Today is the 87th anniversary of the birth of the Independence Award-winning poet-playwright-novelist-translator Syed Shamsul Haq.

Different organisations will pay tribute to Syed Shamsul Haq organising special programmes.

Syed Shamsul Haq’s widow Anwara Syed Haq told New Age that Kurigram district administration along with different cultural and educational institutions will bring out a procession and place floral wreaths on Syed Shamsul Haq’s grave on Kurigram Government College campus in the morning. A discussion programme and prayer session will also be held at the venue. Besides, Syed Shamsul Haq Smriti Parishad will organise a daylong Syed Haq Mela at the college.

Marking the day, Bangla Academy will organise a special programme in the capital.

Syed Shamsul Haq Pathagar will hand over Syed Shamsul Haq Pathagar Award 2022 to writer SM Shamsul Alam for his contribution to children’s literature. Besides, Oitijjhya Prokashani will launch Syed Shamsul Haq-translated five works and Agami Prakashan will launch a collection of books written by Syed Haq.

Syed Shamsul Haq was born in Kurigram on December 27, 1935. He was drawn to writing at an early age and penned over 200 poems before completing his matriculation. He enrolled at Dhaka University’s English department but he did not complete his bachelor’s degree.

In his kaleidoscopic writing career spanning over 60 years, Syed Haq penned 40 novels and several collections of poems.

Among his best-known collections of poems are, namely Paraner Gahin Bhitar, Ekada Ek Rajye, Baishakhe Rachita Pangktimala, Pratidhwanigan, Apar Purush, Ek Ashcharja Sangamer Smriti, Kabita Samagra in three volumes and others.

He wrote novels, including Brishti o Bidrahigan, Ek Mahilar Chhabi, Stabdhatar Anubad, Baro Diner Jiban, Tumi Sei Tarbari, Simana Chhariye, Neel Dangshan, Nishiddha Loban, Kayekti Manusher Sonali Jouban, Nirbasita, Khelaram Khele Ja, Megh o Machine, Anya Ek Alingan, Shreshtha Upanyas and others.

As a playwright, Syed Shamsul Haq created a new trend in contemporary Bangla drama. He wrote popular verse plays such as Payer Awaj Paoya Jay, Nuruldiner Sara Jiban, Ekhane Ekhon, Irsha, Narigan, Banglar Mati Banglar Jal and others.

Besides writing short stories and screenplays for mainstream films, Syed Haq also wrote hundreds of playbacks, including Hayre manush rangin phanus, Jar Chhaya Parechhe Manero Aynate,Tumi asbe bole kachhe dakbe bole, Chander sathe ami debo na and others.

He also translated some western classics, including Shakespear’s Macbeth, Hamlet, The Tempest, Troilus and Cresida and Ibsen’s Pyr Gynt and others.

His collections of essays include Hrith Kalamer Taane, Marjine Mantabya.

He was awarded different prestigious awards, including Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1984 and Independence Award in 2000 for his contributions to Bangla literature.

Syed Shamsul Haq passed away in 2016 at the age of 81.