Rafiq Azad

Rafiq Azad (born Rafiqul Islam Khan; February 14, 1941 – March 12, 2016) was a Bangladeshi poet, editor and writer. He is credited with 45 collections of poetry including Prakriti O Premer Kabita, Asambhaber Paye, Sahasra Sundar, Haturir Nichae Jiban, Khub Beshi Durea Noy, Khamakaro Bahaman Hey Udar Amiyo Batas and others. He is most well known for his poem "Bhaat De Haramjada" (Give me rice, bastard) which was written during the famine of 1974. The poet participated in the war against Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and was awarded ‘Notable Freedom Fighter Award' in 1997. He received Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1984 and national award Ekushey Padak in 2013 for his contribution to Bangla language and literature.

Early life and education Azad was born on February 14, 1941, in the remote village of Guni of Ghatail Upazila in Tangail District, a central region of Bangladesh. His first book of poetry, Ashombhober Paye, was published in 1973. Since then, he had experimented with language and poetic form, where surrealistic approach was conspicuous.

He described himself as a 'lover of humans, nature and romance'. He depicted love, romance, poverty, sufferings, injustice, urban and rural life through his poems. Many of his love poems, including ‘He Doroja’ and ‘Bhalobashar Shonga’ (Definition of Love), have been used and quoted many times in movies, TV dramas and other media in Bangladesh. He became widely famous when his controversial poem “Bhaat De Haramjada” was published in 1974. At the time, the country was going through its worst famine. It was an angry poem about a starving man lashing out in impotent rage- “Bhat De Haramzada, Noile Manchitro Khabo” (“give me food, bastard! Or I will engulf your map, your geography!”). The indication was -if the newly independent country cannot even feed its own people, then what good is the liberation? The poet quickly became the center of a controversy. The Sheikh Mujib administration found the poem to be incendiary and an attack on the ruling party, while his readership hailed it as a rebellious and courageous outburst. In an attempt to settle the debate, Azad explained to the administration, by writing a long analysis of how his poem only reflected the great literary tradition of Bengal and the poem intended no animosity toward the government. and together they had four children - Lopa, Rahul, Deepita and Rajeev. In 1983, the couple separated and later that year he married Dilara Hafiz. Together, they had two sons, Ovinna and Obyoy. Azad suffered a stroke in January 2016 and remained hospitalized for almost 8 weeks. He died on March 12, 2016 in Dhaka. His body was entombed in Martyred Intellectuals' Cemetery in Mirpur.

Books Asombhaber Payae Semabadha Jalae, Simito Shobuja Ekjibona Haturier Nichae Jibon Porikirno Panchala Amer Swadesh Khub Bashi Durea Nay Khamakaro Bahoman Hay Udar Omiyo Batas Karo Ashuro Pat Pagolar Thekay Pramikar Chiti Apar Arannya Moulobir Mon Bholo Nay Priyo Shareegulo Poems on Love Environment and Other Difficulties

Awards Kobitalap Award (1979) Alaol Literary Award (1981)