Nurul Momen
Encyclopedia
Nurul Momen (November 25, 1908 – February 16, 1990), also known as Natyaguru (নাট্যগুরু), was an educationist, playwright, director, humorist, lawyer, broadcaster, philanthropist and essayist of Bangladesh
. He is recognized as the pioneer of modern Bengali drama, "acting as a bridge between earlier and later playwrights in terms of content and style", and even referred to as the "Father of Bangladeshi theatre".
. At the age of ten he wrote his first poem, Shondhya (Evening), in the same verse as Tagore
’s Shonar Tory. In 1919 it was published in the then reputed journal Dhrubotara. In 1920, he was enrolled in the Dhaka Muslim High School where he resided in the Dafrin Hostel. After matriculation in 1924 he studied at Dhaka Intermediate College. Passing intermediate, he enrolled for an B. A.
at the newly established Dhaka University from 1926 on.
While he was residing at at "Muslim Hall" of Dhaka University, the various halls staged the then new play Muktadhara
by Rabindranath Tagore
. After some initial resistance, Momen received the main role of “Botu”. This ignited his passion for drama and even earned him a prize, but was also the only time that he performed as actor himself.
After receiving his B.A. from Dhaka University in 1929, he studied law
at the Department of Law, University of Calcutta. Upon completing his B.L. examinations in 1936 he started practicing at the Calcutta High Court
.
in Dhaka, 1939, Momen picked up on the opportunity of the new medium and became its the first Muslim author. In 1941 he wrote and directed he comedy Rupantor (Transformation) for the radio. With its progressive plot and a female main character it differed vastly form traditional Muslim plays and was actually the first modern drama of Bangladesh. Upon initiative of the critic the poet and literary critic Mohitlal Majumder, the play was also published in the yearly Puja issue of the newspaper Anandabazar.
While he was in London for higher studies form 1948 on, Nurul Momen and his friend Nazir Ahmed started a BBC
Bangla program, a weekly one-hour format called Anjuman where Momen was responsible for the literary content.
, he joined the faculty of Law at the Dhaka University in 1945. There he was known for including elements from literature and music into the law classes He encouraged Munier Chowdhury
, who would later translate You Never Can Tell, to read George Bernard Shaw
and got many other students interested in theatre. From 1948 until 1951 he was on leave from Dhaka University, undergoing higher studies in England and graduating in Law from London University.
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Bengali
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English
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Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. He is recognized as the pioneer of modern Bengali drama, "acting as a bridge between earlier and later playwrights in terms of content and style", and even referred to as the "Father of Bangladeshi theatre".
Early life and education
Nurul Momen was born on November 25, 1908, as son of Nurul Arefin, a physician and landlord in Alfadanga, at that time part of Jessore. He went to primary school in Calcutta and was admitted in 1916 into Zila School in KhulnaKhulna
Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. It is the divisional headquarters of Khulna Division and a major industrial and commercial center. It has a seaport named Mongla on its outskirts, 38 km from Khulna...
. At the age of ten he wrote his first poem, Shondhya (Evening), in the same verse as Tagore
Tagore
Tagore is the name of a prominent Bengali family of intellectuals, writers and artists, generally known as the Tagore family.People - Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family...
’s Shonar Tory. In 1919 it was published in the then reputed journal Dhrubotara. In 1920, he was enrolled in the Dhaka Muslim High School where he resided in the Dafrin Hostel. After matriculation in 1924 he studied at Dhaka Intermediate College. Passing intermediate, he enrolled for an B. A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at the newly established Dhaka University from 1926 on.
While he was residing at at "Muslim Hall" of Dhaka University, the various halls staged the then new play Muktadhara
Muktadhara
Muktadhara is an international organization, publishing house and bookstore dedicated to the promotion of Bengali literature and culture. It was started in the Indian state of West Bengal by the late Chittaranjan Saha, who in his work as head of the publishing house pioneered the Ekushey Book Fair...
by Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
. After some initial resistance, Momen received the main role of “Botu”. This ignited his passion for drama and even earned him a prize, but was also the only time that he performed as actor himself.
After receiving his B.A. from Dhaka University in 1929, he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the Department of Law, University of Calcutta. Upon completing his B.L. examinations in 1936 he started practicing at the Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court...
.
Radio work
After the foundation of All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
in Dhaka, 1939, Momen picked up on the opportunity of the new medium and became its the first Muslim author. In 1941 he wrote and directed he comedy Rupantor (Transformation) for the radio. With its progressive plot and a female main character it differed vastly form traditional Muslim plays and was actually the first modern drama of Bangladesh. Upon initiative of the critic the poet and literary critic Mohitlal Majumder, the play was also published in the yearly Puja issue of the newspaper Anandabazar.
While he was in London for higher studies form 1948 on, Nurul Momen and his friend Nazir Ahmed started a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Bangla program, a weekly one-hour format called Anjuman where Momen was responsible for the literary content.
Teaching career and university life
Rather than continuing to practice law after the partition of IndiaPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, he joined the faculty of Law at the Dhaka University in 1945. There he was known for including elements from literature and music into the law classes He encouraged Munier Chowdhury
Munier Chowdhury
Munier Chowdhury was a Bangladeshi educationist, playwright, literary critic and political dissident.-Education:...
