{{Short description|Bangladeshi poet (1936–2019)}} {{distinguish|Al Mahmood}} {{for|the village in Iran|Ali Mahmud}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox writer | name = Al Mahmud | image = Al Mahmood-Farrukh Awarded Person 1995.JPG | caption = Mahmud in 2009 | native_name = আল মাহমুদ | native_name_lang = bn | birth_name = Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1936|7|11}} | birth_place = Brahmanbaria District, Bengal Presidency, British India | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|2|15|1936|7|11|df=yes}} | death_place = Dhaka, Bangladesh | occupation = Poet, journalist | nationality = Bangladeshi | genre = Poet, novelist, short-story writer | subject = Literature | notableworks = ''Lok Lokantor'' <br /> ''Kaler Kalosh'' <br /> ''Sonali Kabin'' <br /> ''Mayabi Porda Dule Otho'' | spouse = Late Sayeda Nadira Begum | children = 8 | awards = Full list }}
'''Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud'''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangla/শীর্ষ-খবর/কবি-আল-মাহমুদ-আইসিইউতে-105769|script-title=bn:কবি আল মাহমুদ আইসিইউতে|date=2019-02-10|work=The Daily Star|language=bn|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> (known as '''Al Mahmud'''; 11 July 1936 – 15 February 2019)<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/191222/Poet-Al-Mahmud-passes-away|title=Poet Al Mahmud passes away|work=Prothom Alo|language=en|date=2019-02-16|access-date=2019-02-15}}</ref> was a Bangladeshi poet, novelist, and short-story writer. He is considered one of the greatest Bengali poets to have emerged in the 20th century.<ref name="thedailystar1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-193948|title=Al Mahmud turns 75|date=2011-07-13|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2019-02-15}}</ref> His work in Bengali poetry is dominated by his frequent use of regional dialects.<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Mahmud|publisher=Truly Bangladesh|url= http://www.trulybangladesh.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335:al-mahmud-&catid=90:contemporary-authors&Itemid=110}}''Retrieved: 22 January 2014''</ref> In the 1950s he was among those Bengali poets who were outspoken in their writing on such subjects as the events of the Bengali language movement, nationalism, political and economical repression, and the struggle against the West Pakistani government.<ref name="banglapedia">{{cite book |last=Arif |first=Hakim |year=2012 |chapter=Poetry |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Poetry |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Al Mahmud was born on 11 July 1936 at Morail Village of Brahmanbaria District in present-day Bangladesh into a Bengali Muslim ''Zamindar'' family that had the hereditary title of ''Mir''. The ancestors of the family had migrated to the Indian Subcontinent to preach Islam. His father Mir Abdur Rab and mother Raushan Ara Mir were cousins. His grandfather Mir Abdul Wahhab Mullah was a ''Mullah'' and ''Zamindar'' in Brahmanbaria district. Mir Abdul Wahhab was also a teacher and cleric in his local village school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahmud, Al - Banglapedia |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mahmud,_Al |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=en.banglapedia.org}}</ref><ref name="Musa">{{cite book |author=Muhammad Musa |title=Brahmanbariar Itibrittyo |publisher=Shetu Prokashoni, Brahmanbaria |year=1998}}</ref> His childhood and secondary education days were spent in this village which is located adjacent to Brahmanbaria town.<ref name="Musa"/>
Mahmud started his career as a journalist. He obtained widespread recognition after ''Lok Lokantor'' was published in 1963. In succession, he then penned ''Kaler Kalosh'' (1966), ''Sonali Kabin'' (1973),<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:সোনালি কাবিন |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/we-are/article/41377/;in=3407 |work=Prothom Alo | date=16 February 2019 |access-date=16 February 2019 |language=bn}}</ref> and ''Mayabi Porda Dule Otho'' (1976).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bangladeshinovels.com/Al_Mahmud.html|title=BangladeshiNovels Diyet Servisi|access-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514061614/http://www.bangladeshinovels.com/Al_Mahmud.html|archive-date=14 May 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> His other notable poetic collections include ''Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash'', ''Bakhtiyarer Ghora'' and ''Nodir Bhitorer Nodi''.<ref name="dailystar2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-45124|title=Poet Al Mahmud turns 73|date=2008-07-11|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2019-02-15}}</ref> In addition to writing poetry, he wrote short stories, novels and essays such as ''Pankourir Rakta'' and ''Upamohadesh''. In 1971 he went to India and worked there to build public opinion in favour of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.<ref name="thedailystar1"/> After the war, he joined ''The Daily Ganakantha'' as the assistant editor. He was jailed for a year during the regime of the Awami League government.<ref name="banglapedia"/> Later, he joined Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1975 and retired in 1993 as director of the academy.
