The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Rakib Uddin

In his prolonged battle for survival eminent poet Samudra Gupta ultimately submitted to death .He breathed his last in a hospital in Bangalore in India on Saturday fighting with deadly diseases. Innumerable number of well wishers and admirers both at home and abroad of the illustrious poet could hardly accept his death though the final physical departure from the material world is inevitable. None could avoid it. Samudra Gupta was the pen name of Abldul Mannan who was born in a respectable Muslim family in Srajganj in 1946 .

My association with Samudra Gupta, not much close but cordial and intimate , developed late 1960's when he used to come to the office of the erstwhile daily Azad where I was working as a junior staff reporter .Samudra Gupta was the regular member of the Mukuler Mahfil - the children corner of the oldest daily of the country. Poet Habibur Rahaman at that time was in-charge of editing of the page . Probably Samudra Gupta married a daughter of a police officer posted in the Lalbagh thana. The thana was located within the Lalbagh fort area close to the Azad office . The daily Azad published a number poems composed by the then young [poet Samudra Gupta .

When I recall Samudra Gupta , I see a long haired gentle man with smiling face appears in front of me . Samudra Gupta had a great human quality and that is he could make any body his dear and near one who came in contact with him even for a very brief period. Those who came in contact with the poet for a short or long peroid could not forget him .The well behaved and exellent mannered gentle man has no enmity and any kind of hostility over any matter with any body in the society to my knowledge .

Of the thirteen poetry books writtten by Sdamudra Gupta I managed time to go through few of those in my long 45 years professional career as a journlist . He has deep love for the society and its people, beauty , truth and justice and that feeling has been duly reflected in his works. Samudra Gupta was not only a poet but also a short writer .The noted poet has voiced for the benefits of the down trodden [people of the socity through his strong pen . Samudra Gupta was well awarded by a number of organisations at home and abroad in recognition of his outstanding works in the in the field of literature. Samudra Gupta who was a true nationalist was a leadinng poet whose works had been translated into a number foreign languages. He sang songs for communal harmony, peace and happiness . Samudra Gupta personally asked me to cover a number of functinons and festivals organised by him and the organisations he bolnged to .On his personal invitation I had the pleasure to attend the national poetry festivals annually arranged at the foot step of the statue uphoplding the war of liberation in front of the TSC of the Dhaka university. To concldue I seek divine blessings for the Salvation of the departed soul of the late [poet and express sympathy for the members of the bereaved famliy. In think it will be really a great work to be done if any quarters come forward to help his family if they need at all.