Kali O Kalam recognises four young wordsmiths

Reputed literary magazine Kali O Kalam, honoured four young wordsmiths with the Young Poet and Writer Award 2019 on January 4, at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi. The award recipients were poet Hanzala Han, writer Kamrun Nahar Shila, essayist Foysal Ahmed and author Chowdhury Shahid Kader.

Hanzala Han received the award for his collection of poems, titled Jolporider Dwip-e, while Kamrun Nahar Shila received it in the fiction category for her work Laalbeji. Foysal Ahmed won the award in the essay-research-play category for his research work, Syed Nazrul Islam Mohajiboner Protikriti, and Chowdhury Shahid Kader received the award in the Liberation War-research-literature category for Muktijuddhe Bharater Chikitsha Shohayota. A documentary on the award recipients was also screened at the event.

Sitarist Sohini Majumder performs at the programme.

Eminent litterateur Selina Hossain graced the occasion as the chief guest, while renowned artist Rafiqun Nabi, seasoned thespian and elocutionist Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, attended the ceremony as special guests. Abul Khair, Chairman of Bengal Foundation, delivered the welcome address. Abul Hasnat, Editor of Kali O Kalam, delivered the vote of thanks. National Professor Anisuzzaman presided over the programme.

Each of the award winners received a crest, a certificate and prize money of BDT 1 lakh, in recognition of their literary works. Professor Bishwajit Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor, Rabindra University, spoke on behalf of the jury. Luva Nahid Choudhury, Director General of Bengal Foundation, hosted the event. 

Asaduzzaman Noor recited several poems composed by Rabindranath Tagore, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Syed Shamsul Haq and others. The event concluded with a solo sitar recital by Sohini Majumder, a student of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay. Supantha Majumder, another student of the Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay, accompanied his younger sister on the tabla. The siblings’ jugalbandi-styled recital of Raga Kirwani captivated the audience.

Kali O Kalam has been conferring these awards to young poets and writers since 2008 in five categories. 47 poets and litterateurs have received the awards till date.