The New Nation - Internet Edition

Nirupama

Anup Saha

One:

On went a group of people to a village. Their talking, if it was heard from outside, seemed that they were coming back from a nearby market. The way where did it stop at localities, a field soon after started from there and next to it was the village. The moving people, leaving off the way, downed to the field quickly. As soon as they were in the field, a fire was seen flaming on, from a crematory platform. Some people had gathered rounding it. Inquisitively, someone from the departing people asked.

"Whose cremation is going on?"

"Nirupama's." Someone answered from the gathering sheepishly.

"Nirupama?" The man frowned and tried to figure out the girl. But he could not figure her out. He confusedly asked her again, "Who is Nirupama?"

"She is a daughter of Sudhan and reads at class nine." "Oh!" He fell into trouble as he could not recognise him. He asked him again, "Is he from the east part or the west part?"

"He is from the north part," the man answered him gravely. The man did not finish his question yet, he went on asking, "How does she die?"

"She has committed suicide by hanging."

"Committed suicide by hanging! That means a case of self-killing?" The man feared by the thought of the dreadful event. He then suckled his tongue time and again and nodded his head from left to right.

The question and answer, when got its impetus, someone from the gathering shouted. Say it, Lord is merciful (Hari Hari Bolo). The boy who did the shouting had the frailty in his voice, as if, a pain had bequeathed from his heart. The others answered following through him in an unusual way. Be the Lord with us (Hari Bol).

The racketing went on for three times. No sooner had the shouting did end than the group of the people went away to the village hurriedly.

Few people, as the shouting stopped, began to sing a devotional song beating the kohl (long shaped drum) and kartals (a pair of round shaped metal instrument). "Lord, my days have passed out, night have fallen and take me away .. " Others were trying to cry out at the sad demise of Nirupama in a nasal voice. Nirupama's parents were besieged with grief at the unexpected decision of their daughter. Tears were not rolling down from eyes anymore; it had dried up because of the heavy downpour. Now they turned into statues and starring at the flames of the cremation.

In this evening, the people who downed to the field were mostly boys and they were facing the platform in front. There were, in the gathering, some older people also.

A fierce looking man was raising fire by a long bamboo section as to cremate the flesh of the young body. The fire had not yet full-blown, just began to stirring up. The dead body, before placing on the cremation, was cleaned up and new cloth was put over the body. The loincloth, usually did not match well with her olive coloured body though, today she looked very elegant and well groomed. She was good to see as a new bride.

The fire drove up quickly from the bottom like of a glowing spire and caught the cloth from the bottom. With its annihilating power, fire advanced and began to grasp the cloth. When it came onto her bosom it swallowed the cloth over her full sized breasts and aptly made the bosom bare breasted. The young boys were observing the very insalubrious playing of the fire with snooping.

Nirupama was reading at class nine - she attended the school at her advantaged stage - she looked grown up. The old people, looking at the scenarios, turned their faces back and went away to other directions.

In the dim light, when the young boys, were in trance by the decaying beauties, someone roared from the group. Fiercely from the crowd,

"Say it, Lord is merciful. "

The hollowness again racketed in his voice, as a ragged lute. With perplexed expressions, boys answered, "Be the Lord with us. "The fire grasped what he could grasp. It immediately burnt the worldly body and de-figured the sweet soft human being.

Two:

Sudhan was a poor amateurish family man. The family meant nothing but of a poor household. He inherited few bighas of lands from his forefathers and nothing remained. He had gradually sold out the lands. Among remnants were only the household and few kitchen gardens.

Now, he toiled in other men's land and toiling was not available. He had to work on what he could manage. The family did not go on well - he had no fixed income. But Sudhan had a pastime he loved open-air opera performance. In his youth, he was a player of an open-air opera and received acclamation from the people. He couldn't forget all those sweet memories, a mood hanged on to him as soon as the evening caste down; he could remember the dialogues from the "Chandra Shekhor" (drama). In this drudgery, he had to go to the nearby town to fulfil his dream. For his lavishness, he had to quarrel with family members as he spent out the required money for the family. The women sometimes was not lit up - they had to starve. He could not restrain himself from this extravagance and for this they had to starve. Sudhan knew that his human faculties would die if he did close to see them all. It seemed to him that he had died out already and if he lost it he would obliterate all his way of life permanently. What would remain to him? He thought - there would be a skeleton only but no life.

