The literature of Bangla is enriched with a vast number of notable creations. There are some prominent writers who filled the bounty with such perfection. Among them, Ahmed Sofa is an eminent one.
Ahmed Sofa was one of the most famous writers in Bangladesh. Besides writing, he was a novelist, poet, thinker, and philosopher. He was also widely known as a public intellectual. His evergreen creation “Bangali Musalmaner Mon” gained immense acceptance, presenting the Bengali Muslims with a new identity. Apart from fiction, he was also immensely known for his several political books. In 2002, he received posthumously the Ekushe Padak by the government of Bangladesh. So, let’s have a look at the triumphant literary journey of Ahmed Sofa.
Early Life & Background
Ahmed Sofa was born on June 30, 1943. His birthplace was in Gachbaria, Chittagong, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh). His father was Hedayet Ali and his mother was Asiya Khatun. Ahmed was born into a family of farmers. They were not financially much stable to sustain their livelihood. In such a situation, the desire to be a writer was nothing except an impossible dream for him.
Thus his elder brother, Abdus Sobi, was determined to take on all the responsibilities of his younger brother.
Ahmed finished his secondary and higher secondary education at a local school in Chittagong. In 1962, he moved to Dhaka and took his admission to the University of Dhaka. There, he was admitted to the Department of Bangla. Even though he dreamt big of finishing his graduation. However, the path was not as smooth as assumed. Once, he was rebuked by Ahmed Sharif severely. That’s when he determined to not attend classes anymore and as a result, he couldn’t finish his graduation in Bangla. Even after having such a dreadful situation, he didn’t hold himself back. He decided to complete his education. As a consequence, in 1967, he achieved a bachelor’s degree from Brahmanbaria College as a private candidate.
The year “1970” was the luckiest year for Ahmed Sofa as two of his dreams came into reality. He earned his awaited master’s in political science from the University of Dhaka. Moreover, in the same year, he also got the opportunity for a fellowship at Bangla Academy to do PhD on “The Growth of Middle Class in Bengal as it influenced literature, Society, and Economics from 1800 to 1858”. He was granted under the supervision of Abdur Razzak. Even though he got the opportunity to gain the PhD, he could not earn that. However, the disappointment didn’t have much impact on his dream career. Soon, the phenomenal writer decided to convert it all to his writing passion. Did you know that Ahmed Sofa was incredibly popular for his essays? Besides writing novels and poems, he was greatly praised for his notable writings as well.
Contributions
Ahmed Sofa was a free thinker with a great intellect. Even though he is popular for his novels and poems, he earned a huge acceptance for his immense contribution to essays as well. Besides being such a triumphant writer, he was also a keen observer. He observed life from very close. One of his most famous essays is “Bangali Musolmaner Mon” (The Mind of the Bengali Muslims). Here, Ahmed described the lives of Muslims in a very different way which changed the whole perception of the time. He also made a vital contribution to political issues as well. Bangla Bhasha: Ranitir Aloke, Rajnitir Lekha, Bangali Jaati Ebong Bangladesh Rastro, Nirbachito Rajnoitik Prabandha, Nirbachito Orajnoitik Prabandha, Jagrata Bangladesh are also some of the most renowned writings by Ahmed Sofa.
Through his incredible writings, Sofa did not just reflect the nation’s intellectual progress. Moreover, he protested for the nation itself. The majority of his novels are deeply attached to his emotions to safeguard his nation. Surjo Tumi Sathi, Ekjan Ali Kenaner Utthan Patan, Uddhar, Obkar, and Alatachakra, are the most notable ones.
Furthermore, Puspabrksa O Bihanga Purana, Ardhek Naari Ardhek Ishwari, and Ghabhibrttanta were also written to raise voices against all social injustices.
Besides writing exceptional essays and novels, Ahmed Sofa was a distinguished poet as well. His idiosyncratic poetic styles have given the modern poets a new light to lean on. Ekti Prabin Boter Kache Prarthona (A Prayer to An Old Banyan Tree), Jallad Shamay (Time, the Executioner), and Lenin Ghumabe Ebar (Lenin Will Sleep Now) are the most distinctive ones. He had also penned a nursery rhyme titled “Go Hakim” in 1977.
Ahmed Sofa translated several books as well. One of his noteworthy translations was “Faust” by Goethe. In addition, he had also done some agnostic writings of Bertrand Russell. Even though he was quite renowned for his translation, he was verily recognized for his watermark as an essayist.
