The New Nation - Internet Edition

Remembering Manik Bandopadhyay

Mohammad Shahidul Islam

This 19th May is the 100th birth anniversary of Manik Bandopadhyay, one of the most central and powerful novelists in Bengali literature. He was a jewel to Bengali literature and metaphorically kept the literal meaning of his first name "Manik". His 100th birth anniversary is very significant for Bengali literary lovers for celebrating 100 years hallmark of a Bengali literary maestro, and thing like the event to celebrate 100th birth anniversary is of course a subject of pride and honor to any epoch-making writer.

Manik Bandopadhyay was born on 19th May, 1908 in Santhal pargana, West Bengal in a family, which had its root in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Being the fifth son of his parents, Harikar Bandopadhyay and Niroda Devi, he was well acquainted with the unforgiving realities of life, which can be well understood in his works that deals somewhat with the same unforgiving realities of human life. His real name is Prabodh Kumar Bandopadhyay, Manik being his nick name. Harikar had to travel all around undivided Bengal, as he was a government employee. Hence, Manik Bandopadhyay's childhood was spent seeing and learning every arena of life in rural Bengal.

His acquaintance with the hardships of life and intricacies of relationships in society, made him only speak of them, rather than romantic and simple aspects of life. He didn't pretend to put forward the wretchedness of the games destiny plays with mankind. If sentiments and emotions are the words, then his works are not to be looked into.

He had his own way of presenting the Bengal rural life. Contrary to his contemporary authors, who only wrote about the scenic beauty and the simplicity of village life. Manik Bandopadhyay, delved deep into the complicated human psyche and the truth of existence in the villages. His works also dealt with complicated human psychology, a mind without guard. Even today, the simplest of his novels leave the readers spell bound, finding themselves into an identifiable position with the characters. Manik Bandyopadhay wrote 39 novels, over 260 short stories, some poems, essays etc.

Although, not unlike every other Bengali youngsters, still in his teens, he had written (hitherto unpublished and discovered later) some 100 odd poems, it is at the Presidency College, after a wager with his classmates, that Manik started writing short stories.

In December that very year (1928) he won his bet and Atosi Maami (Aunt Atosi) was first published in the popular Bichitra magazine. Soon after, in 1929, two more short stories Neki (The Ignorant) and Byathar Puja (The Anguished Adoration) followed. Both readers and critics alike acclaimed his skills as a short story writer.

Thus encouraged, Bandyopadhyay, then commenced experimenting with the longer story formats. The result was his first 'romantic' (serial) novel Divaraatrir Kavya (The Ode of the Day and Night) - a string of three apparently self-contained but continuing long stories (the author liked to call them allegories, instead of stories or novels. He wrote that the characters were metaphorical representations of people's thoughts, rather than the people themselves). The stories first appeared in 1934 in the Bangoshree, some five years after they were written (and 'collecting dust on the shelf').

A contemporary of Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay - author of the Apu Trilogy (directed by the Oscar winning film director Satyajit Ray), Pather Panchali, Aparajto and Apur Sansar), and to a lesser extent that of Saratchandra Chatterjee, Manik Banduopadhaya's first full-fledged novel Janani (Mother) was published in 1935 - his first, not serially published before. But it was not until his next two novels came out, would the reading public ever realize what treasure awaited them! Classed among the best of world literature heritage of the twentieth century were Bandyopadhyay's Pootool Naacher Itikotha and Padma Nodir Maajhi - both published in 1936.

Pootool Naacher Itikotha (the Puppets' Tale), first appeared serially in the celebrated Bharatbarsha in 1935. 1936 saw the publication of this, much debated and widely translated serial novel in book form along with his most popular and universally acclaimed Padma Nodir Maajhi, which faithfully and lovingly depicted the rural life of his native East Bengal. Partly serially published in the Purbasha magazine, this novel, too, was translated in many Indian, Asian and European languages

In those days, income from publications could hardly support a household. Bandyopadhyay commenced employment in 1938 as the Headmaster of the Mymensingh Teachers Training School. That same year he married in Dhaka Vikrampur's Chatterjee family. He became the Assistant editor of the Bangoshree in 1937. He resigned from this position in 1939 to start his own (doomed) publishing business - in partnership with one of his brothers. He hardly knew that he couldn't be a successful businessman.

During the Second World War, he joined the Indian National War Front, Provincial Organizer, Bengal as a Publicity Assistant. During this period he was associated with the Kolkata (Calcutta) station of All India Radio and took part in many programs including those related with War propaganda, at least up to the end of 1943.

If one has to pick his best literary contributions, one must dwell on Bandyopadhyay's early career. In the latter part of his career, he was dogged and tormented by nagging disease, revolting poverty and mental imbalance even though he continued to write until his death.

Bandyopadhyay died a poor death after suffering from a long bout of bacillary dysentery at the age of 48 in 1956

With deep honor and love, we remember this literary star in his 100th birth anniversary.

