The New Nation - Internet Edition

Special: 2nd death anniversary of poet Shamsur Rahman observed

Entertainment Desk

Yesterday was the second death anniversary of the 'unofficial poet laureate' of Bangladesh Shamsur Rahman. He died on August 17, 2006 of heart and kidney failure after having been in a coma for 12 days.

He was regarded as the one of the most prominent Bengali poets in the latter half of the 20th century. Major themes in his poetry and writings include liberal humanism, human relations, romanticised rebellion of youth, the emergence of and consequent events in Bangladesh, and opposition to religious fundamentalism.

Shamsur Rahman was born on October 24, 1929. He was not only a poet but also a columnist and journalist. He wrote more than sixty books of poetry and is considered a key figure in Bengali literature.

Shamsur Rahman was born in his grandfather's house 46 no. Mahuttuli, Dhaka. HIs paternal home is situated on the bank of the river Meghna, a village named Paratoli, near the Raipura thana of Narshingdi district. Fourth of thirteen children, he studied at Pogos High School from where he passed his matriculation in 1945. Later he took his IA From Dhaka College. He started writing poetry after graduating from Dhaka College at the age of eighteen. He studied English literature at Dhaka University for three years but did not attend the examination. After a break of three years he got admitted to the BA pass course and received his BA in 1953. He also received his MA in the same subject where he stood second in second division.

In his leisure after the matriculation, he read the 'Golpo Guccho' of Rabindranath Tagore. In his comment this book took him into the extra ordinary world and he changed into a different man. In 1949, his poem 'Unissho Unoponchash' was published in 'Sonar Bangla' which was then edited by Nalinikishor Guho.

He had a long career as a journalist and was the editor of a national daily, Dainik Bangla and the weekly Bichitra. He was an outspoken liberal intellectual against religious fundamentalism and reactionary nationalism in Bangladesh. As such, he was a frequent target of the politically conservative as well as Islamists of the country. This culminated in the January 1999 attack on his life by the militant Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. He survived the attempt.

Shamsur Rahman's first book of poetry, 'Prothom Gan Ditio Mrittur Agay,' was published in 1960. He had to go through the political turbulence of 60's and 70's which also reflected on his poems clearly. He wrote his famous poem 'Asader Shirt' which was written with respect to the Revolution of 69.

During the Liberation War he wrote a bunch of extra ordinary poems based on the war. These poems were so inspiring that they were recited at the camps of freedom fighters.] Later these poems were published in 'Bondi Shibir Theke' in 1972. Later he continued writing poems in the independent Bangladesh and remained as the poet whose poems reflect the history of the nation. During the historical movement against Ershad he published his book 'Buk Tar Bangladesher Hridoy' indicating the great sacrifice of Nur Hossain.

Shamsur Rahman started his professional career as a co-editor in the English daily 'Morning News' in 1957. Later he left this job and went to the Dhaka center of the then Radio Pakistan. But he returned back to his own rank at 'Morning News' in 1960 and was there till 1964. After the liberation of Bangladesh he wrote columns in the daily Dainik Bangla. In 1977 he became the editor of this daily. He also jointly worked as the editor of 'Bichitra,' a popular weekly published since 1973. During the period of President Ershad he got involved with internal turbulence in the 'Dainik Bangla.' A rank 'Chief Editor' was created to take away his position as the editor and rip off all powers from him. In 1987 he left the daily as a protest against this injustice. He also worked as the editor of monthly literary magazine 'Adhunain' 1987. and as the main editor of the weekly 'Muldhara' in 1989. He worked as one of the editors of 'Kobikantha,' a poetry little magazine, in 1956.

TV Watch: Chirokal Chirodin tonight

Entertainment Desk

Songs of renowned music composer Komol Das Gupta to be aired on ATN Bangla's tonight's episode. It will be aired at 8:45pm.

Mukaddem Babu has directed the programme and researched by Mazharul Islam.

Popular singer Subir Nandi will moderate the programme.

Main vision of the programme is to present the time period of music. In every episode is prepared on the works of each popular music director and composer. Duration of the programme is 40 minutes. Besides songs, all relevant topics of the singers will be focused on. In this episode, artistes Khalid Hossain, Subir Nandi, Yasmin Mushtari, Mokhlesul Islam Nilu and Samia Naz will present songs of Komol Das Gupta.

The songs will be presented in this episode are - Kotodin dekhini tomai, Tumi ki ekhon dekhichho swapan, Valobasa more vikhari korechhe, Ami duranto Baishakhi jhor, Emoni borosha chhilo sedin, Ami chand nohi, Chhande chhande duli anonde, Ei kigo shesh dan, Duti pakhi duti nire and other songs of Komol Das Gupta.

Banglavision airs Confident Salt Amader Rannaghar

Entertainment Desk

Cooking related programme 'Confident Salt Amader Rannaghar' to be aired on Banglavision at 9:05pm on Monday. Parvin Sultana Diti will moderate the programme, while Ushnish Chakraborti has produced it.

In every episode, a celebrity takes part in the show and presents recipe of an item. An invited guest also presents in the show to present his or her own recipe.

Besides, other regular events including 'Rannaghar tips' will be also presented in the show.

