Ekushey Padak-winning Rhymester Sukumar Barua is no more

Veteran Bengali Rhymester and Ekushey Padak recipient Sukumar Barua passed away on Friday morning (January 2). He was 88 years old.

He died at JK Memorial Hospital in Gahira under Raozan Upazila of Chattogram, where he had been receiving treatment for fluid accumulation in his lungs.

Barua’s daughter, Anjana Barua, told reporters that he had been admitted to a medical center in Chattogram for the past week and was transferred to JK Memorial Hospital on Friday, where doctors were unable to save him despite their efforts.

Born on January 5, 1938, in Madhyam Binajuri village of Raozan, Barua began his career in the 1960s as a fourth-class staff member at Dhaka University. He started writing while renting a small room on Topkhana Road in 1963 and retired as the university’s storekeeper in 1999.

Over a career spanning nearly six decades, Barua earned titles such as ‘Chhararaj’ (King of Rhymes), ‘Chharashilpi’ (Poet of Rhymes), and ‘Chharasamrat’ (Emperor of Rhymes). His works combined humour, satire, moral lessons, and reflections on the Liberation War and politics.

His notable books include ‘Pagla Ghora,’ ‘Bhije Beral,’ ‘Chandana Ranjanar Chhara,’ ‘Elo Pataari,’ ‘Nana Ronger Din,’ ‘Chiching Phak,’ ‘Kichu Na Kichu,’ ‘Priyo Chhara Shotok,’ ‘Nodir Khela,’ ‘Chotoder Hat,’ and ‘Mojar Pora 100 Chhara.’

In recognition of his contributions to language and literature, the government awarded him the Ekushey Padak in 2017. He also received the Bangla Academy Literary Award, Bangladesh Shishu Academy Literary Award, Alaul Literary Award, and numerous other honours.