

e.       Humayun Ahmed is the person who shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka without any war or revolution.

3. Fill in the blanks.

Humayun Ahmed was the best novelist of Bengali literature. He gained a very prestigious (a) ____________ at his early age. He earned his Graduation and Post-Graduation with (b) ___________ distinction from the University of Dhaka. Later he gained his PhD degree in (c) ___________Chemistry from North Dakota State University. Humayun Ahmed left his faculty job only for his (d) _________ and film production. He had the (e) _______ to spread his dreams among all.

4. Match sentences from the given box.

Set A	Set B
a. Humayun Ahmed was	a. University of Dhaka after passing from Dhaka college.
b. He got admitted in the	b. was shaped by Humayun Ahmed.
c. Nondito Noroke, which was published in 1973,	c. were best sellers in Bangladesh.
d. Televion drama of Bangladesh	d. brought popularity for him.
e. He wrote many fictions and non-fictions which	e. not only an author, but also a dramatist.

5. Answer the short questions.

a. When did Humayun Ahmed get the ‘Ekushe Award’?

b. What did he do after returning from the USA?

c. How did Humayun Ahmed have so much popularity among all class of people?

d. What was the reason of his agonizing death?

e. Why is Humayun Ahmed considered as a custodian of the Bangladeshi literary culture?

6. Write a summary based on the composition in five sentences.

Question set prepared by Cicilia Shoma Baroi (ENG 043 06168)

About the Author

Fouzia Rahman was born in Naogaon, Bangladesh. She is the younger daughter of her parents. She is a very brilliant student. She has completed SSC and HSC with GPA 5. She is currently studying B.A. (Hons) in English Literature at Stamford University Bangladesh. She is involved in many cultural forums of her university.

Fouzia loves traveling and she has traveled to almost every corner of her country. Her father was a government service holder and for his job they had to travel to many districts of Bangladesh. It put the seed of addiction about traveling in her. Besides, she loves to paint natural elements. She also has passion about wild photography. She is a very good dancer and got national prize in her childhood. In fact, she is an all-rounder having a colorful artistic life.