Writings
Book launch of Kachamithe Pholer Chhora
The launch and publication celebration of the children’s rhyme book Kachamithe Pholer Chhora (Rhymes of Tangy-Sweet Fruits) by children's author Amit Kumar Kundu was held in Dhaka.
The Dhamrai Rathajatra and the nature of Asharh
Asharh means kadam flowers, Asharh means rain, and the festival of Rathajatra. In Bangladesh, it is a beautiful fusion of nature and culture. On the morning of the 13th of Asharh, a brief shower occurred. Ignoring the drizzle, I set off from Dhanmondi to Dhamrai. The sky remained cloudy. Since childhood, I have heard that it always rains on the day of the Rathajatra, meaning chariot pulling, with every pull of the chariot's rope. In different places, the rope is pulled at different times. Does that mean it rains locally at those places? Perhaps not. But such is the nature of Asharh rain—it doesn't last continuously for long. It comes and goes.
Khalil Gibran and the dominance of the heart
How can what Khalil Gibran has written be explained; after reading each of Gibran’s books, such a question arises prominently. The main reason is that he has cancelled the connection and unity of place, time, and character from his writing.
Pete Seeger: A protester against war
Amid the global wars of the 20th century, one of the most vocal voices against them was American folk music legend Pete Seeger. A passionate singer devoted to folk music, Pete was a tireless advocate for peace.
Names those will be written in tears
A year has passed. Before we knew it, 2024 is now behind us. The Earth has once again orbited the Sun. So many words and stories have accumulated over the past year. In the new year, a new story will begin. However, some names will not be part of that story. This past year, we have lost many dear people. Some have lost family members, while others relatives. Even if they weren’t family, there are people who connect with us in such a way that they become like close friends, or even family. At the end of the year, their names are recorded in the annals of memory. Newspapers have published tributes to them under the heading, "Those We Lost This Year." It seems like just a list of names, numbers, and individuals. But their contributions to our arts, literature, and culture are so significant that they can’t simply be captured in a biographical account. Even though they have passed from our sight, their names continue to be written in our tears.
Hollywood’s dirty little secret
The allure of fame often comes with a darker side that many celebrities struggle to navigate. Amid the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the pressures of maintaining a public image, relentless media scrutiny, and the demands of the entertainment industry usually lead some stars down to a path of substance abuse.
Even small reasons for divorce are not insignificant
Let's start with an event from this year that gained significant attention last April. Brazilian football star Kaká's ex-wife, Caroline, revealed the reason behind their divorce. She mentioned that Kaká was so perfect as a person that she had to make the decision to part ways. This statement naturally left many people surprised. Some might have even thought for a moment if they were reading it wrong. Indeed, if someone is completely perfect, why would there be a divorce? Caroline made this remark many years after their separation, when both had moved on to new relationships.
Budget for culture has increased, yet it is disappointing
I was engaging in gossip with some writers and thinkers at Batighar bookstore in Dhaka, yesterday evening. A professor-writer, who has returned from abroad, said that for going forward in the literature-culture-intellectual arena of Bangladesh a large number of world literature ought to translate into Bengali. Not only literature, books on science, economics, research, technology all need a lot of translation. Then another writer made a funny comment, a thousand crore rupees should be allocated in the budget for translation. Another writer frowned and said, a thousand crores indeed is not a very big deal right now!
Cinema: in Muslim countries
Cinema. The word "cinema" holds immense breadth and influence nowadays. It can shape preferences or be shaped by them, influencing the majority of film production worldwide. While many films are made with the aim of catering to general audience tastes or reflecting the values, beliefs, and responsibilities of their creators, not all films reach a wide audience. Some remain unknown to a specific number of viewers. Moreover, various countries have different sets of regulatory constraints influenced by cultural values, ideologies, taboos, and religious ethics, which sometimes constrain the freedom of cinema.
Priyo Manush: Portrait of an ABM Helal
Indeed, individuals often perceive their own existence through the reflections provided by others. The portrait of a person's life is most vividly depicted in the eyes of friends, relatives, companions, and colleagues. For individuals who are writers, researchers, travelers, and publishers, their scope of self-expression is naturally broader. As companions, they form close bonds with those friendly individuals who can eloquently showcase their accomplishments and endeavors, much like crafting a bouquet of a hundred flowers.