Among three children, Nirumpa was the eldest, and brilliant. Studious. She had to go to a school of two kilometres far. There was no school in her village. The way to the school ran through a forest and she had to walk down the whole forest to go to the school. There were houses on the way to the school but did not help. She had to go to the school and came back upto class seven alone. Sometimes, Sudhan or villagers going to the bazaar accompanied her. Nothing fearful happened nobody told anything - people saw her with eagle eyes.

Sarder para lay beside the big forest between the dwelling place and the school. Narumpa heard boys of Sarder para are brutal - they looted things - killed people and raped girls in the broad day light. When she passed the forest she shivered from an unknown eerie sensation. A fear chased her, anything unnatural could happen.

Boys of Sarderpara didn't do any harm to her when she was in class eight even. They laughed at her only. That laughing seemed to Nirupama that there was a temptation and beneath it had a relationship between a prey and a predator. One day Nirupama told her mother, "I fear when 1 pass by the Sarderpara, and you do not accompany with me!"

Nirupama's mother asked warily to her daughter, "Has anything wrong happened?"

"No. Nothing of that sort." "Then?"

"The boys of Sarderpara always laugh at me and that laughing grows my fear."

"You should be very cautious when you pass the forest and try to avoid them," her mother warned her grimly.

Three:

Nirupama, student of class nine, was now a young girl.

Her body had fully blossomed. Though she was mix complexioned yet she had an attraction - everybody loves her.

The first term examination of class nine had started, seven examinations out of ten had completed - three were left. After examination, when she was returning home, it was nearly evening. No one was on the road. The winter evening had come down quickly. It looked like a deep night. She walked down to the forest quivering and heard a crackle sound in the forest. Nirupama shivered from an unknown fear. She looked around in fright and finding no one around she thought to be creatures walking on the leaves. She began to walk speedily to cross away the forest. Today was a bad day for her - her mother had quarrelled with her father. She left home without taking any food as there was nothing to eat - her examination was not good enough - as her concentration was not intensified. Nirupa walked down safely for some time but her safety wasn't well corroborated. Advancing few steps she saw the boys of Sarderpara were hiding behind the trunks of the trees. They clutched her mouth and tied up by the cloth she was wearing. Nirupama tried to resist them with her remaining strength. A groaning sound came out through her tied mouth. They took her inside the forest and began to take off her clothes.

Dabir Sheikh was planning to fetch the cow from the forest for a long time but he could go out. His pegs were not fitted properly. He was a carpenter. The cow was making noises to come back home, as it was dusk already. On his way home, Dabir Sheikh heard the scuffles in the forest and a groaning sound was raising from there. He advanced to that direction to see what was going on. Seeing the boys in the dim night and their position inside the forest, he understood what was going on. Dabir Sheikh made a bully in the air and people of the nearby places came running to the forest. The boys left half-fed Nirupama when they saw people began to venture.

Nirumapa was rescued. Iramoti, Nirupama's mother, came hurriedly to the place when she knew the matter. She floated in tears holding her daughter and promised in broken hearted that she would not send her daughter to the school again. She reviled her husband violently,

"Didn't 1 tell you that 1 would not send my daughter for schooling? Who cares me? She would be made judges or barristers! Now see! What would happen to her if Dabir uncle would not go to fetch the cow!"

Iramoti told all those things to her husband in lamentation slapping her head fearing at the dreadful event that could happen to her daughter.

Four:

Nirupama was in her captivity nearly one year. People insinuate her as a seduced girl when they saw her. Off late she doesn't talk with her mother spontaneously. Her mother exchanged unspeakable words and scolds her for negligible reasons. Nirupama lost her mental strength. She began to think herself as a social outcast.

Her marriage was about to settle down but couldn't settle up, as the groom's party lost their interest taking Nirumpa as a bride. The girl who was abducted by the boys of Sarderpara to rape could her be taken as a bride for their son! Arrangements broke down three times. The hope of light she saw each time sneaked away at a snail's pace.

In her eyes life is now full of darkness, hopeless and fearful. Gradually her moving lines narrowed down and nipped out from the stalk. She does not know the way of life - yet she desires it now. The known boundary is hostile - fearful.

Five:

Nirupama searched her way out. She fell in love with a tall and shaped tree. She considered him as her groom. In one quiet evening she wore a banarashi shari, put conch bangles on hands, gave vermilion on the halves of the hair and stood before the tree. She bowed at him in obeisance and climbed up the tree to mate him. She was shivering from extreme fright and excitement. She melted in emotion and then leaned forward to his embracement. The moon was then glinting above the head. She took all her clothes off from her body. She was fully naked now. She showed her naked body to the moon. The moon loved her - adored her. The playing with the moon underwent the whole night and stopped one time. Still body was swaying in the breeze.

