Nurul Hoque – Poems and biography

Nurul Hoque is mainly a poet, time-conscious rhymer, novelist, and editor. His acquaintance with literature is quite wide. He is skilled at composing poetry, rhymes, stories, and songs. He has been working as a writer for almost three decades. He is praised globally for his tireless work. He was elected World Laureate in Literature in 2018 by World Nation Writers Union, Kazakhstan (www.wnwu.org). He is the executive director of Munir Mezyed Foundation for Arts and Culture, Romania. He edited Odyssey International Anthology Of World Poets 2020. He is also the chief coordinator of Odyssey International (headquartered in Romania).

Mr Hoque was born at Porikot village of Gunabati Union under Chauddagram upazila in Comilla (formerly Tripura) in Bangladesh on March 8. His father, Latu Mia, was not only a down-to-earth person but also a rural social worker. His mother, Ambiya Khatun, who lived a modest life as a housewife, witnessed over a century of change before she passed away. His parents are the fountain of his creativity.

He has written several books, 30 of which are well known in his mother tongue, Bengali. He has been engaged in creative writing for more than 30 years. Nowadays, his poetry, famed for its elegance and intimacy, covers a variety of themes, chiefly peace, nature, love, womanhood, and divinity. His writing focuses on the importance of English for a multilingual world society and for inter-cultural communication among nations; the need for value-based education for youth in the context of globalization; and fostering peace, fellow-feeling, awareness of ecology, and love for nature.

Mr. Hoque studied up to fifth grade at the government primary school in his village. He then passed the Higher Secondary Examination with distinction from Gunabati High School. He achieved Diploma in Engineering Mechanical and Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (AMIE) from the Swedish Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Kaptai, Bangladesh.

His educational life was full of diversity. He was sometimes a student, sometimes a ration shop worker, and sometimes a manager. He completed his education amid struggles. Shortly after becoming a Diploma Engineer, he joined Vrinel Corporation, an international construction company registered in the United States, as an Assistant Engineer in the Karnafuli Hydroelectric Unit 3 construction project. At that time, he had the honour of being the assistant to Mr. Kim, the number-three ranking engineer in the world.

In 1980, after leaving the job, Mr. Hoque became unemployed. During this time, he travelled across Bangladesh, his homeland. He later served as a Chartered Engineer and Project Director of many important projects, including Bakhrabad Gas Pipeline Project, Chittagong Urea Fertilizer, Feni River Closure Dam, and Bangladesh Railway Optical Fiber Telecom Project with the world’s largest construction companies like GEC, UK, Shimuzu Construction Company, Japan, Taisai Construction Company, Japan, Toyo Engineering, Japan, NKK Japan Italmontagi Pvt. Ltd., Singapore, etc.

He has been writing since childhood. His literary practice did not stop, even in the midst of adversity in his personal life. Besides contributing to the first-class daily, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly publications of Bangladesh, he regularly practices literature on various international poetry sites and Bangladesh Television. The legendary poet of Bangladesh, Al Mahmud, opines that Nurul Hoque has been practicing poetry tirelessly for quite some years. His writing is full of spontaneity and reflects time, love, nature, reality, and, of course, global peace and harmony.

Mr. Hoque, with his creation, is like a banyan tree rooted in fertile soil, watered by rivers, and spreading fresh air of peace, love, humanity, and brotherhood globally. His English poetry has already attracted readers worldwide. He is a Bangladeshi citizen by birth, but in terms of his mind, heart, creations, and expression, he is a global citizen. He is a soft and humble person, as well as a great lover of the universe. His poetry has been translated into various languages, including Romanian, Taiwanese, Uzbek, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese.

He is an official member of the World Nations Writers’ Union (headquartered in Kazakhstan), which conferred upon him the International Diploma, ‘TEMIRQAZYQ- The Best Poet-Writer of the World, 2018 (www.wnwu.org).

Mr. Hoque has been invited to many places in South East Asia as chief guest and guest speaker.

He has received numerous international awards for his special contribution to literature, a few of which are listed below:

– World Laureate in Literature – 2018 award and diploma by World Nations Writers’ Union, Kazakhstan

– Odyssey International Literary Award – 2019, Romania

– Kafla International Literary Award – 2018, India

– Gujarat Sahitya Academy honoured Mr.Hoque for showing literary excellence at par with global standards on the occasion of India’s 74th Independence Day.

