Bangla Academy Award encourages him on translation works

Aminur Rahman stands out as a leading poet from the '80s in our country. He has made deliberate efforts to link poetry with intellect, rather than solely focusing on emotions and sensations. As a romantic poet, his verses express deep emotions and love. The majority of his poems are a harmonious fusion of his subject matter and craftsmanship, while an adept use of vivid imagery, detailed descriptions, and metaphors enriches the overall experience.

Known for his deep contemplation on silence and enigma, Aminur has consistently kept himself detached from turmoil and uncertainty throughout his poetic odyssey. He has a visionary nature. The poet consistently endeavours to convey his emotions and observations through romanticism. Upon careful examination of his poetry, it becomes evident that these embody a modernist approach in its entirety. His writing style is undeniably distinctive, personalised, emotive, and easily comprehensible.

Aminur had been always aspiring to become a poet since his childhood and had the opportunity to closely see the legendary poet Al Mahmud. From a young age, he had a deep fascination for reading books, and his father supported him in establishing a library that housed various genres of literature. At the tender age of 12, his first travelogue was published in a newspaper. During that period, he immersed himself in reading numerous poems, which left an indelible mark on his heart. Following his matriculation examination, Aminur collaborated with his close friends to publish a literary magazine called "Suneet." This endeavor brought him into close contact with esteemed poets such as Shamsur Rahman, Al-Mahmud, Al-Mujahidi, and subsequently Fazal Shahabuddin.

Aminur developed a close relationship with renowned poet Fazal Shahabuddin over time. He had the opportunity to meet various other poets, writers, essayists, singers, politicians, and individuals from diverse backgrounds at Fazal's literary Adda. Fazal was the founding editor of Bichitra, a weekly magazine, and he also worked at Shachitra Shandhani and Dainik Bangla. During the late 1980s, the poetry magazine Kobikantha was consistently published under Fazal Shahabuddin's editorship, with Aminur serving as his subordinate. Kobikantha was established in 1954 by two prominent poets of the 1950s Shamsur Rahman and Fazal Shahabuddin. Following the demise of Fazal Shahabuddin in 2014, poet Aminur Rahman took the role of editor for the journal. Esteemed poets, columnists, authors, social and cultural activists, architects, lyricists, and individuals from various fields have made valuable contributions to this publication. Typically, the journal is released on the birth anniversary of Fazal Shahabuddin. It is worth mentioning that the first two poems of poetry collection Ruposhi Bangla by Jibananda Das were first published in Kobikantha.

Aminur Rahman is a man of versatile genius. In addition to his role as a poet, he is a well-respected art critic. In a career spanning more than thirty years, he has delved into the works of prominent artists in our country, providing insightful analysis of their techniques, processes, and chosen mediums. He also honed his skills in playing the Hawaiian guitar at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts. He dedicated a significant amount of time during his school and college years to scouting, earning the prestigious President Scout Award. In the 1980s, Aminur delved into poetry recitation, collaborating with renowned elocutionists such as Istekbal Hossain, Anisuzzaman, Dalia Ahmed, and Hasan Arif. The 1990 Mass Uprising, popularly known as the '90s Anti-Authoritarian Movement, saw reciters playing a pivotal role in the downfall of General Ershad. Aminur took the initiative to publish a recital-based magazine named "Kotha" during that period, with contributions from esteemed figures like educationist Professor Anisuzzaman and the founders of Chhayanaut, Sanjida Khatun and Wahidul Huq. Additionally, Aminur released several audio cassettes featuring poetry recitations and was the first to introduce a video cassette dedicated to recitation.

In the year 1991, Aminur published his debut poetry book named "Ridoypurer Dubshatar". Throughout that period, he dedicated himself entirely to the art of poetry. At that stage, his poetry showcased a remarkable level of innovation and originality in thought. Through his works, he has enhanced our ability to observe and explore the world around us. Delving into his poetry is akin to embarking on a journey of emotional discovery. His verses captivate our minds and touch our souls. Within his poems, one can sense the presence of a solitary spirit, an underlying sense of sadness, a void of emptiness, and an emotional portrayal of a melancholic heart. The poet's significant accomplishment lies in skillfully incorporating a delicate irony amidst the overwhelming intensity of his sentiments. Solitude, love, longing, and inner vision are the primary themes that permeate his poetry.

Aminur simultaneously engaged himself in the field of journalism. A monthly publication named "Nandonik," under the editorship of Fazal Shahabuddin was published, and Aminur served as its assistant editor. Esteemed journalists and writers contributed to the paper, resulting in its growing popularity among readers for a certain period of time.

When Janakantha newspaper was first published, Aminur was a frequent contributor. He also penned poems and articles on art and literature, which were regularly published in various newspapers. He also pursued a master's degree in pharmacy from the University of Dhaka. Due to the low income of journalists in the 1990s, he decided to transition to a marketing role at a renowned pharmaceutical company in the country.

Aminur has been involved in numerous translation projects. In 2000, he collaborated with renowned Indian poet Sudip Sen on a book titled "Ekti Khali Chithi." He is also the driving force behind Kathak, a cultural organisation that has published several poetry books and hosted various cultural events, recitals, and musical soirees. Over the past two decades, Kathak has been organising the International Poets Summit, attracting globally recognised poets, writers, novelists, and playwrights.

Aminur is actively engaged in literary translation, having published ten collections of translated poetry as well as books on literary criticism. His poems have been translated into twenty-five languages, including English, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Malay, Mongolian, German, Nepali, Russian, Urdu, French, and Hindi.

In addition to his poetic works, Aminur has also written two prose books and translated eight poetry books. He has edited several poetry magazines and books. He has been a feature writer at several international arts and literary festivals, universities, and cultural venues. He is an editorial board member of several literary magazines and has edited numerous anthologies such as "Contemporary Short Stories of the SAARC Region" and "Poems from the SAARC Region". He has represented Bangladesh at poetry festivals in various countries including England, India, Spain, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Malaysia, Japan, Mongolia, and Nicaragua.

Aminur has received prestigious awards such as the Bangla Academy Literary Award, Chinggish Khaan Gold Medal in Mongolia, Contribution Award for International Poetry Festival in Taiwan, CLA Honour in Malaysia, Numera World Award of Literature in Malaysia, Heaven Horse Award in Mongolia, and Scout Award in the Philippines.

The writer is an art critic and cultural curator.

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