a tribute to shamsur rahman

Immortal poet Shamsur Rahman of Bangla literature met his inevitable mortal fate. He breathed his last this afternoon when his almost all vital organs failed. From 3 pm onwards his pressure was fluctuating abnormally at a very alarming low rate, which the doctors of Bangabandhu Postgraduate Medical University� leading doctors failed put right. He was on life supporting mechanical devices for the last few days. The end at last came in the afternoon around 4 p.m. The inevitable has happened in spite of doctors� best efforts, prayers of his near and dear ones, and the entire nation prayed for him.

Rahman was 78. Coming from a low middle class family of old Dhaka � born in a mud house in locality called Mahuttuly in the month of October 1924. Young Shamsur Rahman, a loving and dear son of his mother, whose wonderful poetic picture was so beautifully composed in one of his famous poem. The mother pictured by Rahman became universal mother and every one finds his or mother�s story in it. Here lies the greatness of the Poet- transformation from individualism to universalism, from finite time bound to infinite time. Shamsur Rahman was the true representative of old djakaites, at thesame time he was the true mouth piece of what we understand by modernity and forward looking vission.

Shamsur Rahman started his school life from famous Pogose School of old Dhaka from where he was matriculated. He was graduated from Dhaka College in 1953 after successfully completing Intermediate from the same college. He then continued his study in Dacca University for some time, but did not pursue long, He devoted entire time to his poetic and literary work. He was not only the leading poet but also pioneer of bringing perfect modernity and modernism in poetic flavour in this part of the world. His first poetic collection appeared in 1957. He was an inspiring personality in the captive Bangladesh during the dreadful days of our war of liberation. He entered journalistic career in fag end of Pakistani days when he was invited to join Dainik Pakistan in seventy�s. He became the editor of Dainik Bangla and Vichitra after we became independent.

All along a secular humanist, never was afraid to speak for and stand for truth and right cause. He was always near to the mass and mass was always dear to him. Many a times the fundamentalists and communalists threatened him for life. He was attacked- threatened, but the poet was undaunted and was always an inspiration to secularists and humanists in BD. He was our guardian in many critical times.

I had always a personally intimate relation. Whenever we met in any seminar or protesting meetings or demonstrations, he always gave me an inspiring smile that would always remain green in my heart. Whenever I picked up my phone to him asking his permission to use his name in any protesting signature campaign on any issue he readily agreed without slightest hesitation. In fact he gave me blank cheque. Such was the relation. This will not happen any more. I do not where to look for inspiration to fight against fundamentalists and obscurantist. Another great fighter of civil liberty, humanism and secularism and above all the greatest Poet of our country went away for good making us poorer and poorer. Let me salute this great son of Bangla Ma from the core of my heart.

If time permits I will write about him more later- a formal obituary note.

Dhaka, August 17, 2006