Shamsur Rahman

Shamsur Rahman was born on October 23, 1929, in Dhaka. Graduating in English literature from the University of Dhaka, Rahman worked for decades as a journalist and chief editor of the daily Dainik Bangla, becoming the central figure of modern Bengali poetry for half a century.

Rahman broke with rural pastoralism, introducing urban angst, existential psychology, and political protest into Bengali poetry. His iconic 1969 poem Asader Shirt ('Asad's Shirt') turned the bloody garment of a martyred student into a national banner of rebellion. During 1971, writing under the pseudonym 'Majlum Adib', he penned immortal patriotic lyrics including Tomake Paowar Jonne, He Swadhinata ('To Win You, O Freedom').