Himu
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Himu (Bengali: হিমু) is a popular fictional character created by the popular Bangladeshi writer Humayun Ahmed who appears in a disjunct series of novels.
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[edit] Naming
Himu's real name is Himalaya. When Himu was young, his psychopathic father killed his mother so as to prevent her from interfering with the way he intended to bring him up. Himu is a shortened form of Himalaya. His father named him Himalaya because the Himalayas symbolized greatness. He could have also been named Akash (Sky), but the sky cannot be touched.
Although it is mentioned in the novels that the name "Himu" is short for Himalay,Humayun Ahmed said he actually derived Himu from his own name,Humayun.When asked whether Himu is his alter ego, he said that he is half Himu, and half Misir Ali (another popular character from his books). In the foreword to one of his books, he mentioned that while writing stories about Himu, he feels that he himself is Himu and this feeling isn't there when he is writing any other book.
[edit] Appearance
Himu is a young man whose age may be between 25 to 35. His appearance is odd. He always wears a yellow Punjabi and walks barefoot. His cousin "Badal" is highly influenced by Himu's vagabond lifestyle and Badal tries to imitate Himu all the time. It's possible that some readers find his strange behavior annoying or just bizarre e.g. having cockroach soup or fleeing with his uncle's Mercedes. Despite that, in every book Himu is trying to improve the human condition using his `anti-logic'.
[edit] Life style
Himu lives like a vagabond or a gypsy. He does not have job and, therefore, no source of income. He prefers the life of a beggar than that of a hard worker, often praising begging. However, Himu walks endlessly- never using any forms of transportation. He likes to meet people from odd walks of life and charm (or perplex) unsuspecting people with prophetic comments or counter-intuitive remarks. He remains unnerved when caught in awkward situation.
His father wanted to make him a "Mahapurush" (a great man, possibly with supernatural powers) by raising him in an environment for him to understand the dark side of human nature. Later, when Himu grew up he thought that his father was not a psychopath, and he was right to try to make Himu a "Great Philosopher". Moreover, it is seen that Himu often develops ambivalent feelings towards his father- often thinking that he failed his task and at other times thinking the other way round.
According to Sa'd Bin Ard Himu's lifestyle is a bit like those of the iliasi tablig jamat, for they roam from places to places constantly.
[edit] Personality
Himu is decidedly eccentric. This makes him popular with teenagers. The way he responds to different and seemingly unwanted situations is unusual and unpredictable. For instance, he can give a 500 Taka note to a beggar or a rickshaw-puller or he can spend a night in rail station - acts which are totally random.
Himu has a rare courage of speaking the truth before powerful poeple.
He also attracts people by his great sense of humour.
[edit] Prophetic power
Himu appears to have the power to prophesise. Although he dismisses it as mere coincidences. Some people think Himu has similarity with the characters created by a Dostoyevsky. Himu has a girlfriend named Rupa whom he hardly contacts.
[edit] Evolution of Himu
The first book having Himu as a central character was Mayurakkhi published in May 1990. Since then as many as 23 books have been written by the writer with Himu as the protagonist.
In the recent stories of Himu, his super natural powers are increasing. In the early novels he tricked people by his influencing presence, and he lead them to a pre-determined future (he set up the situation, as people didn't know, they thought that as a supernatural power, i.e. "Chole Jay Boshonter Din") but now he can make an infertile woman pregnant by the breath of his mouth. Some fans are worried about his metamorphosis, they do not want him to be a mystic but they want him to remain the old funny Himu.
[edit] Himu as a protagonist
Himu can be considered as a protagonist that has been created by Humayun Ahmed as a silent but powerful protest to modern human personality. The common traits of modern man, namely, ambition, greed, opportunism, self-mindedness, materialsm, compliance, fear of the state and police, lie, hypocrisy and trickery are conspicuous in Himu by their total absence. Himu is smart because he can stand up to any situation but he does not try to be smart by conventional norms. He lives in the present and is not obsessed with the future. He does not suffer from sense of guilt which is a common feature of modern psychology. The author's approach in creating the character is unbiased. Nevertheless it has turned out to be impressionistic. The young adults of Bangladesh and West Bengal(India) are highly inspired by the uncorrupted spirit envisaged in Himu's character.
[edit] Cultural links
He seems to have links with and influences from the tradition of ancient sages in India. In one of the books on Himu there is a verse, attahi attano natho..., from the Buddhist Dhammapada. Thus the personality of Himu, who seems to be untouched by the ambitions of worldly gains, has links with Buddhist philosophy. Humayun Ahmed is a genius and he does it totally up to date with the modern taste.
[edit] Novels About Himu
- Mayurakkhi (ময়ূরাক্ষী) (published in May 1990 by Anannya Publications)
- Darojar Opashe (দরজার ওপাশে)
- Himu (হিমু) (published in February 1993 by Protik Publications)
- Parapar (পারাপার)
- Ebong Himu... (এবং হিমু...)
- Himur Hate Kaekti Neelpadmo (হিমুর হাতে কয়েকটি নীল পদ্ম)
- Himur Dwiteeyo Prohor (হিমুর দ্বিতীয় প্রহর)
- Himur Roopalee Ratri (হিমুর রূপালী রাত্রি)
- Ekjon Himu Kaekti Jhin Jhin Poka (একজন হিমু কয়েকটি ঝিঁ ঝিঁ পোকা) (published in May 1999 by Pearl Publications)
- Tomader Ei Nagore (তোমাদের এই নগরে)
- Chole Jay Basonter Din (চলে যায় বসন্তের দিন)
- Se Ase Dheere (সে আসে ধীরে)
- Angul Kata Joglu (আঙ্গুল কাটা জগলু)
- Holud Himu Kalo Rab (হলুদ হিমু কালো র্যাব)
- Aaj Himur Biye (আজ হিমুর বিয়ে) (published in February 2007 by Anyaprokash Publications)
- Himu Remande (হিমু রিমান্ডে) (published in February 2008 by Anyaprokash Publications)
- Himur Ekanto Shakhkhatkar O Onnannyo (হিমুর একান্ত সাক্ষাতকার ও অন্যান্য)
- Himur Modhodupur (হিমুর মধ্যদুপুর) (published in June 2009 by Annesha Publications)
- Himur Babar Kothamala(হিমুর বাবার কথামালা) (published in June 2009 by Annesha Publications)
- Himur Neel Jotsna (হিমুর নীল জোছনা) (published in February 2010 by Anyaprokash Publications)
- Himur Ache Jol (হিমুর আছে জল) (published in February 2011 by Anyaprokash Publications)
- Himu Ebong Ekti Russian Pori (হিমু এবং একটি রাশিয়ান পরী) (published in February 2011 by জ্ঞানকোষ প্রকাশনী)
- Himu Ebong Harvard Ph.D. Boltu Bhai (published in August 2011)
