Anwara Syed Haq

Anwara Begum (known by her pen name Anwara Syed Haq; born 1940)

Early life Anwara Syed Haq was born into a conservative Muslim family in the town of Jessore. She passed her childhood and teenage years in Jessore. Her father was a very pious man and insisted that she observe religious customs. She rarely had the opportunity to read novels, magazines or literary material in her school and college days. Her father's wish was that she would study medicine whereas her wish was that she would study English literature. To fulfill her father's wish she moved to Dhaka in 1959 and enrolled in Dhaka Medical College. Haq then went to the United Kingdom to attend post graduate education in medicine.

Academic career After completing her SSC and HSC in Jessore, Haq moved to Dhaka in 1959 and enrolled in Dhaka Medical College. She obtained her MBBS degree in 1965. In 1973 went to the United Kingdom for higher education. After having completed her post graduate degree in medical psychiatry in 1982 she returned home from the UK. She has since then worked at a number of institutions, among which are Pakistan Air Force, Dhaka Medical College and BIRDEM. Now she works professionally as a psychiatrist.

Personal life Anwara Syed Haq married writer and poet Syed Shamsul Haq on 19 November 1965. They have one daughter and one son. Her daughter Bidita teaches English literature at higher school level. Her son Ditio is an IT specialist, writes stories, lyrics and music.

Awards Anannya Literature Award (2006) Bangla Academy Literary Award (2009) Agrani Bank Puroshkar Michael Madhushudhon Puroshkar Shishu Academy Puroshkar Ekushey Padak (2019)

Literary works Haq's first short story "Paribartan" was published in Sangbad in 1954. From 1955 to 1957, she regularly wrote for Ittefaque's "Kachi Kanchar Ashor". Her first novel was published in Sachitra Shandhani in 1968. After her first novel, she has written a number of novels and short stories. Many of her novels are set in Dhaka and London where she spent much of her time. Her publications consist of twenty-five novels, three volumes of poems, eight collections of short stories, eight collections of essays, three autobiography volumes, two collections of travel writing, forty fictional stories for young readers. Bari O Banita Shei Prem Shei Shomoy Udoy Mina-ke Chay Bhalo-bashar Laal Pipre Osthirotar Kaal Bhalo-bashar Shomoy

Children's stories Ekjon Muktijoddhar Chhele (] Montir Baba (] Tomader Janno Egaroti (] Ulto Payer Bhoot (] Ami Babake Bhalobasi (] Hanadar Bahini Jobdo (] Amar Ma Shobcheye Bhalo