Interaction among students of cross-cultured community

Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

Kodaikanal International School, a Multicultural Christian School situated down south in Tamil Nadu, a state in India. Unlike many other schools, Kodaikanal International School has a wide range of different events in which its students can show off their talents and contribute to the schools achievements. KIS conducts a lot of fun, interesting, competitive, cultural and exciting activities for the students that go to this school. This creates a huge opportunity for interaction of different societies, cultures and traditions through the wide variety of students it holds.

One of the major events that take place in KIS every year is the KIS field day. This is an all school program where students can participate in a variety of different track and field events. There are three different houses in which a student is placed in once they join the school; orange, blue and white. During field day, it is then up to the students to compete against one another and gain points for their house. The house that ends up with the most points then wins the field day. It starts off with a competition called pentathlon, this is an event when the contestant takes part in five different field day events; hurdles, shot-put, high-jump, long-jump and a sprinting event (the distance they cover depends on what age group the participant is from and their sex). After pentathlon, the field day takes place. At the beginning of this occasion, there is a huge procession in which students assemble in their different houses and march out of the school gates and into bendy field, a playing field in which all of the events take place. The students are lead out by first the school band followed by the cheerleaders, then the house that won the previous year followed by the house that came second and then the last house trails along. Once we reach the field, the program begins with our elite members of our school introducing the guests of the event. After which the torch bearers, the captains of the previous year's winning house, runs a lap around the field with a torch (a wooden stick lit with fire) and lights the bigger torch, similar to the Olympics. This is followed by the swearing of the oath by all captains and co-captains of the different houses. Then the different team members lead their own houses into unique cheers showing team spirit and diversity. The introductory program is concluded with the school song and this leads us into the different track and field events for the day. Students participate with a lot of team spirit and many of them go onto breaking the school records even. This spectacular occasion finishes the day after, with the re-lays. Teams and divisions combine to create different groups for the final event, the re-lays. This is the high-light of all the events that occur in the field day. The field day is ended with a delicious lunch served traditionally on banana leaves to the students who sit around in a semi-circle around the field. This is followed by the giving away the awards and certificates to the winners of the different events.

Religions and cultures are well respected and honored at our school. Occasions such as the Easter, Eid, Diwali, Holi, India's Independence and Republic Days and even Christmas, are well organized and celebrated in joyous manners. Easter, a very common and popular Christian holiday, celebrates the rising of Jesus from the dead. Easter is a part of the Holy week which is a whole week that is devoted to the major events leading up to Jesus death and re-birth. This holiday is observed by Kodi students in going around to different stations hung up around the school, and praying or singing hymns for God. The Saturday after is a normal day and Easter Sunday is meant to be a very blissful day since Jesus had rose from the dead on that particular day. The Easter Sunday is started off by first going to an early sunrise service held at St. Peters Church. This is followed by a delicious Easter Breakfast held at the Principal's house. After which, the confirmation or baptism is followed for some of the students who wish to be confirmed or baptized. This is followed by a worship service at our school Chapel. Some activities for that day include Easter egg hunt and egg painting for students who are aged younger. Easter is not the only Christian event that is celebrated. Even though we are not there for Christmas, we still celebrate it at our school. At the end of the first semester we have a Christmas Banquet that helps revive the Holiday spirit within the students. Traditional Hindu Indian festivals are also celebrated in our school. Festivals such as Diwali and Holi are celebrated in a tremendously festive way at our school. Fireworks, colors, costumes, dances, songs, are all part of our show and enjoyed by all in our community. Independence and Republic days are also celebrated at our school. A morning assembly is held and many participants perform dances and other interesting shows. Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr, a very important festival for all Muslims, is well observed in Kodi School as well. All Muslim students are served with a package of food the night before so that the he or she is able to eat before sunrise for their fasting event. On the day of Eid, Muslim boys are allowed to go to the Kodai mosque where a special prayer is held in the morning of Eid. All students have a half day holiday to respect the importance of this special day. All festive occasions such as these major ones are very well respected and honored community and they are enjoyed with various activities which result in a very well mixture of students and their cultures and traditions.

An occasion that is most waited by students in KIS is the Kodai Open. This is a major competitive season for all students. Students from many schools in and around kodai participate in such an event. In the first semester the Kodai Open introduces inter-school Basketball tournaments, and in the second semester are the inter-school Soccer tournaments. The Basketball tournaments are open for all girls and boys teams from different schools and colleges. Whereas the Soccer tournaments are open for only boys teams from different schools and colleges. KIS has 6 basketball teams, three girls teams - the inters, the seniors and the super seniors, and three boys teams - the inters, the seniors and the super seniors. There are 3 soccer teams, the inters and seniors and the super senior teams. The fair competitions are played with a lot of integrity and team spirit by all the students. And that is what stands out most about this occasion.

In conclusion, such a boarding school has a lot of facilities that make it unique and the way it is. The interaction between cultures and traditions is one thing that is crucial for a child's growth and development. Their understanding and knowledge of the world is so much more from interacting with mates rather than sitting in a humanities classroom learning about the ways people do interact. It is always said, better done than said, which is something that this school respects and develops day by day, giving me the purpose of writing and holding up such an issue to all citizens. Children not only need education, but interaction between themselves so they get to know what the lives of others are and how they deal with it. It gives them a chance to be practical and to put their education in good use.

