I still write for joy: Abul Hayat

For more than five decades, Abul Hayat has remained a constant presence in Bangladesh’s television drama and cinema. An accomplished actor, playwright and director, he continues to act in both television and film. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including the Ekushey Padak.
Alongside acting, writing has long been central to his creative life. He has authored short stories, novels and newspaper columns, with several books already published. At the upcoming Amar Ekushey Book Fair, three new titles by Abul Hayat are set to be released.
In a conversation with The Daily Star, the veteran artiste spoke primarily about his journey as a writer.
Recounting how it all began, Abul Hayat recalled his student days at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, where he served as general secretary of Sher-e-Bangla Hall.

“We were planning to publish a magazine, but no one was submitting any writing. There was simply nothing to print,” he said with a smile. “So I was asked to contribute a story. That put me in real trouble, because I had never written anything before.”
He eventually wrote a short love story. When more material was needed, he submitted a travel narrative. The magazine was published with both pieces.
“Unfortunately, I no longer have those first two writings,” he said. “In 1971, the Pakistani army set fire to our hall. Many things were destroyed, including that magazine. Even now, I wonder how I managed to start writing stories at all.”
Abul Hayat credits daily newspapers and fortnightly magazines with nurturing his writing career. At one point, Tarkalok was among the country’s most popular magazines. Its editor, Arefin Badal, encouraged him to write a column titled “Jibon Khatay Footnote”. “The response from readers was remarkable,” he said.

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He also wrote for Bichitra. “Arun Chowdhury once asked me to write for Bichitra, and that’s how it began,” he recalled. Later, he penned a long-running column titled “Esho Neepobone” for Prothom Alo. His first novel was “Trishnar Shasti”, followed by the short story collection “Ochena Tara”.
Asked what motivates him to write, Abul Hayat replied simply: “I write for the joy of it. Writing gives me pleasure. I’ve always loved reading stories and novels—this habit goes back to my childhood, and I still haven’t lost it.”
His earliest reading memories began with detective novels by Swapan Kumar. “I bought them for six annas,” he said. “Later, I started reading Sarat Chandra. Up to my matriculation exams, his books fascinated me deeply.”
He then turned to writers such as Banafool, Manik Bandopadhyay, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and Tarashankar Bandopadhyay. “‘Pather Panchali’ affected me profoundly,” he said. “I cried after reading ‘Aam Aatir Bhepu’. I couldn’t accept Durga’s death.”

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Even as an adult reader, certain works moved him deeply. “Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Chhuti’ made me cry as well,” he admitted. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the release of three new books by Abul Hayat at this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair. Two of the titles are “Elomelo Bhabnay Ashite Ashilam” and “Ghor”. The third, “Jugalbandi”, will be published by a different house and is a joint work by novelist Rabeya Khatun and Abul Hayat.
After decades of artistic achievement, Abul Hayat continues to write; not out of obligation or ambition, but for the enduring joy that words bring him.