Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu (Abu Ibrahim's Death[1] or "The Death of Abu Ibrahim") is a Bengali novel written by Shahidul Zahir. This is Zahir's fourth novel[2] posthumously published by Mowla Brothers in 2009.[3] Written against the backdrop of the reign of the then-dictator Hussein Muhammad Ershad, it is a novella, the story of which is rich in connotations and commentary on the human experience.[4][5] The dedication of the novel reads: "People does die, of course, but the meaning of death is different..." Also includes "A person is inherently dead, or heavier than Taishan, or lighter than a feather" quote by Chinese historian Sima Qian (206 BC–AD 220).[6][7]
.jpg) Cover of first edition | |
| Author | Shahidul Zahir |
|---|---|
| Original title | আবু ইব্রাহীমের মৃত্যু |
| Cover artist | Dhruba Esh |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Language | Bengali |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Mowla Brothers |
Publication date | 4 February 2009 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 64 |
| Awards | Prothom Alo Borsho Shera Boi (2009) |
| ISBN | 9847015600877 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid prefix |
| OCLC | 1112253798 |
| LC Class | PK1730.25.A445 |
| Preceded by | Mukher Dike Dekhi (2006) |
Some find interactions between Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu and Crónica de una muerte anunciada (1981) by Gabriel García Márquez. The novel won the Prothom Alo Borsho Shera Boi award in the creative category in 2010.[8]
Summary edit
Abu Ibrahim, the main character of the novel is indeed an unhappy man. He spent his life in conflict between truth and false and good and evil. The story of the novel starts from the day of his death and ends with his death.[9] He is a government officer by profession. Ibrahim's precarious interactions with his wife, daughter, co-workers, bribe-giving businessman and old girlfriend are the subjects of the novel.[10] The background of the novel is set in the government colony of Dhaka's Bailey Road, Dhaka University, Motijheel, Bangladesh Secretariat and Sirajganj areas.[4][11]
Publications edit
Before being published as a book, Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu was published in Nipun on 6 June 1991.[7] Later, the first print was published by Mowla Brothers in Dhaka in February 2009 and the third in February 2020.[12]
Character edit
- Abu Ibrahim - Government employee
- Mamata - Abu Ibrahim's wife
- Bindu - Abu Ibrahim's daughter
- Helen - Abu Ibrahim's classmate
- Siddik Hosen - Office Boss
Translation edit
The novel has been translated into English under the title "Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu" in Life and Political Reality: Two Novellas, published in 2022 by Saghati Prakashan.[13] It was translated from Bengali by Indian translators V Ramaswamy and Shahroza Nahrin.[13] The same year the novel won the Anubad Sahitya Puraskar (Translation Literature Award) in the Best Translated Book of the Year category.[14][14]
References edit
- ^ Zayed, Hasan Al (5 August 2017). "Literature and the City". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Dhaka. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Habib, Tashrik-E-Habib (2 January 2017). hasnat, Abul (ed.). শহীদুল জহিরের তিনটি গল্পে জাদুবাস্তবতার অন্বেষণ. Kali O Kalam. Dhaka: Abul Khair. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ Khan, Golam Faruque (15 April 2018). "Remembering Shahidul Zahir". Dhaka Tribune. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ a b Abedin, Rafea (20 September 2018). শহীদুল জহিরের আবু ইব্রাহীমের মৃত্যু - পরিবেশ ও প্রকৃতি. The Sangbad (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ শহীদুল জহিরের আবু ইব্রাহীমের মৃত্যু শংসাবচন. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 8 January 2010. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Zahir 2009, pp. 5 primary reference
- ^ a b 'আবু ইব্রাহীমের মৃত্যু': একপ্রস্থ আত্মপ্রতিফলন. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ আজ প্রথম আলো বর্ষসেরা বইয়ের পুরস্কার বিতরণ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Uddin, Siraj (20 January 2023). সে মৃত্যু মুহূর্তেই মনে করিয়ে দেয় জীবন কী. Silalipi. Nator: Kaler Kantho. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu" আবু ইব্রাহীমের মৃত্যু. bdnews24.com. bdnews24.com. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ শহীদুল জহির ও পরাজিত এক ইব্রাহীমের গল্প. banglanews24.com. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Zahir 2009, pp. 4 primary reference
- ^ a b Tariq, Jahanara (28 July 2022). "Mundanities, magic realism, Bangladesh—Shahidul Zahir's novellas". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Anubad Sahitya Puraskar 2022 distributed". New Age (Bangladesh). 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- Zahir, Shahidul (2009). Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu (1st (3rd print) ed.). Dhaka: Mowla Brothers. OCLC 1112253798.
External links edit
- Abu Ibrahimer Mirtu on Open Library at the Internet Archive