Someone went out of the house in a shadowy dawn. He saw a body was hanging on a tree in blur. Then he saw the body was of a young woman and finally discovered that the body was of Nirupama's. When the body was descended down from the tree - everybody saw vermillion on his head, conch bangles on her hands and banarasi on her neck. Sudhan broke down on her daughter's cold body and floated in tears. He anguished for his daughter's decision. His misfortunes had now swapped to her daughter. Those who experienced a stain in her disrepute, today they witnessed Nirupama is a sacrosanct, simple and untainted girl.

Thief

Mohammad Shahidul Islam

Personae in the Play:

Shumi: a maid servant, 12 years old, lean and thin, clever, is working in a house at Gulshan. She has joined the house recently

Farid: a young businessman

Nipa: the businessman's wife, happy and simple, knows nothing what her husband's business is.

[The scene is set at the bed room of the businessman. It is 8 o'clock at night. Electricity is away. The room is dark. They all await electricity. The window is open. They see each other through the natural light of outside. The southern wind appeases them. The businessman is sitting on a stool near the balcony door facing the Gulshan Lake. Willingly they do not fire up the candle or switch on charge light, even IPS.]

Farid: Oh No! Once again; electricity has gone? No No, I will not stay in this country more. What's wrong with the government?

Nipa: Why you are blaming the government and the country? It is load -shedding.

Shumi [from another room]: At our village, there is no electricity at all…

[Farid is not aware of Shumi's particular so far, her voice is not also familiar as she has joined recently]

Farid: Who is talking there?

Nipa: Shumi; the girl I have brought from village.

Farid: Oh! Shumi? Call her… let me talk.

[Shumi closes to Farid and sits on the floor. She is not afraid of her master, knows no courtesy, takes everything easy]

Shumi: Here I am.

Farid: Oh, fine! I did not have time to talk to you. Where is your village?

Shumi: At Rajbari.

Farid: I know, I know; but where?

Shumi: At Pangsha.

Farid: I see! Do you have parents? What is your father?

Shumi: My father? My father was a thief…

[Farid smiles away the word 'thief"]

Farid: Thief? What you are talking…thief? Your father is a thief!

Hey Nipa, you appointed a thief's girl? [Laughing]

Nipa: Oh; drop the idea …She is not a thief. [Nipa seems, she knows her story earlier]

Shumi: Yes! My father was a thief. He died 2 years back. My uncle said, RAB killed her at Jessore. He was a member of an anti-social gang. I have never seen my father at my mature age. Once I had seen him when he divorced my mother. But I can not recall him clearly.

[She does not feel shy to entitle her father a thief. Rather she finds pleasure to tell so or she does not have any feeling about thiefdom. She continues with smiling]

Farid: Really sad! So, what's about your mother?

Shumi: Mother? I have many mothers?

Farid: Many mothers? What does it mean?

Shumi: My father married 8 times. I have some step brothers and sisters.

[She again finds interest to continue. She smiles without hesitation. She becomes really bland to keep her parents sophisticated. She is playing with her fingers and looks indulged; continuing innocent smile with no future]

Nipa: Please stop it! What needs to know these?

Farid: Please let me know. Shumi is so interesting! Her father was a thief [laughing], she has many mothers…

Ok! What about your real mother! Is she alive?

Shumi: She committed suicide 10 months back. She took poison! My original father did not keep in touch with my mother. After divorce, she had been arranged to get married off to another man. She put me at my grandmother's house. The man was not also good. He played cards at Bazaar. He sold lands and my mother's gold for playing cards. He always beats my mother, renders severe physical pain.

Farid: Oh my God! So sad! Then; with whom you lived before coming here?

Shumi: With my grand mother?

Farid: Well! What she does? How is she?

Shumi: She becomes older. She does not have much ability to work. Now, she begs from door to doort

Farid: Beggar! You don't have any uncle?

Shumi: I have one uncle? He is a drunkard. Doctor said he will die soon! Many people have registered cases against him at local police station. He is absconding.

[The Doorbell rings on.]

Nipa: Shumi, look; who has come there?

Shumi: Ok, I am looking.

[Shumi leaves the scene]

Nipa: Aha! The girl is so innocent! How you are enjoying her story? Rather, you should sympathize. Misfortune!