Popular Books
Essays
Title | Published Year |
Jagrata Bangladesh | 1971 |
Buddhibrittir Notun Binyas (A New Mode Of Intellectualism) | 1972 |
Bangla Bhasha: Ranitir Aloke (The Bengali Language: In the Light Of Politics) | 1975 |
Bangladesher Rajnoitik Jotilota (Political Complications in Bangladesh) | 1977 |
Sipahi Yuddher Itihash (History of the Sepoy Movement) | 1979 |
Bangali Musolmaner Mon (The Mind of the Bengali Muslims) | 1981 |
Ekjon Ali Kenaner Utthan Poton (The Rise and Fall of One Ali Kenan) | 1988 |
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman O Anyanya Prabandha | 1989 |
Rajnitir Lekha (Political Writings) | 1993 |
Anupurbik Taslima O Anyanya Sparshakatarata Prasanga | 1994 |
Sampratik Bibechana: Buddhibrittir Notun Binyas (Reconsideration: A New Mode of Intellectualism) | 1997 |
Shanti Chukti O Nirbachita Prabandha (Peace Treaty and Selected Essays) | 1998 |
Yadyapi Amar Guru (He is Still My Teacher) | 1998 |
Bangali Jaati Ebong Bangladesh Rastro | 2001 |
Amar Kotha O Anyanya Prabandha | 2002 |
Nirbachito Rajnoitik Prabandha | 2011 |
Nirbachito Orajnoitik Prabandha | 2011 |
Novels
Title | Published Year |
Shurjo Tumi Shathi (Sun, you are my companion) | 1967 |
Dolo Amar Kanak Chapa | 1968 |
Nihoto Nakkhatra | 1969 |
Dukher Diner Doha | 1975 |
Jallad Shamay | 1975 |
Uddhar (Rescue) | 1975 |
Ekti Prabin Boter Kache Prarthona | 1977 |
Go Hakim | 1977 |
Harano Lekha | |
Moron Bilash | 1989 |
Atala Chakra (A Circle of Fire) | 1990 |
Aspect of Social Harmony in Bangla Culture and Peace Song | 1991 |
Alat Chokro | 1993 |
Obkar (The Chest Note) | 1993 |
Shera Uponnash | |
Nikot O Durer Prashanga | 1995 |
Gaavi Bittanto | 1995 |
Shankater Nana Chehara | 1996 |
Ahitagni | |
Ordhek Nari Ordhek Esshori | 1996 |
Pushpo Brikkho Ebong Bihongo Puran (Flower, Tree and the Accounts of Birds) | 1996 |
Shoto Borsher Ferrari: Bangkim Chandra Chattopadhyay | 1997 |
Ongkar | |
Lenin Ghumabe Ebar | 1999 |
Upolokkher Lekha | 2001 |
Ahmed Sofar Diary | 2004 |
Uponnash Somogro | 2006 |
Ahmed Sofar Chithi | 2008 |
Sheishob Lekha | 2008 |
Gyoter Deshe | 2011 |
Stories
Title | Year |
Dolo Amar Kanak Chapa (Let’s Rock, My Kanak Chapa) | 1968 |
Nihata Nakshatra (Slain Star) | 1969 |
Poems & Rhymes
Title | Year |
Jallad Samay (Time, the Hangman) | 1975 |
Go Hakim (Bovine Justice) | 1977 |
Ekti Prabin Boter Kache Prarthona (Prayer to an Ancient Banyan Tree) | 1977 |
Lenin Ghumabe Ebar (Lenin Will Sleep Now) | 1999 |
Personal Life
Ahmed Sofa was an influential writer with tremendous intellect. Even though he was such a magnificent writer, he was being criticized a lot. His bohemian lifestyle was likely a cheap topic for most. He was often criticized as a mad and insolent person as well. Ahmed was also chastised for his single life. He was blamed for having relations with several women. However, he never married. Even though he was a distinctive writer with phenomenal creativity. But, in reality, he led a quite isolated and miserable life.
Awards and Achievements
Ahmed Sofa got an announcement for his first time honorary “Lekhak Shibir Award” in 1975. But because of some unknown reason, he refused to receive the award. In 1993, he was again chosen for the “Saadat Ali Akanda Award” by Bangla Academy. Regretfully he refused to take the award again. At last, in 2002, he was honored posthumously with one of the highest honoraries of Bangladesh “Ekushe Padak”.
Unknown Facts
- Ahmed Sofa penned 18 essays (nonfiction books), 8 novels, 4 poem collections, and 1 collection of short stories.
- He was a social reformer. In his several books, he emphasized the importance and ways of social reformation.
- Sofa was strictly against student politics. In his book, Gabhi Bittanti, he portrays how the teachers of Bangladeshi universities were attached to political parties.
- He is considered to be the most important Bengali Muslim writer after Kazi Nazrul Islam and Mir Mosharraf Hossain by National Professor Adbur Razzaq and Salimullah Khan.
- In the 1970s, he organized the “Bangladesh Lekhak Shibir (Bangladesh Writer’s Camp) along with Ahmed Sharif.
- Ahmed mapped the intellectual landscape of Bangladesh through his famous book, Buddhibrittir Notun Binyas (A New Mode of Intellectualism) in 1972
- He was an avid nature lover. In his book, Pushpo Brikkho Ebong Bihongo Puran, he satirized his great relationship with plants, birds, and nature.
- As per many of his close ones, Sofa led a very bohemian life. He was not even committed and didn’t marry till his death.
- Sofa rejected all the awards he was supposed to be honored within his entire literary career.
Death
The triumphant writing figure, Ahmed Sofa ended his 37 years of distinctive literary career in 2001 as he embraced death on 28 July. At the age of 58 years, the writer left his last breath in Dhaka, Bangladesh because of cardiac arrest. He was buried with great honor in the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Conclusion
Ahmed Sofa was a man with intellect and great wisdom. Even though he endured adversities and criticism all his life. Still, he did his best to reform society with a gift of progressive culture. He was strictly against opportunism and all his life he stood to protect his nation from all corruption. No matter how adverse his path was, he never compromised his ethics for the sake of his nation. He was and will be always considered as a true gem of Bengali literature.