Hossain, Shahadat (1893-1953) journalist and litterateur, was born in the village of Panditpol in 24-Parganas, West Bengal. After studying up to Class VII at Hoogli Collegiate School, he taught school for some time. He then moved to Kolkata where he became librarian of the bangiya mussalman sahitya samiti (1911). He worked as assistant editor of the monthly saogat, as joint editor of the monthly Sahachar, and as assistant editor of the daily soltan and the weekly Moslem Jagat.

Shahadat Hossain was imprisoned for four months for his involvement in the civil disobedience movement in 1931. After his release he became associated with the theatre and performed at various theatres including shishir kumar bhaduri's Natyamandir. After partition he joined the Dhaka station of Radio Pakistan and edited its fortnightly magazine Elan. He also worked as a radio artiste but was removed from service for his adverse comments on mohammed ali jinnah and pakistan.

Though Shahadat Hossain was primarily a poet he was equally active in other genres. His volumes of poetry include Mrdanga (1928), Kalpalekha (1929) and Rupachchhanda (1950). His major plays include Sarfaraj Khan (1919), Hiranlekha (1920), Parer Path (1920), Svamir Bhul (1921), Sonar Kakan (1923), Yuger Alo (1924), Rikta (1927), Pather Dekha (1929), Kantaful (1930) and Masnader Moha (1946). Rupayan (1933) is a collection of his short stories. He also wrote books for children: Chheleder Galpa (1924) and Mohan Bhog (1924). In all these writings he depicted the Muslim heritage. In the fifties, his Rupachchhanda and Masnader Moha were prescribed texts in the Bengali department of Dhaka University. Shahadat Hossain was conferred the titles of 'Kavikul Shiromani' and 'Purnendu' by Basirhat Vani Sangha. He died in Kolkata on 30 December 1953. [Wakil Ahmed]