Exhibition: Indo-Bangla art show begins in city

Entertainment Report

A high profile art exhibition of some excellent painters from Bangladesh and India was inaugurated at Galleri Kaya in Uttara in the city yesterday.

Galleri Kaya, a contemporary art gallery, organised the exhibition sponsored by the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and Dhaka Courier.

The exhibition will end on August 28 and will provide a unique opportunity for viewers and art experts of the country to take a look at some 50 paintings put together from across the frontiers of the two countries.

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman inaugurated the show yesterday evening.

The painters from India are taking part in the joint show are - Bijan Chowdhury, Gautam Partha Roy, Prakash Bhise, Kashinath Salve and Shukharnoy Majumder.

The Bangladeshi painters are - Aminul Islam, Murtaja Baseer, Quyyum Chowdhury, Rafinqun Nabi, Ranjit Das and Kazi Rakib.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, these artists from the two countries, many of them considered as contemporary master painters, will also hold a drawing session at the Gallery Cosmos at Malibagh in the city, said the organisers.

TV Serial: Rail station e shona golpo

Entertainment Desk

The 26-episode new drama serial 'Rail station e shona golpo' to be aired on any television channel soon. Shooting of the serial has completed recently. Shankhonil has produced the drama serial.

Mejbaur Rahman Sumon has directed the serial, while Shibu Kumar Shil has scripted it.

The story of the serial evolve around a rail station, but none of these stories belong to it. Each story is of different types of people arriving at the station.

It is old and dilapidated. The place is quiet and mysterious. Some foods are sold in the only restaurant of the station. Only one person is the manager cum cashier of the restaurant. His name is Porimol. He is 50 years old and also a mysterious person. In the whole day, he selects one person and listens story from him.

Joya Ahsan, Aupi Karim, Tanvin Sweety, Ashish Khondaker, Richi Solaiman, Dinar, Bindu, Hillol, Nova, Partha Barua, Anisur Rahman Milon, Oni, Mahmudul Islam Mithu, Rifat Chowdhury, Iqbal and others performed in various roles in different episodes of the drama serial.

Music: Elvis fans ignore rain for graveside vigil

AP, Memphis

Mary Lou Martell put it off as long as she could. But she finally had to head to Memphis for an anniversary vigil at Elvis Presley's grave.

"It's my first Elvis Week. I'm a little ashamed to say that, but it is," Martell, 60, said as she took part in a candlelight procession to Presley's grave at Graceland, his former Memphis residence. "We watched it on the computer last year and I finally said, `I have to be part of that.'" The procession, called the "Candlelight Vigil," drew several thousand Elvis fans who lined up in the street in front of Graceland for a single-file procession up a long, winding driveway to his grave in a small garden. Fans weren't scared away by an intermittent drizzle during the vigil, which began at 9:30pm EDT.

"We're doing fine," Martell said, peeping out from the hood of a plastic parka. "It's just for Elvis we stay out doing this."

The vigil, which runs into the early morning, is the highlight of a weeklong series of fan-club meetings, dances and Elvis-impersonator contests to commemorate the anniversary of his death. He died of heart disease and drug abuse at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977. He was 42. Martell of Dunkirk, NY, said she visits Graceland often but avoided Elvis Week in the past because of the crowds. She came early for her first graveside vigil, though, setting up a lawn chair at 9 a.m. at Graceland's front gates.

Many Elvis pilgrims return each year, and the graveside vigil draws visitors from around the world. But it's largely ignored by Memphis residents.

Bollywood: Bipasha Basu to take John on a holiday to Capri

Agency

Bipasha Basu has fallen in love all over again. And this time it's for keeps. On a recent shooting spell in Italy she was captivated by the idyllic town of Capri and decided to revisit the place for a holiday with beau John Abraham.

"It's so restful and lovely. It's not a place to work. It's a place to holiday.

And I'm taking John," Bipasha, whose shot recently released "Bachna Ae Haseeno" in Italy, told IANS.

Bipasha feels the hotel she stayed in at Capri was one of the best experiences of her life.

"It's called JK Place. The biggest celebrities of the world visit there. I had the best room overlooking the ocean. It was the most gorgeous suite I had ever stayed in. I didn't want to work. I wanted to call my boyfriend over for a holiday."

Otherwise Italy was great fun.

"We finished work very fast everyday and went sightseeing in a big group to Rome. Capri was very cute and small. We were shooting in a villa. We were all together all the time. I remember we couldn't get any chicken in Italy. There was other kind of meat that I don't eat. When I finally got chicken, I was so happy. Me, who's almost a diehard vegetarian!"

Bipasha is now getting her house renovated and will plan this holiday as soon as John returns from Philadelphia were he's shooting for Kabeer Khan's 'New York.'

"I've rented a place close to where I live. I'll shift to that place while my house is being renovated. It took me a while to find the rented place. At the moment, the rented place is being done up, so I can move into it while renovation starts in my house.

"I'm waiting for the other place to be ready. But in the meanwhile I'm staying in my own place without a bed in a makeshift corner while the workers get busy hammers and tongs. So you see, I'm not in a very happy state of mind. A good time to take a holiday."