Dilara Hashem (born as Khanom, August 25, 1935, to March 19, 2022) was a Bangladeshi author and novelist. She was one of the first Bengali writers to receive the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1976 for her work in literature. Her well-known books include Ekada Ebang Ananta, Stabdhatar Kane Kane, Amlakir Mou, Badami Bikeler Galpa, Kaktaliya, Shangkha Karat, Anukta Padabali, Sadar Andar, and Setu.

Early life

Dilara Khanom was born on August 25, 1936, in Jessore, Bengal Province, British India. Her parents were Shawkat Ara Khanom and Bazlur Rahman Khan. She had two brothers and four sisters, including Dilshad Khanom, Suraiya Khanom, and Shamimah Harun. She earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Dhaka.

Career

After finishing her education, Hashem began working at Radio Pakistan as a Bangla news presenter. Later, she worked as a news presenter at Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television. After Bangladesh became independent in 1971, she temporarily worked as a radio broadcaster for BBC Bangla and Voice of America (VOA) in 1972. In 1976, she started working full-time for the Bangla section of VOA and continued until her retirement in 2011.

Hashem’s first novel, Ghar Man Janala (meaning Home, Heart, Window), was published in 1965. The book was translated into Russian and Chinese and turned into a film in 1973.

In the mid-1970s, Hashem was part of a group of 1,100 women who filed a lawsuit against the United States Information Agency (which then managed VOA). She claimed that the Voice of America had unfair patterns of treating women differently, including denying her career opportunities in favor of less-qualified men. She also said she was replaced in a 1975 role, with the claim that budget cuts were the reason. After 23 years of legal action, the United States Department of State reached an agreement with the group in 2000. As part of this agreement, Hashem received more than $200,000 in back pay and interest.

Works

• Ghar Mon Janala (Houses, Hearts, and Windows, 1965)
• Ekoda Ebong Ananto (Once and Ever, 1975)
• Stabdhatar Kane Kane (Whispering to Silence, 1977)
• Amlokir Mou (The Sweet from the Bitterest, 1978)
• Badami Bikeler Galpo (Stories of a Brown Afternoon, 1983)
• Kaktaleya (Coincident, 1985)
• Mural (1986)
• Shankho Korat (Horns of a Dilemma, 1995)
• Anukta Padaboli (Unspoken Verses, 1998)
• Sador Andor (Outer and Inner Part, 1998)
• Setu (Bridge, 2000)

Awards

• Bangla Academy Literary Award (1976)
• Shankhachil Literary Award by North American Literary Society (1994)
• Cultural and Literary Inc. (1995)
• Anannya Literature Award (1998)
• Chokh Literary Award (2000)
• Bango Smmelan (Indian) Award (2000)
• Sarojini Naidu – Gold Medal for Literature (2003)
• Uttar Chicago Shitya Puraskar (1997)
• Alakto Gold Medal for Literature (2004)
• Muktadhhara–GFB Literary Award (2019)

Personal life and death

Dilara Hashem had three daughters named Nausheen Hashem, Seemeen Hashem, and Tahseen Hashem. Hashem lived in Bethesda, Maryland, United States.

Hashem passed away due to congestive heart failure at a hospital in Rockville, Maryland on March 19, 2022, at the age of 86 years old.