Demise of Shamsur Rahman and a Shame to the Government Md. Anwarul Kabir

Demise of Shamsur Rahman and a Shame to the Government

Md. Anwarul Kabir

Published on February 13, 2007

The Bengali nation around the world is submerged with sorrows at the demise of Shamsur Rahman, the most prolific and the great poet in the modern Bengali literature. As a poet he added a new dimension to the horizon of modern Bengali poetry. No doubt, he would be alive in the heart of Bengali nation for the next thousands and thousands of years.

Shamsur Rahman did not believe in ï¿½arts for artï¿½s sakeï¿½, rather he had the commitment to his society. He had a pro-people personality with a progressive vision. During our war of independence his poetry inspired our freedom fighters and freedom seeking people. Indeed he fought with his mighty pen in 1971. We should honour him as a freedom fighter ! Unfortunately, this great man of the soil did not get the state honour as he deserved after his demise. We should really be ashamed if we compare the recent demise of Ustad Bismillah Khan, the legendary shehani maestro of India. The government of India gave full state honour at his demise and observed a one day national mourning in honour of him. What did cause the government of Bangladesh to be indifferent at the death of Shamsur Rahman? The answer to this question can be explained as follows:

The role of Poet Shamsur Rahman in 1971 went against the Jamat ï¿½i-Islami. As Jamat-i-Islami is the second major force of the present government, presumably, the BNP politicians, in the advent of the next election did not want to perturb Jamat by honouring Shamsur Rahman at state level. It may be noted throughout his life Shamsur Rahman always fought against extremism and religious fanaticism. The reactionary groups in the government are not happy with Shamsur Rahmanï¿½s close connection with progressive platforms of the country. In a brief it may be stated that due to opposition of evil forces, the BNP government fully failed to pay due homage to the great poet. This is real shame of the government.

Md. Anwarul Kabir is a Assistant Professor & Research Coordinator of American International University-Bangladesh. He writes from Dhaka.