Abdus Shakur was an eminent litterateur, musicologist and an expert on roses. He was born in Noakhali in 1941. He is the author of several novels, short story books, travelogues and essay books. He started his career at Dhaka University as a lecturer in the English Department, and later joined the then Pakistan Civil Service. He retired in 2000 as a secretary to the Bangladesh government.
About Shakur, noted poet Anisur Rahman said, "Shakur was a truly cultured person. He was man of simple habits and lived an ordinary life. He was a Tagore expert and had vast knowledge of all the genres of music. He has left behind a number of research books that are outstanding."
Poet Rabiul Husain said, "I first met him in the late 1980s in Dhaka. He was very close to poet Belal Chowdhury, who introduced me to him. The first writing by him that I read was on roses, published in the literary magazine 'Mizanur Rahman-er Troimashik Patrika'. His style was unique. Most of his writings were research-based. He was secular and true to his Bengali roots."
Author Sinha MA Sayeed said, "I knew him only a little, but liked him very much, and admired him even more. His natural reticence, allied to his sense of the absurd, perhaps prevented him from attracting the national renown that he deserved. He is one of the great novelists. The man was brilliant, elegant, surprising, reliable, precise, stark, often sad, sometimes funny, shocking and even frightening.
Author Mahbube Rabbani said, "Shakur, one of the great short story writers. beautifully composed, lyrical, understated plots"
He wrote a good number of novels, several storybooks, essays, dramas and articles in his long literary career. Some of Shakur's notable works are "Golap Sangraha", "Mohan Srota", "Mohamohim Rabindranath", "Epitaph" and "Bangali-r Muktir Gaan". He received the Bangla Academy Award in 1979, Amiobhushon Award from West Bengal (India) in 2003 and Alokto Sahitya Puroshkar in 2008 for his immense contribution to Bengali literature.
February 25 marked the 77th birth anniversary of Abdus Shakur.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
