Today is the 90th anniversary of the birth of eminent novelist Showkat Ali.

Born in West Bengal in British India on February 12, 1936, Showkat Ali, in his first novel, Pingal Akash, portrayed the coarseness of the urban middle class, and its immoral craving for riches.

His ‘Pradose Prakritajan’, based on history, is a unique addition to Bangla fiction.

Showkat Ali’s trilogy, ‘Dakshinayaner Din’, ‘Kulay Kalasrot’ and ‘Purbaratri Purbadin’, based on the basis of dreams and political aspirations of the Bengali people of the sixties, also earned him praise from readers.

An award-winning film was also made on his creation titled Uttarer Khep, based on the War of Independence.

In the novel ‘Warish’, he depicted the British rule in the Indian subcontinent, the separation of India and Pakistan and the riot between the Hindus and the Muslims.

For his contribution to Bangla literature, the fiction writer received the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Literary Award, Humayun Kabir Memorial Award, Ajit Guha Literary Award, Philips Literary Award and Alaol Literary Award.

Showkat Ali passed away on January 25, 2018.