Mirzaq Biqtash (13 June 1945 – 2 January 2021) (Arabic:مرزاق بقطاش), Algerian writer and novelist. He published more than fifteen novels, translations, and short stories. His last work was the novel "The Rain Writers His Biography", which won the Assia Djebar Prize for Fiction in its third session, 2017. He died on 2 January 2021, at the age of 75.
Mirzaq Biqtash | |
|---|---|
| مرزاق بقطاش | |
| Born | 13 June 1945 Algiers, Algeria |
| Died | 2 January 2021 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | Algerian |
| Education | BA in Translation |
| Alma mater | University of Algiers |
| Occupation(s) | writer, novelist, journalist |
| Years active | 1976–2021 |
Education and career
editMirzaq Biqtash was born on 13 June 1945 in the Ain Al-Badra neighborhood in the Algiers. He began learning Arabic from a young age in the publish schools which were supervised by the Association of Algerian Muslims, and learned French in regular French public schools. He studied at the University of Algiers and obtained a bachelor's degree in translation from Arabic-French-English. He began his career as a journalist in 1962. He worked in many Arabic and French newspapers including Algerian News Agency, Al-Watan newspaper, Al-Mujahid, Al-Sha’ab and others.[1][2]
Biqtash started reading since he was young. He began reading the Quran first, and then old books and stories such as "One Thousand and One Nights". He published his first work in 1962, when he translated chapters from the book "Earth and Blood" by the Algerian writer Mouloud Feraoun. In 1976, he published his first novel.[2]
Biqtash published more than fifteen novels, including his latest novel "The Rain Writes His Biography" which won the Assia Djebar Prize for Novel at its third session in 2017. He was a member of the Supreme Council for Media, the Supreme Council for Education, and the National Consultative Council.[3]
In 1993, Biqtash was subjected to an assassination attempt by a terrorist group during the Civil war in Algeria. He was hit by a bullet in the head.[4]
Death
editBiqtash died on 2 January 2021, at the age of 75.[5]
Awards
edit- 2017: his novel "The Rain Writes His Biography" won the Assia Djebar Prize.
References
edit- ^ Talbi, Mouhamed Amine. "الكاتب مرزاق بقطاش في حوار شامل للنصر". Quotidien ANNASR (in French). Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ a b "وفاة مرزاق بقطاش حكيم الرواية الجزائرية". جائزة كتارا للرواية العربية (in Arabic). 4 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ ""مرزاق بقطاش" يتوج بجائزة آسيا جبار للرواية". الحوار الجزائرية (in Arabic). 22 December 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "فاة الكاتب والصحفي مرزاق بقطاش بعد صراع مع المرض". الوسط الجزائرية (in Arabic). 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ 3 January 2021. "و فاة الصحفي ، الكاتب والروائي ، مرزاق بقطاش". Al Qalem. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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