Nurul Momen

Nurul Momen
নুরুল মোমেন
Nurul Momen
Nurul Momen
Born 25 November 1908(1908-11-25)
Alphadanga, Jessore, Bangladesh
Died 16 February 1990(1990-02-16) (aged 81)
Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Occupation Playwright, Writer, Educationist, Theatre Director
Language Bangla, English
Nationality Bangladeshi Flag of Bangladesh.svg
Ethnicity Bengali
Citizenship Bangladesh
Genres play, short story, essay
Notable work(s) Nemesis · Rupantor
Notable award(s) Bangla Academy Award (1961)
Ekushey Padak (1978)
Spouse(s) Amena Momen (d. 1993)
Children Momena Momen Saara (d. 1995) · Ahmad Nurul Momen (d. 2009) · Hammad Nurul Momen  · Faisal Mahmud Nurul Momen


Nurul Momen (Bangla: নুরুল মোমেন) (November 25, 1908 – February 16, 1990), also known as Natyaguru (নাট্যগুরু), was an educationist, playwright, director, humorist, lawyer, broadcaster, philanthropist and essayist of Bangladesh.[1][2][3] He is recognized as the pioneer of modern Bengali drama,[4] "acting as a bridge between earlier and later playwrights in terms of content and style",[5] and even referred to as the "Father of Bangladeshi theatre".[6]

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Nurul Momen was born on November 25, 1908, as son of Nurul Arefin, a physician and landlord in Alfadanga, at that time part of Jessore.[2] He went to primary school in Calcutta and was admitted in 1916 into Zila School in Khulna .[6] At the age of ten he wrote his first poem, Shondhya (Evening), in the same verse as Tagore’s Shonar Tory.[2] In 1919 it was published in the then reputed journal Dhrubotara.[6] In 1920, he was enrolled in the Dhaka Muslim High School where he resided in the Dafrin Hostel. After matriculation in 1924 he studied at Dhaka Intermediate College. Passing intermediate, he enrolled for an B. A. at the newly established Dhaka University from 1926 on.

While he was residing at at "Muslim Hall" of Dhaka University, the various halls staged the then new play Muktadhara by Rabindranath Tagore. After some initial resistance, Momen received the main role of “Botu”. This ignited his passion for drama and even earned him a prize, but was also the only time that he performed as actor himself.[2][6]

After receiving his B.A. from Dhaka University in 1929, he studied law at the Department of Law, University of Calcutta. Upon completing his B.L. examinations in 1936 he started practicing at the Calcutta High Court.[2]

Radio work

After the foundation of All India Radio in Dhaka, 1939, Momen picked up on the opportunity of the new medium and became its the first Muslim author. In 1941 he wrote and directed he comedy Rupantor (Transformation) for the radio. With its progressive plot and a female main character it differed vastly form traditional Muslim plays and was actually the first modern drama of Bangladesh. Upon initiative of the critic the poet and literary critic Mohitlal Majumder, the play was also published in the yearly Puja issue of the newspaper Anandabazar.[2][6]

While he was in London for higher studies form 1948 on, Nurul Momen and his friend Nazir Ahmed started a BBC Bangla program, a weekly one-hour format called Anjuman where Momen was responsible for the literary content.[2]

Teaching career and university life

Reading books remained Momen's favourite pastime all through his life.

Rather than continuing to practice law after the partition of India, he joined the faculty of Law at the Dhaka University in 1945. There he was known for including elements from literature and music into the law classes[2] He encouraged Munier Chowdhury, who would later translate You Never Can Tell, to read George Bernard Shaw and got many other students interested in theatre. From 1948 until 1951 he was on leave from Dhaka University, undergoing higher studies in England and graduating in Law from London University.[6]

Direction on television and stage


Literary Works

Timeline of Nurul Momen's Life (1908-1990)
view • edit
1900 —
1910 —
1920 —
1930 —
1940 —
1950 —
1960 —
1970 —
1980 —
1990 —
1908: born in Alfadanga, Jessore
1916: admitted into Khulna Zilla School
1990: dies at Gulshan, Dhaka
1926: enrolled for a B. A. at Dhaka University
1929: receives B.A. from Dhaka University | enrolled for B.L. at University of Calcutta
1941: writes and directs comedy Rupantor for newly founded radio All India Radio in Dhaka
1944: writes and performs Nemesis
1945: joins the faculty of Law at Dhaka University
1948: goes for higher studies at the University of London in England | starts a BBC Bangla program in London with his friend Nazir Ahmed
1954: receives the Best New Playwright Award in Calcutta
1961: Receives Bangla Academy Award
1966: writes Thik Cholar Poth; a symbolic costume-play for children mimicking the autocracy of Ayub Khan
1967: protests against the Pakistan government’s directive to ban Tagore Songs on Radio and TV
1978: receives Ekushey Padak for his contribution to literature
1979: receives Nasiruddin Gold Medal
1988: receives Chader Haat Award
1989: receives TENASHINAS Award
1963: appointed as the Dean of Law Faculty at Dhaka University
1964: writes play Andhokartai Alo for the newly founded Dhaka TV
1936: receives B.L. from the University of Calcutta | starts practicing Law at the Calcutta High Court
1920: enrolled in the Dhaka Muslim High School
1924: passes in matriculation exam from the Dhaka Muslim High School | enrolled in Dhaka Intermediate College
  • Rupantor (Written, performed & broadcast in 1941. Published in Anandabzar Pooja Special in 1943. Published as a book in August 1948; pages 85; publisher: Sheikh Brothers, Dhaka)
  • Nemesis (a play with only one character, written in November 1944; performed by Nurul Momen & published in Shonibarer Chithi in 1945. Published as a book in August 1948; pages 64+7; publisher: Momen Publishing House, Dhaka; cover by Nurul Momen)
  • Yadi Emon Hoto (July 1961; pages 155+28; Momen Publishing House, Dhaka)
  • Naya Khandan (Written in September 1961. Published in 1962; pages 74+9; publisher: Bangla Academy, Dhaka; cover by Quamrul Hassan)
  • Alochhaya (Written in June 1962. Published in October 1962; pages 73+7; publisher: Momen Publishing House, Dhaka; cover by Hammad Nurul Momen)
  • Shatkara Ashi
  • Ainer Antorale
  • Rupolekha
  • Bhai Bhai Shobai (a play with only male characters)
  • Eituku ei Jibontate (a play with only female characters)
  • Underneath the Law
  • We are Brothers All
  • Is Law An Ass
  • At the Alter of the Law
  • Jeman Ichchha Temon
  • Adikkheta
  • London Probashe
  • Ha-jo-bo-ro-la
  • Forbidden Pleasures
  • Andhokartai Alo (1964)
  • Thik Cholar Poth (The right way to go:a symbolic costume-play for children)

