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Sikandar Abu Zafar’s 99th birth anniversary

Published : Tuesday, 20 March, 2018 at 12:00 AM  Count : 583
Iftikhar Hossen
Noted poet, journalist and editor Sikandar Abu Zafar was born on March 19 at Tentulia, under Satkhira district in 1919. He was the editor of the monthly literary magazine Samakal.
March 19 marked the 99th birth anniversary of Sikandar Abu Zafar.
Zafar passed Entrance examination (1936) from Tala B Dey Institute, Satkhira and received his IA degree from Ripon College, Kolkata. He moved to Dhaka from Kolkata in 1950 and worked as a journalist for the daily Nabajug, Ittefaq, Sangbad and Millat. He founded and edited (1959-1970) a monthly magazine called Samakal. He also set up a printing press called Samakal Mudrayan and a publishing house named Samakal Prakashani in 1958.
About Zafar and his poems, poet Mohammad Samad expressed: "He was a true patriot and had a big heart. He was also a revolutionary thinker. His bold spirit was fully expressed through some of his ground-breaking poems."
Poet Mahadev Saha said, "In the 1940s and '50s, Bangla poetry was mostly romantic. Very few poets wrote about common people and their issues. Zafar's poems were unique and unparalleled in that regard."
Abul Hasnat, editor of Kali O Kalam, reminisced: "Zafar played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual movement which started in the 1950s. He had a great ability to gather people for a cause within a short time. He would remain in our collective memory for his major contribution to Bengali literature.
"During the Liberation War, he composed a number of memorable songs. Particularly, his 'Amader Sangram Cholbei' motivated people throughout the war."
Sinha MA Sayeed, columnist, commented: "Not just a powerful poet and writer, Zafar was a fearless and brilliant editor. Samakal, a literary magazine, was acclaimed for its rich content and scholarly writing. In 1960s, the literary journal was the best among its contemporaries."
Zafar's noted literary works include plays "Siraj-ud-Dawlah" (1965), "Mohakobi Alaol" (1966); a collections of poems "Prashanna Prahar" (1965), "Timirantik" (1965), "Bangla Chharo" (1971) and many more.
The poet received the Ekushey Padak and Swadhinata Padak posthumously, in recognition of his contribution to Bangla literature. He died at the PG Hospital in Dhaka on August 5, 1975.
The writer is a freelance contributor.





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