Children’s Poet Sukumar Barua Dies

Ekushey Padak–winning children’s poet Sukumar Barua has died, marking the end of an era in Bengali juvenile literature. He passed away at 6:55 a.m. on Friday at JK Memorial Hospital in Gahira, in the Rauzan upazila of Chattogram, after a prolonged battle with multiple age-related ailments. He was 88, according to family and hospital sources.

Barua’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from writers, educators and cultural organisations across Bangladesh, many of whom credit him with shaping generations of young readers through playful language, rhythmic verse and an unfailing sense of wonder. For nearly six decades, his rhymes delighted children while quietly nurturing a love for the Bengali language.

Born on 5 January 1938 in the village of Madhyam Binajuri in Rauzan, Chattogram, Sukumar Barua grew up in a culturally rooted household. His father, Sarbananda Barua, and mother, Kiran Bala Barua, encouraged learning and creativity, values that would later find expression in his literary life. Though literature became his calling, his professional career followed a different path. In 1962, he joined the University of Dhaka as a fourth-grade employee and served the institution with quiet dedication until his retirement as a storekeeper in 1999.

Alongside his day job, Barua cultivated a prolific literary career. His verses appeared regularly in leading children’s magazines such as Kochi-Kachar Asar, Khelaghar and Mukuler Mahfil. Over time, his distinctive voice—marked by humour, musicality and keen observation of childhood—earned him a unique place in Bengali children’s literature.

His bibliography is extensive and beloved, encompassing titles such as Lej Abiskar, Chhotoder Haat, Pagla Ghora, Bhije Beral, Nanar Ronger Din, Sukumar Baruar 101 Ti Chhora, Priyo Chhora Shotok, Nodir Khela, Juktoborno, Chandanar Pathshala and Jiboner Bhetore Baire. Several compilations, including the two-volume Sukumar Baruar Chhorashombhar, helped cement his reputation as a master of rhyme.

In recognition of his contribution to language and literature, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the Ekushey Padak in 2017. He also received numerous other honours, reflecting both critical acclaim and popular affection.

Key Facts at a Glance

Sukumar Barua leaves behind a body of work that continues to sing on the tongues of children—an enduring legacy of joy, rhythm and imagination.