Selected Short Stories of Al Mahmud (Hardcover)

Al Mahmud was born in the village Mourail under the district Brahmanbaria on the 11th July 1936. He has been living in Dhaka permanently since 1954. He started his life as a poet. His first appearance as a story writer was in ‘Saytyayug’ a literary journal of Calcatta. Gourahishore Ghosh the renowned Literateur and Journalist of Calcutta published one of his short stories and being charmed at the quality of his prose encouraged him to write more short stories. After coming to Dhaka he began to write short stories from the year 1954 in the Weekly periodical ‘the Kafela’. In the decade of Sixty Jasim Uddin in one of his letters wrote to Al Mahmud, “I like to tell you one thing, the style of your prose is commendable. If you give more attention to writing prose…” No doubt he deployed his attention to writing short stories more and more.
He worked as a professional journalist for a long time in the ‘Daily Ittefak’ and ‘Daily Millat’. Just after Liberation war he started his career as Journalist as the Editor of the Daily ‘Ganakantho’. The undaunted journalistic attitude reflected in his Editorials was widely applauded from all quarters. In 1975 he joined in the publication Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and within a few years he was promoted to the post of Director of the Academy and finally retired from there in 1993. Later on he again came back in journaliatic world and joined as Editor in the Daily Karnafully of Chittagong.
In that period some of his short stories were published in different periodicals and a sensation was created among the readers and critics. As a result of which he began to write short stories profusely. ‘Pankaurir rakta’, ‘Shourober kache porajito’, ‘Gandhabanik’ and ‘Moyurir mukh’ are the names of his collection of short stories.
He achieved Bangla Academy award for his works in 1968, Sufi Mutahar Hussain Gold medal 1976, ‘Shishu Academy award 1981, ‘Alakta literary award 1983, Humayun Kadir memorial award 1984, Philips Literary award in 1985, National award of the ‘Ekushe’ award in 1986 and Nasir uddin Gold medal 1990.
A few years ago he sold his Dhaka residence to send his two sons abroad. At present being disabled due to old age and desease he is passing his last days in his village home having no one to look after him. His physical life may come to an end but I am sure, his prose works he will keep him ever fresh and ever shining in the sky of Bengali literature.
The Translator