Shawkat Ali (12 February 1936 – 25 January 2018) was a Bangladeshi writer. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1968 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 1990 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 ...

Early life and education

Ali was born in Raiganj in West Dinajpur district in British India. He passed his IA from Surendranath College in 1951 and BA in 1955. He completed his MA in Bengali literature 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 ...

in 1958.

Career

Ali started writing articles in newspapers in 1955. He started his career at the news desk of ''Dainik Millat'' in the same year. He worked in Thakurgaon as a schoolteacher for six months. He taught Bengali at Jagannath College in Dhaka between 1962 and 1987. He joined the Dhaka head office of District Gazetteer as an assistant director and later became its director. He was appointed principal of Government Music College in 1989 from where he retired in 1993.

Works

Ali's notable novels include ''Prodoshe Prakritojon'' (1984), ''Opekkha'' (1984) and ''Dakkhinyaoner Din'' (1985). ''Prodoshe Prakritojon'' is his most notable – which tells the story of the oppression faced by the lower-caste people in the

Sena Empire The Sena dynasty was a Hindu dynasty during the early medieval period on the Indian subcontinent, that ruled from Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. The empire at its peak covered much of the north-eastern region of the Indian subcont ...

that ruled the Bengal through 11th and 12th centuries. ''Uttarer Khep'' was adapted into a film of the same name in 2000. The film won the

Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress ( bn, জাতীয় চলচ্চিত্র পুরস্কার) is the highest award for film actresses in Bangladesh. List of winners ;Key Records and statistics Multiple w ...

for the performance by Champa.

Novels

*''Pingal Akash'' (The Reddish-Brown Sky, 1963) *''Jaatra'' (Journey, 1976) *''Prodoshe Praakritajon'' (The Commoners in the Twiltghat, 1984) *''Apeksha'' (Waiting, 1985) *''Dakshinayaner Din'' (The Days of Southward Way, 1985) *''Kulyaai Kalasrot'' (Time the Flow of in a Bird's Nest, 1986) *''Purbaratri Purbadin'' (The Night Before, the Day Before, 1986) *''Sambal'' (Saving, 1986) *''Gantabye Atahpar'' (After towards Destinations, 1987) *''Bhalobasa Kare Kay'' (What is Love Called, 1988) *''Jete Chai'' (I want to Go, 1988) *''Warish'' (The Successor, 1989) *Basar O Madhucandrima (Bride-Chamber and Honey Moon, 1990) *Uttarer Khep (A Trip to the North, 1991) *Tripodi (2002)

Awards

* Bangla Academy Literary Award (1968) * Humayun Kabir Memorial Award * Lekhak Shibir Medal (1978) * Ajit Guha Literary Prize (1982) * Philips Literary Award (1986 and 1989) *

(1990)

Personal life

Ali has Three sons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Shawkat 1936 births 2018 deaths University of Dhaka alumni Bangladeshi essayists Academic staff of Jagannath University Bangladeshi male novelists People from Uttar Dinajpur district Recipients of Bangla Academy Award Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Writers from West Bengal