– Mr. Hoque was nominated as the national director for Bangladesh chapter of the Global Peace Councils (UK & India), a global organization that works on human rights and anti-corruption, in 2019

– Yasser Arafat International Peace Award – 2019

– Paragon of Hope Award – 2020 by Kishwer Tony Peace Foundation, Canada.

He is the editor of the monthly magazine Amader Buriganga, which is published from Dhaka almost regularly. He is also the founder chairman of Buriganga Foundation Bangladesh.

He has written many books both in Bengali and English.

Among his books in Bengali are:

1) Jhora Patar Shokgatha (poetry)

2) Nishither Podaboli (poetry)

3) Dole Mon Shonkay (poetry)

4)Aloukik Ondhokar (poetry)

5) Jolpori Nilpori (rhymes)

6) Kandey Porbot Jhore Bristy (poetry)

7) Chhinnovinno Pongtimala (poetry)

8) Sonnet Guchchho (poetry)

9) Amakey Khondito Kore (poetry)

10) Ek Mutho Chhaya (poetry)

11) Chander Chokhe Jol (rhymes)

12) Bhorer Chokhe Phutchhe Phul (rhymes)

13) Dugdhoboti Joler Nodi (poetry)

14) Nirbachito 100 Kobita (poetry)

15) Berhe Uthi (poetry)

16) Bristi Bheja Batasera (poetry)

17) Pahari Konnar Upakhyan (novel)

18) Ghumer Prithibi Jure Raat (poetry)

19) A Desh Amar Lal Sobuje Anka (rhymes)

His poetry books in English are:

20) Pain Of Innocence

21) What Do You Need

22) The Images Of Reflected Lines

23) An Elegy of Fallen Leaves

His edited anthologies:

Odyssey International Anthology Of World Poets 2020 And an Anthology Of Contemporary Bengali Poets 2024

A wandering wave upstream

A buoyant pull of water downstream

In the middle, there is no one else

Then why do dreams break into pieces?

The grey feathers of time also fall off

What’s the harm if you become a river?

Are women like desiccated, fallen leaves?

They fall aplenty,

Like rivers that change courses and contours,

Lose their flowing pace.

Will you change too?

If you change, then you may do so

The sediment in your abdomen that you have

Accumulated bit by bit,

Will it also exhaust in the end?

No matter if it gets exhausted,

No matter if rivers flow

I am writing a dirge of fallen leaves

While penning it,

I become speechless.

Having portrayed you perfectly

I have spread you across the world

Lest we should never meet each other again.

When I sit down to write a poem

Your portrait springs to life

And sits on my writing table.

From the two eyes of your portrait falls

A yearning of a universe.

It seems like the portrait wants to say something

But when asked, it flaps its wings

Quickly and replies ‘No,

I’m right beside you,

Just keep on writing.

I stand astounded in amazement

I keep on gauging the depth of pain on its chin

And then, as I keep on writing the poem

I realize the vastness of a Mediterranean storm.

These days and all night long, the portrait

Follows me everywhere

And it keeps an eye on me

At times, the chasing portrait

Turns into a cloud and rains down on my downs

And I start to cry.

With a fringe full of pollens in hand

It looks embarrassed with eyes full of dreams.

I say, O the picture,

O the cloud

I no longer like this superhuman game

Take me back to the volcanic rocks in the hill

I want to draw you anew

I want to write something new

About you, completely anew

With a conviction of creating a beautiful new world.

I want to gather the light of all the virtuous eyes of the world

I want to cast a glow on you,

Your inner self and outer self.

Let them drift in the waves of light endlessly

Let go of anarchy and darkness for good

Let a corps of pensive poets or artists

Walk along the texture of your tress

From one end to another.

Even though I am not a poet

Yet, day and night,

I Study your form and shape

I gently touch your chin.

I want the people of the world

To discover you anew

Let them see in the shadow of a sacrosanct soul

How hatred and violence blend with it.

To portray you in a few lines

Is well-nigh impossible.

Yet, I continue to carve you

With a chisel of words.