Dwijen Sharma (29 May 1929 – 15 September 2017) was a Bangladeshi naturalist and science writer. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1987 and

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contribut ...

in 2015 by the

Government of Bangladesh The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Co ...

for his contribution in language and literature.

Early life

Sharma was born in Shimulia village of Barlekha Upazila of

Moulvibazar District Moulvibazar ( bn, মৌলভীবাজার) also spelled Maulvibazar, Moulavibazar, and Maulavibazar, (former South Sylhet) is the southeastern district of Sylhet Division in northeastern Bangladesh, named after the town of Moulvibazar. It ...

Sylhet Division Sylhet Division ( bn, সিলেট বিভাগ) is the northeastern division of Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura to the north, east and south respectively, and by the Bangladeshi divisions ...

. His father Chandrakand Sharma was a "Kobiraj" or rural doctor and his mother Mognomoyi Debi was a social worker. During his childhood, he was fond of visiting the forest of Patharia hill which is situated in Barlekha Upazila.

Education and professional work

Sharma received his bachelor's degree from

City College, Kolkata City College is a composite fully state government-aided public college, affiliated to the University of Calcutta. Established in 1881, it is one of the heritage institutions of Kolkata, and played a prominent role in the wake of the Bengal ...

. He earned his master's degree in botany in 1958 from the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...

. He then joined Brojomohun College, Barisal. In 1962 he left

Barisal Barisal ( or ; bn, বরিশাল, ), officially known as Barishal, is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal Di ...

to join the faculty of

Notre Dame College, Dhaka Notre Dame College, Dhaka ( bn, নটর ডেম কলেজ, ঢাকা), also known as NDC, is a Catholic higher secondary school (in the Indian subcontinent, as in the United Kingdom, higher secondary schools comprising the 11th and ...

and worked until 1974. Then, he moved to

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

to work for

Progress Publishers Progress Publishers was a Moscow-based Soviet publisher founded in 1931. Publishing program Progress Publishers published books in a variety of languages: Russian, English, and many other European and Asian languages. They issued many scientific b ...

as a translator. He moved back to Bangladesh in 2000 and joined

Banglapedia ''Banglapedia:'' ''the'' ''National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh'' is the first Bangladeshi encyclopedia. It is available in print, CD-ROM format and online, in both Bengali and English. The print version comprises fourteen 500-page volumes. The f ...

(National Encyclopedia Of Bangladesh) Project,

Asiatic Society of Bangladesh The Asiatic Society of Bangladesh is a non political and non profit research organisation registered under both Society Act of 1864 and NGO Bureau, Government of Bangladesh. The Asiatic Society of Bangladesh was established as the Asiatic Society ...

as an editor and translator of biology. He served as vice president of Asiatic Society for 3 years. An encyclopedia of the flora and fauna of Bangladesh in 56 volumes was published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh while he was the president of the publishing committee.

Honors and awards

* Kudrat-i-Khuda Gold medal * Bangla Academy Literary Award (1987) * Nature Preservation Award by

Channel i Channel i ( bn, চ্যানেল আই) is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel owned by Impress Group. It was launched on 1 October 1999, as Bangladesh's first digital television channel. It is one of the ...

(2011) * M Nurul Qader Children's Literature Award *

(2015)

Personal life

Sharma was married to Devi Sharma, a former professor at Central Women's University. They have one son and one daughter. Sharma's niece Manisha Chakraborty is a Bangladeshi politician.

Books

Sharma wrote more than 30 books. Some notable ones are as follows. * Shamoli Nishorgo (Green Nature) * Shomajtontre Boshobash (Living in Socialism) * Jiboner Shesh Nei (No End To Life) * Phoolgulo Jeno Kotha (Each Flower Is A Word) * Biggan Shikkha O Daiboddhotar Nirikh ( Science Education and Our Responsibilities) * Nishorgo Nirman O Nandonik Bhabna (Building the Environment and Related Thoughts)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Dwijen 1929 births 2017 deaths University of Dhaka alumni Bangladeshi scientists Bengali Hindus Bangladeshi Hindus Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Recipients of Bangla Academy Award People from Barlekha Upazila Deaths from kidney disease Academic staff of Notre Dame College, Dhaka