Shamim Azad (born 11 November 1952)[1] is a Bangladeshi-born British bilingual poet, storyteller and writer. She won 2023 Bangla Academy Literary Award in the poetry category.[2]
Shamim Azad | |
|---|---|
শামীম আজাদ | |
 Azad in 2012 | |
| Born | 11 November 1952 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Citizenship | British |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, storyteller, writer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | Selim Jahan |
| Parents |
|
| Awards | Bangla Academy Literary Award |
Early life edit
Azad was born in Mymensingh, East Bengal in the then Dominion of Pakistan where her father had worked. Her hometown was in Sylhet. She passed her SSC from Jamalpur Girls High School in 1967 and passed her HSC from Kumudini College in 1969. She enrolled in University of Dhaka and earned honours degree in 1972 and a master's degree in 1973.[3]
In 1990, Azad came to England.[4]
Career edit
Azad's work ranges from Bangladeshi to European folktales. Her performance fuses the lines between education and entertainment and her workshops are rooted in Asian folk, oral traditions and heritage.[5]
Azad has published 37 books[6] including novels, collections of short stories, essays and poems in both English and Bengali and has been included in various anthologies including British South Asian Poetry, My Birth Was Not in Vain, Velocity, Emlit Project and Mother Tongues. She wrote two plays for Half Moon Theatre.[7] She has worked with composers Richard Blackford, Kerry Andrew, choreographer Rosemary Lee, visual artist Robin Whitemore and playwright Mary Cooper.[6]
Azad has performed at venues including the Museum of London, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Cambridge Water Stone, Liberty Radio, Battersea Arts Centre, Lauderdale House, the Commonwealth Institute, British Library, British Council of Bangladesh, Takshila in Pakistan and New York.[8] Her residencies have included, Tower Hamlets Summer University, Sunderland City Library and Arts Centre, East Side Arts, Poetry Society, Magic Me, Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, Kinetika, Bromley by Bow Centre, Half Moon Theatre, and Apples and Snakes.[6]
Azad is a trustee of Rich Mix in Shoreditch, founder chair of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (World Literature Centre UK) in London.[8] She is part of the East storytelling group, which invites local residents to join in sharing some of the stories brought together by the Eastend's rich, diverse history of immigration.[9]
Awards edit
Azad received the Bangladesh "Bichitra Award" in 1994, "Year of the Artist" Award from London Arts in 2000, "Sonjojon- A Rouf" Award in 2004, and UK "Civic Award" in 2004. Community Champions Award in 2014 by Canary Wharf group PLC.[8] In 2016, she was awarded Syed Waliullah Literature Award, which is conferred by the Bangla Academy.
Personal life edit
Works edit
Novel and stories edit
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Shirno Shuktara |
| 1989 | Dui Romonir Moddhoshomoy |
| 1991 | Arekjon |
| 2003 | Shamim Azader Golpo Shonkolon |
| 2009 | A Vocal Chorus |
| 2012 | Priongboda |
| 2018 | Bongshobeej |
Poetry edit
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Valobashar Kobita |
| 1984 | Sporsher Opekkha |
| 1988 | He Jubok Tomar Vobisshot |
| 2007 | Om |
| 2008 | Jiol Jokhom |
| 2010 | Jonmandho Jupiter |
| 2011 | Shamim Azader Prem Opremer 100 Kobita |
Children's literature and drama edit
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Hopscotch Ghost (with Mary Cooper) |
| 1994 | The Raft |
| 2000 | The Life of Mr. Aziz |
| 2012 | Boogly The Burgundy Cheetah |
Poetry collections and translations edit
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1998 | British South Asian Poetry |
| 2001 | My Birth Was Not in Vain |
| 2003 | Velocity (25 Bochorer Bileter Kobita) |
| 2008 | The Majestic Night |
References edit
- ^ "World Literature Centre, London". 11 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "16 get Bangla Academy award". The Daily Star. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Shamim Azad's birthday to be celebrated in Dhaka". banglanews24. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "Biographical notes – The Poets". Poetry Magazines. 2001. pp. 293–305. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "Poetry and Translation". London: The Poetry Society. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ a b c Karim, Mohammed Abdul; Karim, Shahadoth (October 2013). British Bangladeshi Who's Who (PDF). British Bangla Media Group. p. 62. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ Karim, Mohammed Abdul; Karim, Shahadoth (October 2009). British Bangladeshi Who's Who (PDF). British Bangla Media Group. p. 33. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ a b c Mahboob, Mahdin (12 August 2007). "Creative Writing Workshop @ BRAC University by Shamim Azad". The Daily Star. Retrieved 24 September 2011. Volume 2, Issue 31
- ^ "East". BBC Asian Network. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "Shamim Azad – Artists directory". Tower Hamlets Arts & Entertainment. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
External links edit
- Shamim Azad on Twitter
- Mahboob, Mahdin. Creative Writing Workshop @ BRAC University by Shamim Azad. Star Campus (The Daily Star), Volume 2, Issue 31, 12 August 2007
- Kvist, Elsie. Author Shamim Azad helps children mark the end of London Games at Three Mills in Bromley-by-bow. East London Advertiser. 10 September 2012
