Like many grieving readers, Humayun Ahmed's writings had impact shaping my thoughts and life. His protagonists from everyday life, mysterious and mystical, sometimes magical, and sometimes realistic to the core, Himu, Misir Ali, Baker Bhai, and many other now forgotten main and side characters of his skillfully crafted novels, their fights against the odd, wins and defeats, selfless sacrifice, and passions, these all made up the sum total of this great Bangladeshi writer's tremendous contributions to Bangla literature.
His sentence structure was simple, but in combination had powerful meaning. I have not read his writings from the last decade, but can reminisce still those unforgettable moments that came alive from the crisp plot, economic usages of words, and ending that had left me craving for more of his story.
I remember the universal messages in his stories. Love, humanity, this mortal life, and the possibility beyond belief and imagination. At that time when I was reading Humayun Ahmed's novels, a few other Bengali contemporary writers' name came to mind whose books I used to read voraciously and collect in my quite infamous and strict book library. Qazi Anwar Hussain was one of them. His series of Masud Rana and Kuasha, along with other books published through his publication Sheba Prokashoni were unforgettable. A few other legendary writers whose stories I still reminisce and miss along with Humayun Ahmed's are Sunil Gangopadhyay (Purbo Poshchim, Prothom Alo, Shei Shomoy), Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay (Durbin, Parthibo, Manab Jaminm, Paraapar), Akhtaruzzaman Elias (Chilekothar Sepai, Khoabnama), Syed Mujtaba Ali (Musafir, Chaturanga), Samaresh Majumdar, Sanaresh Basu, Imdadul Haq Milon, Prafulla Roy, Satyajit Roy (Feluda, Professor Shanku), Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (Pother Panchali), Shonkor, and many others great Bengali writers whose writing jewels still remain tragically unknown to the greater world.
After Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and other leading writers of 20th century, Humayun Ahmed's contribution as a prolific writer and also as a notable film and TV drama director and author will be remembered and missed.
Only 63 year old when this great writer died. So sudden and unexpected! Humayun Ahmed did explore mortality and the possibility of another existence beyond this finite life, though not in absolute term, like a scientist as he was with the addition of mystical spirituality.
I believe, his memorable writings will keep his memory alive to this and many generations to come.
Yes you are right...economic usage of words...he was very adept at expressing complicated issues of life in few simple words...And like you I think my philosophy toward life is greatly influenced by him...Nice tribute...thanks
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