Bengali

Plays
* রুপান্তর Rupantor (Metamorphosis) 1941
* নেমেসিস Nemesis (Nemesis) 1944
* এইটুকু এই জীবনটাতে Eituku ei Jibontate
* যদি এমন হতো Yadi Emon Hoto 1961
* ঠিক চলার পথ Thik Cholar Poth
Fictions
Essays
Memoirs

English

Plays
* Underneath the Law
* We are Brothers All
* Is Law An Ass
* At the Alter of the Law
Essays

List of other works

Awards

Momen received the following awards:

  • Best New Playwright Award in Calcutta, 1954
  • Bangla Academy Award in 1961
  • Medjid Al Makky award in 1968
  • Ekushey Padak in 1978
  • Nasiruddin Gold medal in 1979
  • Chader Haat Award in 1988 and
  • TENASINAS award in 1989
  • honored at India-Pakistan cultural conference in New Delhi in 1963
  • Chicago University’s International Players’ honor in 1964
  • honored by British theatre personalities in 1966
  • honored by drama group ‘Theatre’ in 1977
  • Sitara-e-Imtiaz, 1967 (which he renounced and destroyed in 1971)[7]


Private life

Nurul Momen married Amena Momen (died 1993). They had four children:

Children Grandchildren
Momena Momen Saara (died in 1995) Nur-e-Samawati Shaila, Zannatul Ferdaus Laila, Arshadul Momin Sohel
Ahmad Nurul Momen (died in 2009) -
Hammad Nurul Momen Tanzima Nurul Momen, Tahzib Nurul Momen, Prithwi
Faisal Mahmud Nurul Momen Korny Marina Momen, Morny Ramona Momen, Aurony Mohona Momen, Kabyo Nurul Momen

Posthumous events

Nurul Momen's Nemesis staged in Nov 2010 in Dhaka


On November 25, 2008, his birth centenary was celebrated at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).[1] His 102nd birthday was celebrated in November 2010 with a week-long festival, organized again by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy together with the Aurony Mohona International Foundation (AMIF).[6][8]





References

  1. ^ a b Mahmud, Jamil (November 27, 2008). "Birth centenary of Professor Nurul Momen". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65047. Retrieved October 18, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Khan, Tamanna (December 3, 2010). "A Pioneer of Modern Drama". Star Weekend Magazine. http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2010/12/01/tribute.htm. Retrieved 18 December 2010. 
  3. ^ Mahmud, Dr. Faisal (November 25, 2010). "Natyaguru Nurul Momen (Part 1)". The New Nation. http://thenewnationbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3148:natyaguru-nurul-momen&catid=92:literature&Itemid=254. Retrieved December 19, 2010. 
  4. ^ Rubin, Don (1998). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia. Taylor & Francis. pp. 104. ISBN 9780415059336. http://books.google.com/books?id=-MUiXjMUl34C&pg=PA104&dq=nurul+momen&hl=en&ei=-TSvTePcPJLZ4wb6jJnGCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEoQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=nurul%20momen&f=false. 
  5. ^ Bangla Natyashahitter Itihash,the most authoritative reference book on Bangla theater
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Chowdhury, Syed Tashfin (December 3, 2010). "Father of Bangladeshi theatre". The Daily New Age. http://www.newagebd.com/2010/dec/03/dec03/xtra_inner4.html. 
  7. ^ Mahmud, Dr.Faisal (December 9, 2010). "Natyaguru Nurul Momen (Part 2)". The New Nation. http://thenewnationbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3837:natyaguru-nurul-momen&catid=92:literature&Itemid=254. Retrieved December 19, 2010. 
  8. ^ Mahmud, Jamil (November 24, 2010). "Tribute to a Theatre Icon". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=163356. Retrieved December 22, 2010. 

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