Sat 27 Jan 2007
We mourn the passing of Wahidul Huq who was a legendary organizer, musician and journalist.
Waheedul Haq was the founder of Chhayanaut, which played a vital role in igniting the flame of freedom among the people in the late 1960s prior to the country’s Liberation War.
Apart from establishing the vanguard cultural organisation in 1961 along with some other enlightened persons, he also founded a number prominent cultural and poetry recitation organisations like — Kanthashilon, Nalonda and Anandadhani.
His brother Rezaul Haq is also a journalist while another brother Ziaul Haq was a martyr in 1971.
During his 55-year long career in journalism, Waheedul served in the major English dailies of the country, including The Daily Star, where he worked as the joint editor. He was a shift in-charge of the daily Observer in the 1960s. Besides, he worked in The People, the Morning News and the New Nation.
January 27th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I used to read his columns in Janakantha and Bhorer Kagoj regularly. Although I didn’t support all his analysis, all of his writings were strong in projecting his non communal, secular and progressive state of mind. Bangladesh needed people like him to live for a few more years.
January 28th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
My take on him in my Bangla blog:
http://www.somewhereinblog.net/pata/post/28695530
January 29th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Not necessarily I always agreed with his stand on different political matters. Still this man is one of my heroes.
All his life he ran after his passion. He loved rabindro Nath and his music and he dedicated his life to promote his passion.
And he definitely is a brave soul. Many of us speak of secularism and claim to be an agnostic or aethist. But few has the guts to ensure a resistance to socially warranted religious rituals after death.
He and his family showed their strength of mind and quality of character in refusing religious rituals which he didn’t believe in.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Rumi bhai, one more thing is his amazing organizational capability. For those of us who grew up being involved in the cultural arena, he is a truly a legend. This man was an institution himself. Chayanot now has a big building in the center of the city. The land was donated by the government of bd and it was facilitated by Shah AMS Kibria. Irony of fate both of them passed away at the same day two years apart.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Friends,
I have a question for all:- Why is it that we dont hear about such talentyed men during their life time; its only after a reputable person died that we hear so much about his character n praises and contribution to the society? Can we not change this cuklture amd make it a point to have the lives of our greast men published or praised while he is alive so that we can meet and perhaphs learn lesson of life from them– such is very much needed; please do think about this.
January 30th, 2007 at 5:05 am
Great tribute piece by Badrul Ahsan in DS
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/01/29/d701291504131.htm
February 1st, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Wahidul Haque, My Guru he taught me what is Tagore’s song, he taught me how to speak my mother tounge perfectly, he taught me how to stand against religious rituals which we don’t believe. He left us behind, leaving far away from home I am crying for him feeling like I am orphan..I remember my last visit back home in 2005, when he told me to come back and do something for Bangladesh. Now I realize after he is gone, that how selfish we are that we left our Matrivumi..
Can you hear Wahid bhai..I promise wahid bhai, I will come back to my bangladesh.. I need to uphold your idelogy along with thousands of followers you left behind…
February 1st, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I was feeling like to write again. There are so many memories with him..I remember in 1988 when we went to calcutta to celebrate the birthday of Soiloja Ronjon Mojumder. We reached calcutta around 10, next day is our performance (anondodhani)at 12 in the midnight wahid bhai started teaching us the song “Surer guru dao o surer dikhsa..”then another one ” Ki paini Tar i Hisab melate monomor nohe raji..” The day he left us , few minutes earlier I got the last sms from his son Partha saying..”he is leaving, keep track”. It was almost morning in canada. I was trying to call Partha da, could not connect, atlast I could reach Mita apa(mita haque), she was crying on other side and saying Your wahid bhai is no more.. I felt like I am no where and keep saying wahid bhai it is not your time to go..Don’t you want o see that,your bangladesh in a stable situation for what you are using your pen and voice for long..He didn’t listen I turned on my cd player where wahid bhai is singing “Akhi jol Muchaile Jonony..” wahid bhai now who is going to wipe our tears…..
February 2nd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
A heart touching article by Gaffar Chow about Wahidul Haque.
http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2007/01/27/wahidul-huq-a-legend-in-the-cultural-world-passed-away/#comments
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Sorry I have the wrong link. Here’s the right one
http://www.shamokal.com/details.php?nid=50423
February 6th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Aunek kotha hobe- hobe aunek lekha… Jabe besh kichhu din-mash! Erpor bojha jabe ke Onake kotokhani dharon korechhi… Shei shomoier opekkhai…
February 7th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Fayaz somoy sab bole debe. Kintu wahid bhai Jibito obosthai o amader Hridoyer majhe chilen ar thakben o. Eta niye amar kono sangsy nei. Ha to be tar adorso dhore rakhar moddhe diyei TAr proty sroddha janano jai..etai sab cheye boro sotty..
February 13th, 2007 at 7:33 am
it was Waheed Bahi,who encouraged me to be a journalist.At the first time he gave me an assaignment, “write down what you see during the richshawride”. On the next day as i gave him my “rickshaw-story”, he replied, it was no english! Very soon I asked him, should i leave the New Nation? Answerd Waheed Bahi with a smile, no, you will work here.You will be a good journalist.(from that time i used to write in my PENNAME- Monia Ahmed) I thought, may be he is making joke. It was August 1981, as “Tne New Nation” was newly started.
After so many years it is proved, now i am a Full-blooded journalist, may be my daughter will also follow me in this Karrier. It was Wahidul Haq, to whom my respect and honour goes, my Godfather- in Journalism. MY tribute to Waheed Bhai.
March 22nd, 2007 at 3:47 pm
It is almost 2 months since he left us.Are we really getting habituated without him? I can say not me.. Everyday when i get up in the morning I feel My guru is not there but still i can not accept, will i ever be able to accept?