Life Sketch of Natyaguru Nurul Momen

 

Nurul Momen (25th November, 1908- 16th February, 1990) (Sobriquet: - Natyaguru and Gurudev).

               

               Nurul Momen was an educationist, playwright, director, humorist, lawyer, broadcaster, philanthropist and essayist of Bangladesh. He pioneered modernism in the theatre of Bangladesh and was the dramatist and director of the first couple of modern plays of East Bengal. He was also the playwright and director of the first experimental play of Bangladesh. It is almost incomprehensible today, to reckon how much difficulty and hindrance he had to endure for establishing a theatrical and performing-arts identity of the then conservative, predominantly Muslim  Bangladesh. For his contributions to drama he has been bestowed with the title of “Natyaguru” [The master-tutor of drama]. He was referred to as the ‘Gurudev’ since his legendary radio drama series ‘Hing Ting Chot’.  He was also the pioneer of Satirical Essays in Bangladesh. It is unprecedented to be the pioneer in two fields of literature. Nurul Momen paved the way for modern Bangla dramas and satirical essays of the post-forties.