, who would later translate You Never Can Tell, to read George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
and got many other students interested in theatre. From 1948 until 1951 he was on leave from Dhaka University, undergoing higher studies in England and graduating in Law from London University.
Literary Works
- Rupantor (Written, performed & broadcast in 1941. Published in Anandabzar Pooja Special in 1943. Published as a book in August 1948; pages 85; publisher: Sheikh Brothers, Dhaka)
- NemesisNemesis (Nurul Momen play)Nemesis is a play written by Nurul Momen, considered one of the most successful experimental plays in Bangladeshi theatre. It is a play with only one character, written in 1944 and published as a book in 1948. Nemesis, a tragedy, set a milestone in the history of Bengali plays because of its...
(a play with only one character, written in November 1944; performed by Nurul Momen & published in Shonibarer Chithi in 1945. Published as a book in August 1948; pages 64+7; publisher: Momen Publishing House, Dhaka; cover by Nurul Momen) - Yadi Emon Hoto (July 1961; pages 155+28; Momen Publishing House, Dhaka)
- Naya Khandan (Written in September 1961. Published in 1962; pages 74+9; publisher: Bangla AcademyBangla AcademyBangla Academy , established on 3 December 1955, is the national academy for promoting Bangla language in Bangladesh. The main office of the organization is located at the Burdwan House, once a part of the campus of the University of Dhaka, beside Suhrawardy Udyan.-History:The importance of...
, Dhaka; cover by Quamrul HassanQuamrul HassanQuamrul Hassan was a Bangladeshi artist. Hassan was born in Kolkata, India. In Bangladesh, Hassan's fame as an artist is perhaps only second to that of Zainul Abedin. Hassan is often referred to in Bangladesh as Potua, a word usually associated with folk artists, due to his down to earth style...
) - Alochhaya (Written in June 1962. Published in October 1962; pages 73+7; publisher: Momen Publishing House, Dhaka; cover by Hammad Nurul Momen)
- Shatkara Ashi
- Ainer Antorale
- Rupolekha
- Bhai Bhai Shobai (a play with only male characters)
- Eituku ei Jibontate (a play with only female characters)
- Underneath the Law
- We are Brothers All
- Is Law An Ass
- At the Alter of the Law
- Jeman Ichchha Temon
- Adikkheta
- London Probashe
- Ha-jo-bo-ro-la
- Forbidden Pleasures
- Andhokartai Alo (1964)
- Thik Cholar Poth (The right way to go:a symbolic costume-play for children)
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Bengali
| Plays | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| * রুপান্তর | Rupantor | (Metamorphosis) | 1941 |
| * নেমেসিস | Nemesis | (Nemesis) | 1944 |
| * এইটুকু এই জীবনটাতে | Eituku ei Jibontate | ||
| * যদি এমন হতো | Yadi Emon Hoto | 1961 | |
| * ঠিক চলার পথ | Thik Cholar Poth | ||
| Fictions | |||
| Essays | |||
| Memoirs | |||
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English
| Plays |
|---|
| * Underneath the Law |
| * We are Brothers All |
| * Is Law An Ass |
| * At the Alter of the Law |
| Essays |
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Awards
Momen received the following awards:- Best New Playwright Award in Calcutta, 1954
- Bangla Academy Award in 1961
- Medjid Al Makky award in 1968
- Ekushey Padak in 1978
- Nasiruddin Gold medal in 1979
- Chader Haat Award in 1988 and
- TENASINAS award in 1989
- honored at India-Pakistan cultural conference in New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in 1963 - Chicago University’s International Players’ honor in 1964
- honored by British theatre personalities in 1966
- honored by drama group ‘Theatre’ in 1977
- Sitara-e-Imtiaz, 1967 (which he renounced and destroyed in 1971)
Private life
Nurul Momen married Amena Momen (died 1993). They had four children:| Children | Grandchildren |
|---|---|
| Momena Momen Saara (died in 1995) | Nur-e-Samawati Shaila, Zannatul Ferdaus Laila, Arshadul Momin Sohel |
| Ahmad Nurul Momen (died in 2009) | - |
| Hammad Nurul Momen | Tanzima Nurul Momen, Tahzib Nurul Momen, Prithwi |
| Faisal Mahmud Nurul Momen | Korny Marina Momen, Morny Ramona Momen, Aurony Mohona Momen, Kabyo Nurul Momen |
Posthumous events
On November 25, 2008, his birth centenary was celebrated at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). His 102nd birthday was celebrated in November 2010 with a week-long festival, organized again by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy together with the Aurony Mohona International Foundation (AMIF).External links
- Daily Star_24 Nov.2010: Tribute to a theatre icon; Nurul Momen birth anniversary celebration begins
- Daily Star_25 Nov.2008: Birth anniversary of Natyaguru Nurul Momen
- Daily Star_ 16 Feb.2008: 18th death anniversary of Nurul Momen
- Daily Star_ 2 Jun.2007: Homage to Nurul Momen
- Daily Star_ 25 Apr.2008:Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's tribute to Nurul Momen
- ..displayed live performances, video installation and photographs at twelve pavilions, which were named in the memory of late theatre personalities of the country such as AKM Bazlul Karim, Moksud-us-Saleheen, Nurul Momen..
- in Bangalee Shamagra museum there are 60 portraits of celebrated Bangalees in different fields of the society