By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircle.net,
Imphal: Kheiruddin Chowdhury, the prominent Manipuri Muslim poet of Barak valley of Assam, passed away on December 14, 2013. He was 74.
Kheiruddin Chowdhury had written more than a dozen books, including 6 books of poems, namely Minok Piranggi Mitkup Anidang (poetry, 1976), The Manipuri Mohammedan (1976), Adhunik Manipuri Kabitagi Bangla Anubad (1977), Sabnamgi Marik Anidang (poetry, 1978), Mukta Khujok Amadang (poetry, 1979), Barak Torbangi Mahakavya (poetry, 1980), Scattered Pearls (poetry, 1980), Ningsing Mingselda (poetry, 1986), Quran Hadiski Erolnungdagi (Islamic literature, 1995), Matamgi Bangla Kabita (translation, 1998), Nongkhong Pareng Wangmada (poetry, 1998), Diary Theke (poetry, 1999) and others.
Parliamentary Secretary Md. Amin Shah, MOBEDS Project Director Md. Salauddin Khan with Kheiruddin Chowdhury few months before.
Kheiruddin Chowdhury had also written numerous poems and articles on various themes in many journals. He was associated with Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam, Manipuri Muslim Development Organization, Assam, and Gramin Vikas Parishad, Assam. After his retirement, he served as President of Gramin Vikas Parishad. He was the Principal of Vishya Niketan, an institution of the Parishad.
For his contribution in Manipuri literature Kheiruddin Chowdhury was given numerous awards by various literary bodies of Assam and Manipur. He was awarded Kamini Kumar Award – Gold Medal (1977) for his collection of poems, Minok Piranggi Mitkup Anidang by the Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Imphal. He was also given the ICRA Award with the title “Saire Azam” by Islamic and Cultural Research Association in 1995. He was also awarded the Kabya Bhusan (2002), Sahitya Bhusan (2004, Assam), Sahityik Pensioner by Assam Government (2003), Man Patra by the organizers of Silchar Pourasbhana Gandhi Mela, among others. Manipuris fondly called him “the poet of Barak valley.”
Kheiruddin Chowdhury was born on November 29, 1939 in Badripar in Cachar District of Assam to Md. Nurjaman Chowdhury and Maherjan Begum. After passing his Matriculation Exam from Silchar Government High School, he studied at G.C. College, Silchar and also for a short duration at D.M. College, Imphal. He got his Graduation Degree in 1963 and Masters Degree in Political Science in 1966. He also cleared B.T Exam in 1975. He joined the Education Department of Assam.