Farid: Really! I am talking to a thief's girl. New experience! But remember; you should be careful of valuable things around. The experience with these sorts of maid servants around the country is not good. They run away having valuable things. After all, she is daughter of a renowned thief. So be careful, be careful.

Shumi [Enters the scene]: Some people are looking for Farid. Who is Farid? They have told that Farid is criminal, thief and smuggler! Who is Farid? I don't know. Do you know?

Farid: Hey stupid, what are you taking? [Shouting] Who are they?

[Tension has captured him immediately] Tell them, I am coming.

Shumi: They have told that they are police.

Farid, Nipa [Together]: Police! Why? [With utter surprise]

Farid: Nipa! What has happened? I can not understand. You meet them; tell them I am not at home. [Shuddering with fear]

Nipa: Why you are afraid? You are not a thief? So what's wrong with you?

Farid: You will not understand. Something is for sure wrong [Smattering]. I feel thirsty. Give me a glass of water. Close the door.

Nipa: Tell me exactly, what's wrong? Are you a thief?

Farid: Yes! Dear! I am a thief. I forged a big amount of money from Bank last week. Please do not misunderstand me. I am a big thief in this society.

Nipa: What! [Looks pale]

Shumi: So your name is Farid! Are you thief too like my father? [Laughing]. Please be cool, no one has come. I am just joking! No police at all! Some pest boy pressed the Doorbell… [Laughing].

Last night I overheard your telephonic conversation with the bank manager from the drawing room's telephone set. The manager was to inform the police about your forgery. Right?

[Electricity appears. Light is on]

Book Review

Matribilap (Lamentation for mother)/Mohammad Khorshed Ali. Publisher : Monowara Rahman, Monowara Prokashoni O Pustak Bikroy Kendra, Khilgaon Chowdhurypara , Dhaka. Omar Ekushey Boimela 2008. Cover and compose : Md. Shamsuzzoha Rubel. Printing : Ekota Offset Printers, Babubazar, Dhaka. Price :Tk. 100.00 US$ 5. Books available at Jatiyo Gronthokendra (National Book Centre) and other book stalls. Dedicated to poet's wife, Hafiza Khatun.

Matribilap is a long poem running through the book, having 10 parts. As it has ten parts, we may rather introduce the book as a poetry comprising of ten poems though it is a continuation whole through. However, the theme in the book is wailing for the departed mother. The poet said that the poetry in the book reflects his lamentation for his loving departed mother, whom he lost in the early youth. It was the first and the most shocking incident in his life.

The opinion of writer Prof. Alamgir Jalil is important to focus on the depth of this poetry. In the introduction he commented : "Still Matribilap is personal and universal." None can differ, because, the poetry, though personal, has an universal appeal as it represents the pangs of sorrow of son/daughter who has lost a mother. After the sad demise of his mother, the poet, overwhelmed with sorrow and pain, created the verses. The rhythmic expression of thought speaks of all who have had such experience.

Introducing the poet M. Mizanur Rahman, an eminent writer, Monowara Prokashoni said, "The readers of his poetry will feel the unending pangs of sorrow in the rhythmic poems." Actually, the poetry here has a tragic appeal to the readers, specially to those who have lost their mothers. The poet could successfully present the cry of those hearts.

All the past sorrows of the world, as if, have got language and are expressing the feeling of heart. (P. 35) The poetry has universal appeal in many stanzas.

The book has a humanistic touch, where the poet depicts his mother's philanthropic activities. He asks his departed mother whether she would again extend her helping hands to the orphans, if they stood at her door. (P. 32)

We expect wide circulation of the book.

-- Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

Poem

Touch of love

Waheed Murad

One

I was absorbed

In tilling that day

Tilling of my mind

As in the woodland

I was startled

With the touch of love

When the string was

Torn from my kite.

Two

The Earth is heavily loaded

Yet she remains mute

She is dearer than

The mother

But human being possesses

To be unawared of.

Three

He also moved to the moon

In quest of God.

When you play on flute

Showing love for the mankind

He (God) exists besides you.

Personality

Md. Maiz Uddin

Personality deserves quality to strengthen mind

Education serves purity of physique of thine

That will boost up heartiest co-operation

For every human body for salvation.

Performance done to Almighty at one's will

Individually can help one in due time

To cure and survive the helpless in shrine

By speaking truth and just for destiny

Personality reserves the quality

And makes one strong brightly

To hold in fate lastly.

A personified individual is an angel

Respected by all, after all

Pass away his breath for eternity

To leave material world for ever

Just to gain heavenly touch

And to come back never.