Today is the 78th anniversary of the birth of the late prominent Bangladeshi poet, novelist, essayist and thinker Ahmed Sofa.
Ahmed Sofa was born on June 30, 1943 at Gachbaria in Chattogram to Hedayet Ali and Asiya Khatun. He completed his secondary and higher secondary education in Chattogram and got himself admitted to the Bangla department at Dhaka University in 1962. However, he did not complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree from DU.
He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree as a private candidate from Brahmanbaria College in 1967.
As a public intellectual, Sofa鈥檚 discourses on an array of socio-political issues, including linguistic nationalism and the challenges of the newly emerged Bangladesh following its independence in 1971, influenced many other influential thinkers.
Sofa left his mark in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. He wrote 18 non-fiction books, eight novels, four collections of poems and a collection of short stories.
His notable works include Omkar, Gabhi Bittanta, Alatchakra, Maranbilash, Ardhek Nari Ardhek Ishwari, Jallad Somoy, Ekjan Ali Kenaner Utthan-Patan, Puspa, Briksha o Bihanga Puran, Surja Tumi Sathi, Nihata Nakshatra, Sipahi Juddher Itihas, Sangkater Nana Chehara, Banglabhasha: Rajnitir Aloke, Dukkher Diner Doha, Bangladesher Rajnoitik Jotilota, Buddhibrittir Natun Binyas, Bangali Musalmaner Mon, Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman o Anyanya Probandha, Ekti Probin Bater Kachhe Prarthana.
Sofa died at the age of 58 in Dhaka on July 28, 2001.
