The search engine giant Google has created a Google Doodle—alteration of the Google logo— celebrating the 108th anniversary of the birth of renowned late Bangladeshi poet Sufia Kamal.
It posted the doodle—which featured a picture of Sufia Kamal wearing a white sari—on its Bangladeshi homepage early on Thursday, paying tribute to her memory.
Google Doodles are created to celebrate holidays; anniversaries; plus the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.
A pioneer in the movement for women’s emancipation in Bangladesh, Sufia Kamal was born on June 20, 1911, into the Shayestabad Nawab family, in Barisal.
On the occasion of the poet’s birthday, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages paying tribute to the memory of Sufia Kamal.
Sufia Kamal was the founding president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, and she played an active role in all progressive movements in the country, the president added.
“Her life and literary work inspires the new generations, and she will remain a source of inspiration for the youth forever,” President Abdul Hamid further said.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “I convey my profound respect to the memory of Begum Sufia Kamal—one of the pioneers of progressive, democratic, and women’s emancipation movements in Bangladesh—on the occasion of her 108th birth anniversary.”
The prime minister also said Sufia Kamal played an uncompromising role in every movement in Bangladesh.
Begum Sufia Kamal died in Dhaka on November 20, 1999. She was buried at Azimpur Graveyard with full state honours. Her work includes: “Sanjher Maya,” “Maya Kajal,” “Mon O Jibon,” “Shanti O Pranthana,” “Udatto Brithibi,” and “Diwan.”
