Rajib Humayun

Rajib Humayun (born Humayun Kabir; 14 January 1951 – 5 July 2017) was a Bangladeshi linguist, Nazrul researcher, playwright, and educator.^[1] He was a prominent figure in Bengali linguistics and a leading researcher on the works of Kazi Nazrul Islam.^[2][3][4]

Rajib Humayun
Born	14 January 1951 Chittagong District, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan
Died	5 July 2017 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Alma mater	University of Dhaka University of Pune
Occupation(s)	Linguist, Nazrul researcher, playwright, educator
Spouse	Zakia Sultana
Children	Kaiser Rajib Sherpa, Iftekher Rajib Rupai
Relatives	Abyad Rajib Sherpa, Ajanta Rajib Sherpa (grandchildren)

Early life and education

Humayun was born on 14 January 1951 in Sandwip, Chittagong District, East Pakistan, Pakistan.^[5] His parents were Maulvi Syed Ahmad and Azmatummesa Begum.^[5] His older brother, Jasim, was a member of the Mukti Bahini who was tortured and executed during the Bangladesh Liberation War by Mir Kashem Ali.^[5] He would later testify against Kashmen Ali at his war crimes trial.^[5] He completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Bengali literature from the University of Dhaka.^[5] In 1978, he earned a PhD in linguistics from the University of Pune, India.^[3]

Career

Humayun began his academic career at the University of Chittagong after completing his PhD.^[5] He later served at Jahangirnagar University before joining the University of Dhaka's Bangla Department as an associate professor in 1986. In 1992, he became the founding chairperson of the Department of Linguistics at Dhaka University, a position he held until his retirement in 2004.^[6] He then taught at North South University.^[7]

Humayun authored several notable works including Nazrul and World Culture, Nazrul Islam and Bangladeshi Literature, Nazrul's Writing Techniques, and Abul Mansoor Ahmad's Satire and Cultural Thought. He also wrote on sociolinguistics, History and society and culture of Sandwip.^[8] In 2015, he received an award for his work on Abul Mansur Ahmad.^[9]

Humayun was active in cultural activities as a playwright and appeared in numerous Bangladesh Television programs.^[3] He served as the president of the Chittagong chapter of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, an organization of artists.^[3]

Death and legacy

Humayun died on 5 July 2017 at Apollo Hospital in Dhaka due to complications from kidney disease, aged 67.^[3][10]