Anwara Syed Haq wins Anonya Literary Award

Dr Anwara Syed Haq receives 'Anonya Literary Award 1413' from Prof Kabir Chowdhury at National Museum auditorium in the city yesterday. Anonya Editor Tasmima Hossain, second from left, Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, extreme left, and former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal, extreme right, are also seen. PHOTO: STAR

The fortnightly Anonya organised the award giving ceremony at Sufia Kamal auditorium of National Museum in the city.

Dr Anwara received a crest and Tk 50, 000 from the chief guest Prof Kabir Chowdhury.

Dr Anwara, professionally a psychologist, is the 12th authoress to receive the award. She has written in various forms of literature that includes novel, short story, essay, travelogue, autobiography and child literature.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal and Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam addressed the function as special guests presided over by Anonya Editor Tasmima Hossain.

While discussing the literary works of Dr Anwara, author and publisher Mofidul Haque said that the reflection of profession is prevalent in Anwara's writing through which she enters into the deep insight of the whole society.

Sultana Kamal said multidimensional identities of human being in different contexts, including society and politics, are visible in Dr Anwara's literary works.

Referring to Dr Anwara as an active supporter of the War of Liberation, Sultana said the country needs such activists now when a leading political party is yielding to communalism.

However, Kabir Chowdhury hoped that the concerned political party would retreat from its decision to surrender before communalism.

Dr Anwara in her speech claimed that she is no feminist but she focuses on women since the society is unable to pay due respect to womenfolks.

"Women across the country are deprived of their rights," she said, adding that she wanted to write about people who are repressed.