Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah:  A path-breaking and revolutionary poet

Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah is a Bengali poet, notable for his romantic and revolutionary poetry.  He is considered one of the remarkable poets of the 1970s and is well known for 'Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko' which is assumed as a suicide note to Taslima Nasrin.  He was born on October 16 of 1956 in Barishal and died at the age of only 34 on June 21 in 1991.  Some of his widely read works are- 'Upodruto Upokul', 'Fire Pai Swarnogram', 'Manusher Manchitro', 'Chhobal', 'Diyechhile Shokol Akash', and 'Moulik Mukhosh'.
Rudra was one of the founding conveners of 'Sommilito Sangskritik Jot' and was the founding joint secretary of 'National Poetry Council'. He was an ardent protester in the movements against the autocratic regimes after 1975. He constantly raised voice against the autocrats and religious bigotries throughout his life. Among the poets who recite poems of their own, Rudra was a leading figure. His poetry is filled with issues like Liberation War of Bangladesh, Mass Movement, patriotism, secularism and amity among different communities.
 In 1981 Rudra tied knot with Taslima Nasreen, another noted writer of Bangladesh who has been in exile since 1994. Their conjugal life came to an end in 1988. After their separation, Rudra wrote one of the widely popular songs 'Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko'. Some of his remarkable poems are 'Bish', 'Dure Achho Dure', 'Batashe Lasher Gondho', 'E Kemon Bhranti Amar'  'Michhile Notun Mukh' and more.
Rudra received Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award in 1980. In 1997, he was awarded 'Bangladesh Cholochitro Sangbadik Samity' award posthumously for the poem 'Amar Bhitor Bahire Ontore Ontore'. Unfortunately, this rebellious poet prematurely passed away by committing suicide. On his 53rd birth anniversary we would like to offer him deep respect and gratitude.
The writer is a Lecturer of Premier University, Chattogram