On Sunday, Bangla Academy held a seminar to honor the life, ideology, and works of Farrukh Ahmad, a prominent poet often regarded as the voice of the ‘Muslim Renaissance.’ This event commemorated the 50th anniversary of his death.
The seminar was presided over by Professor Mohammad Azam, the Director General of Bangla Academy. Among the attendees was Syed Wahiduzzaman, the son of the late poet. Dr. Sarker Amin, who oversees the Culture, Magazine, and Auditorium Division at the academy, delivered the welcome speech.
Researcher Kudrat E. Huda presented the keynote address titled “The Way We Should Read Poet Farrukh Ahmad.” Fellow poet Abdul Hye Sikder and poet Sohel Hasan Galib also spoke at the event.
The speakers emphasized that Ahmad is often misinterpreted as a Pakistan-centric writer. They argued that he represented the voiceless Muslim majority in East Bengal and advocated for a prosperous, harmonious society.
Professor Mohammad Azam stated, “Farrukh Ahmad has always been significant in the country’s poetry and literature. However, we have not always paid proper attention to the works of many great writers and poets like him. We hope for new initiatives to study and promote Farrukh Ahmad in this inclusive Bangladesh.”
Syed Wahiduzzaman reflected on his father’s bond with Bangla Academy, noting that the poet had a strong literary connection with the institution since its founding. “He was the first poet to receive the Bangla Academy Award. The academy has honored Farrukh Ahmad at various times, but this recognition has waned in recent decades. We are pleased that the academy has organized this discussion to commemorate his 50th death anniversary,” he said.
Farrukh Ahmad was born on June 10, 1918, in the village of Majhail in Magura District. He is celebrated for his poetic works, including “Sat Sagorer Majhi,” “Sirajam Munira,” “Naufel O Hatem,” “Muhurter Kobita,” “Hatemtayi,” and “Sindabad.”
During his lifetime, Ahmad received numerous prestigious literary awards, including the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1960, the UNESCO Prize in 1966, the Ekushey Padak (posthumously in 1977), and the Independence Day Award (posthumously in 1980). He passed away on October 19, 1974, at the age of 56 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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