SYED Shamsul Haq, the most eminent of contemporary poet and playwright of the country, is no more. He died at a city hospital on September 27 at the age of 81 after a long battle with lung cancer. Modern Bangla literature owes a lot to this ambidextrous literary genius. He was born in 1931 in Kurigram. His immortal drama work, Nuroldiner Sara Jibon, depicted the rebellion against the tyranny of the British Raj at around the end of the eighteenth century in Rangpur, the home district of Syed Haq where he was born 200 years later. Syed Haq uttered the magical words of the uprising 'Jago Bahe, Konthe Shobai' through the voice of an unsung leader Nurul Uddin. Another drama work of Syed Haq, Payer Awaj Pawa Jai, a flashback of our war of liberation in 1971, has been staged at theatres across the country.
Bangla literature has not seen a polymath of his equal in ages. His work is studied at schools, colleges and universities. His death is an irreparable loss for Bangla literature in general and the void created by his sad demise can never be fulfilled. Syed Shamsul Haq, popularly known as Syed Haq, wrote innumerable poetry, fiction, plays (mostly in verse), and essays. He wrote several film scripts and penned many patriotic songs of incomparable beauty. He received Bangla Academy Award in 1966 and Ekushey Padak in 1984. His poems reveal a deep sense of inspiration, and appeal to our own feelings and stimulate our imagination. He believed that poetry gives shape to our experience and unformulated words. It gives us wings to fly and we understand ourselves and the world better.
The whole nation is grief-stricken and mourning his death. He will be remembered through generations for his immortal works of literature. May his soul rest in peace!
Masud Rana
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
