Native name জসীমউদ্দীন Nationality Bangladeshi | Name Jasim Uddin Education University of Calcutta Role Poet | |
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Born 30 October 1903Tambulkhana, Faridpur, Bengal, British India (now in Bangladesh) ( 1903-10-30 ) Occupation Poet, songwriter, writer, radio personality, teacher Notable awards Ekushey Padak (1976)Independence Day Award (1978) Died March 13, 1976, Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||
Alma mater University of Calcutta | ||
Jasimuddin
Jasimuddin (1 January 1903 – 13 March 1976; born Jasim Uddin) was a Bengali poet, songwriter, prose writer, folklore collector and radio personality. He is commonly known in Bangladesh as Polli Kobi (The Rural Poet), for his faithful rendition of Bengali folklore in his works.
Contents
- Jasimuddin
- Nakshi Kanthar Math Poem of Jasimuddin l Recitation by Urmimala Banerjee
- Early life and career
- Poetry
- Music
- Major honors and awards
- Death and legacy
- Novel
- References
Nakshi Kanthar Math | Poem of Jasimuddin l Recitation by Urmimala Banerjee
Early life and career
Jasimuddin was born in the village of Tambulkhana in Faridpur District on 1 January 1903 in the house of his maternal uncle. His father, Ansaruddin Mollah, was a school-teacher. Mother Amina Khatun (Rangachhut) received early education at Faridpur Welfare School. He matriculated from Faridpur Zilla School in 1921. Jasimuddin completed IA from Rajendra College in 1924.He obtained his BA degree in Bengali from the University of Calcutta in 1929 and his MA in 1931. From 1931 to 1937, Jasimuddin worked with Dinesh Chandra Sen as a collector of folk literature. Jasimuddin is one of the compilers of Purbo-Bongo Gitika (Ballads of East Bengal). He collected more than 10,000 folk songs, some of which has been included in his song compilations Jari Gaan and Murshida Gaan. He also wrote voluminously on the interpretation and philosophy of Bengali folklore.
Jasimuddin joined the University of Dhaka in 1938 as a Lecturer. He left the university in 1944 and joined the Department of Information and Broadcasting. He worked there until his retirement in 1962 as Deputy Director. He was an admirer of Guru Mrityun Jay Sil
Poetry
Jasimuddin started writing poems at an early age. As a college student, he wrote the celebrated poem Kabar (The Grave), a very simple tone to obtain family-religion and tragedy. The poem was placed in the entrance Bengali textbook while he was still a student of Calcutta University.
Jasimuddin is noted for his depiction of rural life and nature from the viewpoint of rural people. This had earned him fame as Polli Kobi (the rural poet). The structure and content of his poetry bears a strong flavor of Bengal folklore. His Nokshi Kanthar Maath (Field of the Embroidered Quilt) is considered a masterpiece and has been translated into many different languages.
Jasimuddin also composed numerous songs in the tradition of rural Bengal. His collaboration with Abbas Uddin, the most popular folk singer of Bengal, produced some of the gems of Bengali folk music, especially of Bhatiali genre. Jasimuddin also wrote some modern songs for the radio. He was influenced by his neighbor, poet Golam Mostofa, to write Islamic songs too. Later, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, he wrote some patriotic songs.
Music
One of the most famous lyric and Music by Jasim Uddin:
Snake Charmer / Babu Selam
O babu, many salams to you
my name is Goya the Snakecharmer, My home is the Padma river.
We catch birds
we live on birds
There is no end to our happiness,
For we trade,
With the jewel on the Cobra's head.
"We cook on one bank,
We eat at another
We have no homes,
The whole world is our home,
All men are our brothers
We look for them
In every door….." (Jasim Uddin)
Major honors and awards
Death and legacy
Jasimuddin died on 13 March 1976 and was buried near his ancestral home at Gobindapur, Faridpur. A fortnightly festival known as Jasim Mela is observed at Gobindapur each year in January commemorating the birthday of Jasimuddin. A residential hall of the University of Dhaka bears his name.
Novel
Boba Kahini (1964)