# Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury

Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury (December 16, 1944 — February 22, 2022) was a popular Bangladeshi lyricist and astrologer. He worked in various branches of the arts, which led him to gain recognition not only as a lyricist and astrologer but also as a poet, cartoonist, painter, screenwriter (for advertisements, documentaries, and dramas), radio drama writer and director, short story and humor writer, and cover artist. He became popular through his astrology column, Apnar Rashi, in the daily Prothom Alo newspaper. He also composed several modern Bengali songs for bands and music artists in Bangladesh, including Feedback, Love Runs Blind, Miles, Mahmudunnabi, Sabina Yasmin, Shahnaz Rahmatullah, Syed Abdul Hadi, Probal Chowdhury, Kumar Bishwajit, Samina Chowdhury, Lucky Aakhand, Subir Nandi, Happy Akhand, and Niaz Mohammad Chowdhury among others. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he worked as an intelligence officer gathering information.
He wrote classic Bengali songs for many singers and bands. Some of his popular songs include Ei Rupali Guitar Fele (LRB), Amay Deko Na Pherano Jabe Na (Samina Chowdhury, Lucky Aakhand), Jekhane Shimantho Tomar (Kumar Bishwajit), Kobita Porar Prohor (Samina Chowdhury), Aaj Ei Brishti'r Kanna Dekhe (Niaz Mohammad Chowdhury), Mousumi Kare Bhalobasho Tumi 1 (Feedback), Koto Je Khujechi Tomay (Niloy Das), Sakhi Cholna (Syed Abdul Hadi, Guddhi) etc.
He gained his fame as an astrologer for his regular horoscope readings in satirical way on Apnar Rashi (your zodiac sign) in the Daily Prothom Alo.

## Early life

Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury was born on December 16, 1944, in the Sylhet district of what was then British India (now Bangladesh). He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, from 1960 to 1964. However, in his final year, he left his studies in Fine Arts unfinished and re-enrolled at Sylhet M.C. College, where he studied from 1965 to 1967. In his professional life, he worked as a "Scriptwriter" in the BCC Unit of the Directorate of Family Planning until the year 2000.

## Life Biography

* From the beginning to the end of his school life, he was actively involved in various activities such as the Mukul Fouj Scouting Drive, drawing, meditation, astrology, cricket, and writing stories, poems, and plays. He started practicing astrology at the age of 11.
* After enrolling at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, he began studying film production techniques alongside other subjects and became a regular visitor to the Film Development Corporation (FDC). During this time, he developed a serious interest in Bengali and English poetry, and he began the conventional practice of writing poetry, yet few of his poems were published. He joined the Farm Boys Cricket Club in Tejgaon to play club cricket.
* After enrolling at Sylhet M.C. College, he became involved in student politics as a member of the Chhatra League. He was elected as the Cultural Secretary of the Student Union. During this time, there was a remarkable surge in the cultural activities at the college and in Sylhet city. In addition, he wrote poetry, stories, essays, scripted musical plays, performed recitations, designed stage setups and illustrated covers for literary anthologies.
* At the inauguration of Sylhet M.C. Intermediate College, he was elected as the first Vice President of the Student Union.
* In 1968, he again moved to Dhaka and joined the Swedish Communication Project as a scriptwriter. He also received training in writing screenplays for developmental films.
* He became a regular lyricist for Radio Pakistan. His first studio recording was for the song “Onusthaner Prothom Gaan Khani” with artist Mahmudunnabi and music director Sujoy Shyam.
* In 1969, his first disc record was released by HMV, sung by Moushumi Kabir to the tune of Sheikh Sadi.
* He became an active member of the newly formed cultural group “Amra Ko’jana”. Alongside renowned poets like Nirmalendu Goon, Abul Hasan, Mahadeb Saha, and Arunabh Sarkar, he actively wrote poetry.
* In 1970, he designed the cover for Nirmalendu Goon's first poetry book “Premanshur Rakta Chai”. The inclusion of the poet’s photograph on the cover was a completely new trend at that time in Bangladesh.
* In 1971, he participated in the Liberation War as an armed fighter in Sector 2. He received training in Agartala, India.
* After independence, he established a personal relationship with renowned Indian filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, who arrived in Dhaka on his first visit. Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury became Ghatak's constant companion and disciple.
* In 1972 or 1973, Bangladesh Betar (Radio) selected his song “Bish Shotoker Jontrona Bhora Gaan” as the best lyrics of the year. His songs were also regularly aired on Bangladesh Television & Radio.
* Through his work, he received training in video scriptwriting and film production in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
* He participated in numerous workshops organized by local and international media experts, including British Council’s Peter King, John River from World View International, documentary filmmaker and actress Estha D. Fassard from the USA, and actor Jack Boone. During this period, music and film were seen as the only powerful forms of art and expression, while poetry was considered a dead medium. This led to a temporary halt in his practice of poetry, and his focus shifted to cartoons and cover illustrations. However, he continued to write some message-based poems and rhymes for children's collections and special publications for student organizations.
* In 1974, he wrote his first film song for the country’s first color film “Badsha” produced by Azmal Huda Mithu. The song was “Premer O Ei Melate”. Later, he wrote lyrics for the film “Ghuddi”, directed by Syed Salahuddin Zaki, with music by Lucky Aakhand. He also contributed to numerous modern songs, band songs and folk music starting from the inception of audio musical cassettes in the country.
* In the 1980s, he returned to poetry, although his publications were minimal. From 1994 onwards, he reduced writing songs and focused more on screenwriting and poetry.
* In the 1990s, spurred by enthusiasm, he sent two of his poems to the renowned poet Sunil Gangopadhyay, the literary editor of Desh magazine in Kolkata, for reading. Unexpectedly, Sunil Gangopadhyay responded personally, expressing a desire to publish one of the poems. “Kabider Asor” was published in Desh magazine on June 14, 1997, marking a revival of his interest in poetry. He began writing new poems, some of which were later published in local newspapers.
* In 1999, the poetry collection “Ghum Kine Khai” was published by Madhukunj Prokashani, with his wife Suraiya Chowdhury serving as the chief patron of the book. The book was launched on December 7, 1999, in a private book release ceremony. The event featured insightful speeches by musician Shri Samar Das, poet Nirmalendu Goon, actress and singer Shampa Reza. Themes of the Poems in "Ghum Kine Khai":
** Inspiration from the Liberation War
** Strong sarcasm over the humiliation of the Liberation War
** Depicting the suffocating image of individuals and society within the context of the current social system and capitalism
** Concerns about the imbalance in the current world’s socialist system
** Portrayal of personal alienation, helplessness, loneliness, and chemical depression
** Inevitable existence of distant past and history in both tangible and intangible settings
** Reflections on life and the universe through the transparent lenses of science
** Personal events and experiences captured within the broad, significant framework of history
** The expression of the poems is not complicated or forced. Only a few poems may seem slightly mysterious due to the complexity of their subject matter.
** In some poems, intense anger and sarcasm are expressed in the crude, everyday language used by the marginalized, or in abusive language. The psychological reasons for this use of language may vary for different readers. While the poet’s freedom to express is unquestionable, it’s also important to respect the reader’s sensibilities and judgment.

## Publications

* Ghum Kine Khai
* Bhagya Janar Upay

## Death

Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury passed away on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 9:40 PM Bangladesh time, while undergoing treatment at the Dhanmondi Clinic in Dhaka at the age of 77 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. He was buried on 23 February 2022 at the Azimpur graveyard, Dhaka. Before burying, his funeral prayer was performed at Musjid-Ut-Taqwa in Dhanmondi.