Wali Mahmud. His full name was Mohammad Waliur Rahman Mahmud. He was born on 1st August 1972 in Dewan Villa of Matiur Rahman Mahmud Road, Jaldhup Pathon village in Beanibazar Upazilla of Sylhet district, Bangladesh.
He started his formal education at Patan Government Primary School. After completing Standard Five class from the same school, he studied in Lauta High School and appeared at the Secondary School Certificate Examination from there. He graduated from Beanibazar Government College under Chittagong University and did his post-graduation from Sylhet MC College. With a keen interest in education, he also completed various courses in the UK. He did CELT from Tower Hamlets College in 2001. He completed Level 2-3, Preparation for Work course from HABC England in 2010. In 2010-2014, he completed notable courses in CC in ICT (Inter.), Social English, People and Places, Education and Work like courses from OPAL in Hertfordshire, England. He also worked as a sub-editor of the magazine at the Department of Education, OPAL Education Hearts, England.[1]
From childhood, the surrounding image of society and how it affected his mind and thoughts are reflected in his various writings. He crossed the shadow of his past life through narrative verse. The fragrance of moonlight, childhood, adolescence, and sunshine gets from his recorded memory.[2]Wali Mahmud was brought up in a family environment where issues from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Khudiram to Bangabandhu and the war of liberation dominated his childhood psychology. His great-grandfather Dewan M. Mansoor Ali was involved with the Indian National Congress (INC) of undivided India and with Awami League politics since its establishment after the partition of India till he breathed his last.[3] His grandfather, Makmad A. Mahmud was the expatriate organizer of the independence movement of India and Bangladesh and his father Matiur Rahman Mahmud was an organiser of the great independence movement.[4] His mother was Mrs. Sufia Akhter Mahmud.[5]Wali Mahmud’s maternal grandfather Akaddas Sirajul Islam was a prominent politician taking part in Indian independence movement and Holwell Movement of Netaji Subhash Chandra Basu. Besides, he was a novelist and editor of `Muktabangla’ newspaper during the war of liberation. His maternal grandmother was Mrs. Moyrunnessa Chowdhury.
The police administration and intelligence agencies raided his house in the 1990s as he was involved in the anti-authoritarian movement against military dictator Lt. Gen. H M Ershad regime. At that time his two manuscripts and several other writings on anti-authoritarian, secular and anti-racist writings were seized. He was involved in various movements including making public opinion in Bangladesh and England, demanding the trial of war criminals against humanity in the great war of independence of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, his family was subjected to various threats. Since he was involved in different ways, he had to face various disasters including death threats. He collected facts and information on the genocide of those who were involved in the struggle for independence of Bangladesh, and those of the Razakars, Peace Committee, Al Badar, and Al Shams. Relevant information collected by him as a field level collector was used in the Liberation War research work and in the book entitled, `Ranangan ‘71.[6]
He worked with various social and institutional organizations. Responsibilities as Director of Liberation War Research Center; Senior Vice President of Sylhet District Branch of Muktijoddha Youth Command, Joint Secretary of Sylhet District Branch of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Founder President of Beanibazar Association of Dorset County, England; Coordinator of Shahid Manu Mia Smriti Parishad Bangladesh Chapter; Trustee, Beanibazar Welfare Trust, UK; twice elected President of the School Managing Committee of Patan Abdullapur Girls’ High School (2016-17; 2018-19); Director of Dewan Mansoor Estate Fund Trust, established in 1950; Member of Beanibazar Upazilla Health and Family Welfare Standing Committee; The responsibilities of the General Secretary of the BRAC Business Advisory Committee Beanibazar Upazilla Branch; the Organising Secretary of the Migration Forum; Life Member, Jalalabad Association, Dhaka; Chairman of the Governing body of Beanibazar Manobseba Songstha (BHSO); Advisorof Ain Sohayota Kendra (ASK) Foundation [A Legal Aid & Human Rights Organization] Benaibazar Upozila; the Executive Editor of the weekly Nabadwip and Literary Editor, 52Bangla TV London are noteworthy.
He gave his wisdom and creativity to his contemporary time. He is an enlightened personality built on civility, modesty and courtesy. That is also evident in his poems. He is always engrossed in the renewal of moderate verse in his poems. Wali Mahmud has worked as a representative of individuals and groups in different parts of the society. As a recluse and a man devoted to literature and society, the expansion of his thirst for knowledge and an objective seem to be his field of concentration. His thoughts, consciousness and philosophy of politics are tied in the same thread.
He started his writing career in 1986 with his participation in a Wall magazine. He is very much active in his pursuits for composing poems. In his poetic realm, he sometimes walks on the banks of the Kushiyara to see for himself the hard realities of life there. Sometimes he walks on the banks of the Sunai or the Thames of the UK emotionally. He prefers an imperishable evolution in the process. In order to build an abode of poetry, pure Bangla construction was resorted to followed by application of Nagri and other local words, phrases and emotions. The combination of nature, rivers and women is embodied in his writings. He has applied the abstract emotion of love in various ways with the stylish use of selected words and phrases in the poems.
