Shamim Azad

Shamim Azad (born 11 November 1952) is a Bangladeshi-born British bilingual poet, storyteller and writer. She won 2023 Bangla Academy Literary Award in the poetry category.

Early life Azad was born in Mymensingh, East Bengal in the then Dominion of Pakistan where her father had worked. Her hometown was in Sylhet. She passed her SSC from Jamalpur Girls High School in 1967 and passed her HSC from Kumudini College in 1969. She enrolled in University of Dhaka and earned honours degree in 1972 and a master's degree in 1973.

In 1990, Azad came to England.

Career Azad's work ranges from Bangladeshi to European folktales. Her performance fuses the lines between education and entertainment and her workshops are rooted in Asian folk, oral traditions and heritage.

Azad has published 37 books including novels, collections of short stories, essays and poems in both English and Bengali and has been included in various anthologies including British South Asian Poetry, My Birth Was Not in Vain, Velocity, Emlit Project and Mother Tongues. She wrote two plays for Half Moon Theatre. She has worked with composers Richard Blackford, Kerry Andrew, choreographer Rosemary Lee, visual artist Robin Whitemore and playwright Mary Cooper. Her residencies have included, Tower Hamlets Summer University, Sunderland City Library and Arts Centre, East Side Arts, Poetry Society, Magic Me, Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, Kinetika, Bromley by Bow Centre, Half Moon Theatre, and Apples and Snakes.

Awards

Bichitra Award, 1994 Year of the Artist from London Arts, 2000 Sonjojon- A Rouf Award, 2004 UK Civic Award, 2004 Community Champions Award by Canary Wharf group PLC, 2014

Personal life Azad lives in Wanstead, Redbridge, London.

Works

Novel and stories Year Title 1988 Shirno Shuktara 1989 Dui Romonir Moddhoshomoy 1991 Arekjon 2003 Shamim Azader Golpo Shonkolon 2009 A Vocal Chorus 2012 Priongboda 2018 Bongshobeej

Poetry Year Title 1983 Valobashar Kobita 1984 Sporsher Opekkha 1988 He Jubok Tomar Vobisshot 2007 Om 2008 Jiol Jokhom 2010 Jonmandho Jupiter 2011 Shamim Azader Prem Opremer 100 Kobita

Children's literature and drama Year Title 1992 Hopscotch Ghost (with Mary Cooper) 1994 The Raft 2000 The Life of Mr. Aziz 2012 Boogly The Burgundy Cheetah

Poetry collections and translations Year Title 1998 British South Asian Poetry 2001 My Birth Was Not in Vain 2003 Velocity (25 Bochorer Bileter Kobita) 2008 The Majestic Night