Syed Waliullah

Bengali novelist, short-story writer and playwright

Syed Waliullah (Bengali: সৈয়দ ওয়ালিউল্লাহ; August 15, 1922 – October 10, 1971) was a Bangladeshi novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. He is noted for his first novel Lalsalu, which has been translated in English as Tree Without Roots. He received Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1961 for his contribution in novel; and was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1984 and Bangladesh National Film Awards for best story in 2001, both by Government of Bangladesh, posthumously.

Syed Waliullah
Native name
সৈয়দ ওয়ালিউল্লাহ
Born(1922-08-15)August 15, 1922
Sholashahar, Chittagong, Bengal Presidency, British India
DiedOctober 10, 1971(1971-10-10) (aged 49)
Meudon, Paris, France[1]
Resting placeMeudon, France
Occupationnovelist, short story writer, playwright, news editor
Alma materUniversity of Calcutta (dropped out)
Notable worksLalsalu
Notable awardsBangla Academy Literary Award (1961)
Ekushey Padak (1984)
Spouse
Anne Marie Thibaud
(m. 1955; till his death 1971)
RelativesSyed Ahmadullah (father)

Early life

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Waliullah was born on 15 August 1922, in Sholashahar, Chittagong District. His father, Syed Ahmadullah, was a government officer. Waliullah spent his childhood in Mymensingh, Feni, Krishnanagar and Kurigram district.[2] He passed matriculation from Kurigram High School in 1939 and IA from Dhaka College in 1941. He graduated from Ananda Mohan College in 1943. Later, he admitted to University of Calcutta but did not complete his post graduation.[2]

Novels
  • Lalsalu (Tree without roots), 1948
  • Chander Amaboshay (Dark moon), 1964
  • Kando Nadi Kando (Cry, o river), 1968
  • The Ugly Asian, 1959[3]
Dramas
  • Bahipir (1960)
  • Tarangabhanga (1964)
  • Sudanga (1964)
Short story collection
  • Nayanchara (1951)
  • Dui Tir O Anyanya Galpa

References

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  1. Alam, Shafiul (2012). "Waliullah, Syed". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Zaman, Niaz (13 August 2016). "Syed Waliullah Existentialism, Nostalgia, Nationalism". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. Alam, Shahid (25 March 2014). "Observations in or about politics". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 December 2017.