Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah is a Bengali poet, notable for his romantic and revolutionary poetry. He is considered one of the remarkable poets of the 1970s. He was born on October 16 of 1956 in Barishal and died at the age of only 34 on June 21 in 1991. Some of his widely read works are- Upodruto Upokul, Fire Pai Swarnogram, Manusher Manchitro, Chhobal, Diyechhile Shokol Akash, and Moulik Mukhosh.
He was an ardent protester in the movements against the autocratic regimes after 1975. He constantly raised voice against the autocrats and religious bigotries throughout his life. His poetry is filled with issues like Liberation War of Bangladesh, Mass Movement, patriotism, secularism and amity among different communities.
In 1981 Rudra tied knot with Taslima Nasreen, another noted feminist writer and poet of Bangladesh who is exiled for her voice against religious bigots since 1994. Their conjugal life came to an end in 1988. After their separation, Rudra wrote one of the widely popular songs ‘Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko’ (I am well, you take care of yourself …) which is assumed as a suicide note to Taslima Nasrin.
Rudra received Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award in 1980. In 1997, he was awarded ‘Bangladesh Cholochitro Sangbadik Samity’ award posthumously.