==Literary work== Al Mahmud's literary work ''Shonali Kabin''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sayeedabubakar.info/poetry/book.pdf |title=The Golden Kabin |access-date=1 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331142254/http://www.sayeedabubakar.info/poetry/book.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> published in 1973, is considered as a landmark of Bengali poetry.<ref name="dailystar2"/> Philosopher Sibnarayan Ray commented: {{blockquote|Al Mahmud has an extraordinary gift for telescopic discrete levels of experience; in his poems I find a marvelous fusion and wit which reminds me occasionally of Bishnu Dey. The complete secularism of his approach is also striking…he was born and brought up in a very conservative Muslim religious family; it is not a secularism forced by some ideology, but present naturally and ubiquitously in his metaphors, images and themes.}}
== Selected works == {{columns-list|colwidth=20em| * ''Lok Lokantor'' (1963) * ''Kaler Kalos'' (1966) * ''Shonali Kabin'' (1973) * ''Mayabi Porda Dule Otho'' (1976) * ''Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash'' * ''Bokhtiyarer Ghora'' 1984 * ''Dinjapon'' * ''Ditiyo Bhangon'' * ''Ekti Pakhi Lej Jhola'' * Subcontinental *The girl of fire *Second breakdown * Dahuki * ''Golpshomogro'' * ''Jebhabe Gore Uthi'' * ''Kishor Shomogro'' * ''Kobir Atmobisshash'' * ''Kobita Somogro- 1, 2'' * ''Pankourir Rakta'' (1975) * ''Na Kono Shunnota Mani Na'' * ''Nodir Bhitorer Nodi'' * ''Pakhir Kache, Phooler Kache'' * ''Prem O Bhalobashar Kobita'' * ''Prem Prokritir Droho Ar Prarthonar Kobita'' * ''Upomohadesh'' * ''Trishera'' }}
== Awards == thumb|Mahmud in 2007 * Bangla Academy Literary Award (1968)<ref name="dailystar2 "/> * Joy Bangla Award (1972) * Humayun Kabir Memorial Award (1972) * Jibonananda Memorial Award (1972) * Kaji Motaher Hossain Literary Award (1976) * Kabi Jasim Uddin Award * Philips Literary Award (1986) * Ekushey Padak (1986) * Nasir Uddin Gold Award (1990) * Chattagram Sangskriti Kendro Farrukh Memorial Award (1995)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cskbd.org|title=Chattagram Sangskriti Kendro|access-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725211614/http://www.cskbd.org/|archive-date=25 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Alakta Literary Award * Lalon Award (2011) * Independence Award (2025)<ref>{{cite news |title=7 to get Independence Awards, Ziaur Rahman's accolade reinstated |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/5f5eb09d82fb |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=bdnews24.com |date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311095323/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/5f5eb09d82fb |archive-date=11 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Independence Award 2025: 7 recipients include Azam Khan, Al Mahmud, Novera Ahmed, Fazle Hasan Abed |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/independence-award-2025-7-recipients-include-azam-khan-al-mahmud-novera-ahmed-fazle-hasan |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=The Business Standard |date=11 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news/poetic-genius|title=Poetic genius|date=2013-07-12|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}} * {{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/literature/the-shame-return-1249168|title=The Shame of Return|date=2016-07-02|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}} * {{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/%E2%80%9Cpoetry-work-lifetime%E2%80%9D-110614|title=Poetry is a work of a lifetime|date=2015-07-11|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahmud, Al}} Category:1936 births Category:2019 deaths Category:People from Brahmanbaria Category:Bangladeshi male poets Category:Bangladeshi male novelists Category:Bengali-language poets Category:20th-century Bangladeshi poets Category:20th-century Bengali poets Category:20th-century Bangladeshi male writers Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Category:Recipients of the Bangla Academy Award Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Bangladesh Category:Recipients of the Independence Award