In the vast landscape of Bengali literature, there are towering figures whose presence transcends time and circumstance. Shawkat Osman was one such luminary—an enlightened thinker, a courageous writer deeply attuned to society’s pulse, and a moral compass of his time. Through his fearless pen, he composed a language of resistance, protest, and liberation. Even in death, his words remain alive, and his ideals continue to reverberate in our collective consciousness.
Though twenty-seven years have passed since he left his mortal frame, his voice, his convictions, and his uncompromising language still guide us. He was a writer who was willing to forgo all worldly attachments to keep his pen unsullied.
A Life Born from History, Molded in Protest
Born on January 2, 1917, in Sabalsinghpur of Hooghly, Shawkat Osman’s life and literary imagination were shaped by the tremors of British colonialism, Partition, migration, and the birth of a new nation. He was not merely a writer but a witness to turbulent history, continuously reshaping himself in response to its blows.
After earning his M.A. from the University of Calcutta, he migrated to East Bengal, initiating a transformative intellectual journey. His fearless opposition to the injustices, political oppression, and cultural subjugation during the Pakistan era remains etched in our literary and political memory.
Literature as Mirror: The People’s Voice and Protest Against Power
Shawkat Osman’s literary oeuvre was a mirror to society and the state—where human narratives met structural oppression and resistance. Whether fiction, drama, essays, or satire, his works were not just a source of literary delight but of ethical reflection and philosophical inquiry.
His novel “Kritodasher Hasi” (The Laughter of the Slave) ushered in a new symbolic tradition in Bengali literature. In it, the psychological world of political prisoners is laid bare, while the metaphor of the jester’s laughter reveals the hidden tears and suppressed cries of a subjugated people. His art was more than aesthetic—it became part of a movement.
Philosophical and Ethical Conviction: The Conscience of Literature
Shawkat Osman saw himself not merely as a storyteller but as a philosopher with a mission. A proponent of existentialism, humanism, and moral clarity, he believed that a writer’s role is to unmask the lies of the time.
He once wrote:
“Literature is not merely entertainment; it is the mirror and conscience of society. A writer’s duty is to reveal the truth fearlessly.”
This declaration remains potent and relevant in our own age of crisis and confusion.
A Courageous Stand Against Religious Extremism
One of Osman’s most valiant roles was his unwavering stance against religious fundamentalism. To him, religion was to be understood through the lens of reason and humanity. The exploitation of faith for violence and power deeply pained him.
He declared:
“Fundamentalists do not represent religion. They wear its mask to enslave people. They speak the language of power, not of truth.”
Such clarity made him a target of extremists, yet immortalized him in the history of ethical literature.
Liberation War: When the Pen Became a Weapon
During Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, Shawkat Osman was in Kolkata. He actively contributed to the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (Free Bengal Radio Station). His poems, dramas, and speeches became a source of strength and inspiration for freedom fighters.
He believed that true independence was not merely political—it was moral and humanistic. In his own words:
“Bangladesh’s independence was not just the birth of a state, but the triumph of a humane consciousness.”
These words still echo within us today.
Timeless Literary Legacy
Among Shawkat Osman’s seminal works are:
Kritodasher Hasi (The Laughter of the Slave, 1962)
Raja Upakhyan (The Tale of a King)
And his satirical essays, which continue to provoke thought and stir emotion.
Remembering a Torchbearer
While he received accolades such as the Bangla Academy Award, the Ekushey Padak, and the Independence Award, Shawkat Osman’s truest legacy lies in the relevance of his literary vision. As his son, Janesaar Osman, once aptly said:
“My father was willing to lose everything, but never his integrity.”
It is this integrity that renders him unique—eternal.
When the Writer Becomes the Nation’s Conscience
Shawkat Osman was not just a writer—he was the conscience of a society. He taught us:
“If the writer does not awaken, the nation remains asleep.”
He referred to himself as a “sweeper of society”, committed to cleaning up moral decay and social injustice.
When truth is buried beneath the glitter of lies, when freedom of expression is stifled, remembering Shawkat Osman gives us courage. It rekindles our reverence for truth and justice.
To remember him is to ask ourselves anew:
Am I on the side of truth?
About the Author:
Professor Dr. Dipu Siddiqui is a poet and essayist, currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the Royal University of Dhaka.