Ahsan Habib, the revered writer and journalist

Ahsan Habib, poet and journalist, is remembered in the realm of Bengali literature for his immense contribution. The nation knows him by his works, 32 years after his death, July 10, 1985, this literary persona rejoices immortality through his contribution in the field of literature and journalism.
Habib was born on February 2, 1917 in the rural area of Shankarpasha village in Pirojpur district. He passed his Entrance Examination in 1935 at the age of 18 under Pirojpur Government School. After that, he enrolled in B M College in Barisal. Unfortunately, his dream of graduation never transformed into reality for the burden of financial crisis.
As this gentleman was born before the India-Pakistan partition, it was easier for him to migrate to Kolkata in search of work which would help him in his struggle against all odds. He chose journalism as his preferred career choice and joined the 'Takbir' as an assistant editor in 1937. After that, his long and successful journey in the field of journalism began. After working about a year at 'Takbir', he moved to 'Saogat' and worked for almost four years. In 1943, he started to work as a staff artist at the Kolkata centre of the All India Radio.
However, the partition of 1947 created unfavourable situation for him and he came back to Dhaka, leaving his established career behind. As soon as he came back, it was not how he expected things would turn out for him. Soon after arrival, he joined the Daily Azad in Dhaka and from then onwards his career as a journalist never had to look back. Consecutively, Habib has worked in Monthly Mohammadi, Daily Krishak, Daily Ittehad, Weekly Prabaha and many more printed media. He was also the production adviser at Franklin Publications for 7 years from 1957 to 1964.
Habib began experimenting with his writing since childhood. His first poem Mayer Kabor Pare Kishor was published in his school magazine. At that time, he was a student of tenth grade. Later, he was active with his creation of exquisite poetries which included his first poetry book Ratri Sesh, published in 1947. He continued and published many other poetry books like Chhaya Harin (1962), Shara Dupur (1964), Ashay Basati (1974), Megh Bole Chaitre Jabo (1976), Duhaate Dui Adim Pathar (1980),Premer Kobita (1981), and Bidirno Dorpone Mukh(1985).
His attempts in the field of narratives were equally successful. Aronno Nilima (1960) and Ranikhaler Sonkho (1965) were critically acclaimed. He also contributed in the field of children's literature with his Josna Rater Golpo, Brishty Pore Tapur Tupur (1977) and Chutir Din Dupure (1978).
His literary achievements received high appreciation. He won the UNESCO Literary Prize in 1960, followed by the Bangla Academy award in 1961 and Adamjee Literary Prize in 1964. In his later years, he was revered with Ekushay Padak in 1978. On the verge of his death, he received the Adbul Karim Memorial Prize in 1984.
Today, he is still alive through his poems, novels and stories. Ahsan Habib travels time through his enormous contribution in literature.  

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