Murad Kalam
Encyclopedia
Murad Kalam is an American writer.
Kalam was born to a Jamaican father and a white mother. His family moved around the country frequently before settling in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona
, where he grew up. In 1999, Kalam graduated from Harvard College
, where he studied writing under Jamaica Kincaid
and published in the Harvard Advocate. He graduated from Harvard Law School
in 2002.
While in his second year of law school, Kalam published his first short story, "Bow Down," in Harper's, which won an O. Henry Award
. Shortly thereafter he published his first novel, Night Journey. In 2002, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to write his second novel, A Reasonable Man, in Egypt
.
He currently lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Rashann Duvall, whom he met in law school. He is a faculty member in the English department at the University of Maryland, College Park
.
Kalam is a convert to orthodox Islam
. His chosen name means "desire of the pen".
Kalam was born to a Jamaican father and a white mother. His family moved around the country frequently before settling in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, where he grew up. In 1999, Kalam graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, where he studied writing under Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid is a Caribbean novelist, gardener, and gardening writer. She was born in the city of St. John's on the island of Antigua in the nation of Antigua and Barbuda...
and published in the Harvard Advocate. He graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 2002.
While in his second year of law school, Kalam published his first short story, "Bow Down," in Harper's, which won an O. Henry Award
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
. Shortly thereafter he published his first novel, Night Journey. In 2002, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to write his second novel, A Reasonable Man, in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
He currently lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Rashann Duvall, whom he met in law school. He is a faculty member in the English department at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Kalam is a convert to orthodox Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. His chosen name means "desire of the pen".