November 13 is the 65th birth day of celebrated writer and film maker Humayun Ahmed. It is not too long ago that he left the world on a journey of no-return. The news of his death in a New York hospital came as a bolt from the blue for the Bangla literary circles across the world. True, Humayun was suffering from deadly cancer, but there was reason to believe that he would live for some more time. But his physical condition deteriorated and sharply took a turn for the worse. A pall of gloom descended on Bangladesh as soon as the terribly shocking news reached here.
With his death, curtain fell on the glorious life of a writer, who not only gave Bangla literature a new taste in the sense that his writings marked a paradigm shift to show how popular a novelist could be. Undeniably, it is Humayun, who epimotised the impression that writers can also be commercially very successful persons since his books sell like hot cake.
Humayun Ahmed was a friend of mine and I feel enormously privileged when the word "Dost" resonates in my ear. We the friends no longer hear his affectionate friendly address and this is so poignant that at times proves quite difficult to bear. Additionally, apart from being a great celebrity, Humayun was a nice soul, who also cared for friendship and showed tremendous respect for human values. This is not to mean that he was above criticisms. Nevertheless, some people are much too ahead in terms of their noble qualities regardless of their progress in the professional field. Humayun Ahmed was also a fine person in addition to his extra-ordinary writing prowess that has made him special.
We were contemporary at the Dhaka university - he in the science faculty and I in the arts. He stayed at Mohsin hall and myself at S.M.Hall. Not that we were very close - neither did we meet quite often. Nonetheless, whenever we met, Humayun used to greet his friends with a great smile although in a way he was somewhat a social recluse. He loved to remain mostly by himself.
It was during the Mohsin Hall days, his literary qualities began to blossom as he wrote the much-acclaimed "Nandito Noroke" and "Sankhanil Karagar" in those young days. A brilliant student of the chemistry, he left many to wonder as to how he made a splendid impact on the literary circle. Humayun was humble not to use before his name "Dr." although he had a doctorate degree from a reputed American university.
Humayun was my friend, but little did I know in the student days that like countless people, I would also be an ardent admirer of him. How popular he was as a writer and playwright can be gauged from the fact that people used to leave marriage-related parties or such gatherings early just to watch on the TV Humayun's serials. His epic works like "Bahubrihi","Ei shab Din Ratri","Ayomyo" etc. were so popular that there was a craze even among the Bangalees in India and elsewhere to buy these cassettes.
He was very sensitive - mainly stemming from his unalloyed affectionate mind. Let me conclude this piece with an experience of mine. It was sometime before he was diagnosed as a cancer patient and incidentally and sadly, it was my last meeting with him. He was having a lunch at Dhaka club with his wife "Shaon" and close friend architect Karim. He was fond of food. He was also a chain smoker. I was at a different table. Humayun sent a bearer to me to join him. I did join but after more than ten minutes. This delay probably hurt him and when I appeared before him, he was visibly annoyed. "Dost, you took so much time to come to me ..". I got upset as I knew that he was sentimental. Instead of defending myself; I sought to salvage the situation in a lighter vein. I smilingly told him, "Look, an ordinary man like me has to take time to appear before a celebrity. .". Humayun laughed and said "you are a real writer on diplomatic affair".
Humayun, we miss you, friend ! Your countless admirers terribly miss you while you are sleeping at "Nuhash Palli". We remember the avalanche of outpouring by people of all ages. Why did you leave so early Dost ?
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