[The writer is a Bangladeshi student of grade 10 at Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu, India]

Book Review

Rabbani Chowhdury ZibonySomogro 1st Part/Edited and published by Chowdhury Jebin Rabbani, 12, Henry Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 7QQ, UK. Date of Publication: 14 Kartik, 1414, 1st Nov 2007. Cover : Qayyum Chowdhury, Distributor: Agamee Prokashoni, 36, Banglabazar, Dhaka. Printer: Mudronbid Computer and Offset Printers, Srimangal, Monlvibazar. DD 1/16 Formats 20. Board Binding with Jacket. Price: Tk 200.00 $5.

Rabbani Chowdhury, an eminant expatriate litterateur, living in Britain, is a rhymer of artistic skill, a researcher on Literary heritage, a columnist journalist in quest of welfare of the people, an editor of in-depth sight, has more than 50 published books, of which some are large volumes. He has been in this endeavour for decades, and thus he could successfully contribute to our literature. Rabbani Chowdhury is famous in the literacy circle of Bangladesh as well as those of Britain and other European countries.

His shining achievement inspired many authors to write about his career and contribution. So far, the published books on him are 'Rabbani Chowdhury'r Ontorbiswa', by Dr Tapan Bagchi, 'Modyahner Monon' by Nripendra Lal Das, "Rabbani Chowdhury : Shahitya Kormo' by Shamsul Karim Kayesh and 'Srihotter Suryasontan' by Chandan Krishna Paul. For easy availability of these books, within one cover; the compilation of these books has been planned.

Thus we get 'Rabbani Chowdhury Zibony Somogro containing the valuable evaluation of many literary figures. The '1st Part' tells of the probability of the publication of the second part or even third, if need arises, as the writing on his contribution and achievement seems to be continuous. Many writers of Bangladesh as well as some of the famous writers of Pashchim-Banga have been and are writing on him.

The volume includes the mentioned books and two chapters 'Ek Nozore Rabbani Chowdhury' and 'Bibhinno Lekhoker Lekhay O Gunizoner Chokhey Rabbani Chowdhury.' A brief chapter, but it throws light from the pens of many distinguished personalities.

Dr Tapan Bagchi, Nripendra Lal Das, Shamsul Karim Kayesh and Chandankrishna Paul are eminant writers. Their books contain their viewpoint and evaluation including evaluation of many writes.

So, the focus from different angles makes the volume very much attractive for those interested in literature and particularly on the works and contributions of Rabbani Chowdhury. The readers will get here Rabbani Chowdhury as an artistic rhymer, a researcher on literary history and heritage, a patriot of uncompromising zeal and overall, an illustrious son of the soil.

'Gunizoner Chokhe Rabbani Chowdhury' is a series of comments of distinguished litterateurs and personalities of great fame. Poet Bande Ali Mia, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, Dr Ashraf Siddiqi, Poet Shamsur Rahman, Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, Shelina Hosain, Sirajur Rahman, Gaziul Hasan Khan, Fazl-e-Khoda, Dr Muntasir Mamun, Professor Md Abdul Aziz, Dr Gautam Niyogi, Amiya Shankar Chowdhury, poet Dilwar, Muhammad Asaddar Ali, Syed Mustafa Kamal and many others are among those who greatly appreciated his works.

All these the readers get in one volume. The editor and the publisher Chowdhury Jebin Rabbani has the credit to hand over to the Bengali readers such a compilation. She deserves praise.

The cover by Qayyum Chowdhury, the famous art-personality, gives the readers the scope to recognise Rabbani Chowdhury through his sketch. The valuable volume has the worthy cover.

We expect good circulation of the book and more contributions from Rabbani Chowdhury to our dear literature and motherland-Bangladesh.

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

Poem

Journal of a Pessimist

Mahmud Shafique

I'm not a mechanical man.

The heart surges up with the melody of rose-blossoming

Like a range of mountains,

Deep within the groaning floats a cruiser.

Flocks of bombers rush out

Piercing the peacock sky

It seems a massacre is imminent:

A dense forest emerges out of solitude.

Reptiles loom withing the feelings

Meat gives the taste of marine salt,

Blood lacks store of prawns;

Hospitals go without drugs and X-ray machine.

Robot like doctors walk briskly

With stethoscopes hanging from their necks,

As if corposes of one hundred thousand martyrs have stood

In the line of patients denied medicare,

And someone is on his way home

With the glow of the blazing stars in his blood.

Is he an assassin too?

Awe-inspiring phone calls come floating

From within the eerie darkness,

A moonstruck young girl with unkempt hair

Goes to bed with sleeping pills.

And just waking up from a sleep at midnight;

I'm sitting with a sharp razor,

Should I run it round my throat?

Are the ten fingers of mine

Going out of my control?