Wali Mahmud’s poems have been included in the 2021 collection of poems of 150 famous poets from 38 countries published from Cairo, Egypt. [The Silk Road Anthology: Ancient Egyptians, Modern Poets 2021]. His International Collection of poems published from Clever Fox include The Space, an International Poetry Anthology 2021; Kametsa magazine in Peru; P|O|L is an international literary magazine published in the UK, World Poetry Movement, Arabian Nights, World Poems, The Silk Road Literature Anthology 2022. Darjeeling Magazine India; English Poets Bangladesh USA (Tradition of creating National Anthology); La Fenetre de Paris, Vol-ll (An Anthology of Poets from different countries on La France); Udvas- International monthly Issue 2022; Tripura, India; 145 poets and 45 countries on 6 continents in the Silk Road Anthology: Nano Poems for Africa 2022; MA Anthology France. His poems have found a place in various international collections.
His interviews have also been published in Little Magazine, Journal, Print and Online Press Media in Bengali, English, and Arabic from UK, Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh, UAE and Egypt.[7] In 2004, an interview with poet Wali Mahmud on Sound Radio broadcast from London was aired on Medium Web and FM Band. The interview was done by cultural person of BSK Khadija Rahman and on February 7, 2013, Betar Bangla Radio’s Medium Web, FM band and online aired a long interview with poet Wali Mahmud on the episode Katha O Kabita (Words and Poetry) broadcast from London. The poet was interviewed by cultural and media personality Shelly Fowzia.
Wali Mahmud is immersed in a colourful life. In the hope of opening the context of the poems, he experimented a wide range of subjects such as becoming a recluse, sometimes going for a pilgrimage of love, sometimes in his reckless youth; he has touched the infinite sky of love in various ways. On the other hand, the presence of intense emotions is noticeable in his poems. He constantly underwent experimentations in different measures and his differentiation is a typical feature of his poems.[8] Wali Mahmud’s poetry seems to be his own translation of his feelings, emotions and style. Let his literary pursuits be at a higher level.
In his personal life, he was married to Farzana BL Mahmud on Monday, the 27th of June 2013. He has three daughters namely Zarin Sophia Mahmud, Mehrin Wali Mahmud and Hasina Wali Mahmud.
His published books of verses and research and edited Little Magazines which include:
- Book of Verse: ‘Bhalobasar Poyati’ (Collage, 1999), ‘Jaybati Shon’ (Collage, 1999), ‘Ekti Dirghoshasher Mrityu’, Death Of A Sigh (Uthso, 2001), ‘Ami Ek Uttarpurush’, I am The Descendant (Uthso, 2002), ‘Nirbasane, Nirbachita Droha’ (Magnum Opus, 2004), ‘Nishikta Porot’ Fertilized Layer (Ghash Prakashan, 2023).
- Diaspora Research: Rebellious fiction writer Abdur Rauf Chowdhury (Editor’s England, 2013)[9]
- Edited Little Magazines: Kabiyal (edited, 1992), Shikar (edited, 1994) and Lookon Little Magazine (2009-14) published from England and Bangladesh.
>> Wali Mahmud | Betar Bangla Radio | London, UK
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[1] Wali Mahmud: Life and literature, Dr. Mukid Chowdhury.
[2] Wali Mahmud: Life and literature, Dr. Mukid Chowdhury.
[3] `Editorial’, Matiur Rahman Mahmud Memorial Souvenir, Edited by Abu Maksud, Probash Prokashoni , London, 2019.
[4] `Ek Nibedita Sthapati’, Matiur Rahman Mahmud Memorial Souvenir, Habib Ahmad Dattachowdhury, Edited by Abu Maksud, Probash Prokashoni , London, 2019.
6]Wali Mahmud: Life and literature, Dr. Mukid Chowdhury.
[7] Published:
UK: Shabdpat Littlemag, Issue Year 2007;
Weekly Surma, Issue 1549, 08-14 February, 2008;
polol.co.uk, online press; 11 January, 2017;
P|O|L, is an international literary magazine published in the UK | Poetry Out Loud | March 2021 | Prose Poetry Issue, [Page: 237-256]
KSA: ovic.net, Online press, 26 June, 2008;
India: Nabararta Prasanga, 26 October-30 November 2009;
Banglasesh: Weekly Dibaluk, 26 April-17 May, 2009;
UAE: probashernews.com, online press;
Egypt, Cairo: The interview was published in Arabic in The Asian newspaper on May 26, 2021.
[8]Published flap and from the invitation letter to the publication of the 5th book of poetry, ‘Nirbasane, Nirbachita Droha’ by poet Wali Mahmud at the Kobi Nazrul Centre (30, Hanbury Street, London E1) on July 15, 2004. The publication ceremony was organized and presented by the BSK (World Literature Centre) London.
[9]Lookon LittleMag, London, p. 295.