Lack of good translation destroying Bangla poetry's potential

Eminent young poet and fiction writer Rassel Raihan's book of poems 'Mukabhinetar Diary' has been published at this year's book fair. He believes that Bengali poetry can stand apart beside many of the world's best poetry; but all possibilities are being destroyed due to the messy and irrational rivalries between the writers and lack of good translation. Mahfuz Sardar spoke to him on behalf of the Views Bangladesh.

Views Bangladesh: Your book of poems ‘Mukabhinetar Diary’ has been published at this year's book fair. Can you please tell us something about the title of the book?

Rassel Raihan: Basically, this book is written by someone who didn't just talk about food, travel stories, and pictures in the language of common people. On the other hand, he was not able to say a lot of negative things directly or protest about everything all the time. He had to speak with gestures, with indications. As if, he had to step into the role of a pantomime. He had to express his statements playing this role for a long time. He had to use many tricks day after day, because the fear of the Digital Act was there. As a result, he had to take refuge in a language of his own. The language contains his own joy, pain, love, protest, achievement, and failure — not only his own, but others’ also. As a result, in a sense, this book is written by a pantomime.

Views Bangladesh: How much impact has the July Uprising had on our poetry?

Rassel Raihan: Any big event impacts poetry. The July Uprising was the biggest event in Bangladesh after the Liberation War. As a result, it naturally has impacted poetry. It was supposed to be so. At present, July is coming directly or indirectly in almost all poems. Perhaps, it will be so for a long period of time. Whether this effect is positive or negative for poetry in the overall sense — only time will tell.

Views Bangladesh: What is the inspiration or thought that forces you to write poetry?

Rassel Raihan: In poetry, I write what I cannot express in a Facebook post or through speaking. Even if I can, its impact will be temporary rather than eternal. However, I have some ideals, thoughts, and ideas of my own. I try to express and establish those through poetry or any medium of literature.

Views Bangladesh: What do you want to say in poetry?

Rassel Raihan: I want to express my inner self in poetry. But the words of my poems actually aspire to contain the likes, dislikes, expectations and desires of everyone. However, I try to write keeping the fact in mind that poetry is ultimately an art.

Views Bangladesh: How do you view life?

Rassel Raihan: I want to see life simply. Everyone's life can be beautiful, if he wants. The problem is that people look at the lives of others more than looking directly at their own lives. It's a bit like looking at a mirror; but the fact that the mirror actually reflects a person turning him aside does not remain in the mind. The same thing happens when they look at the lives of others. People look at the lives of others with a subconscious desire to see their own lives, and that life of others gives them the wrong message.

Views Bangladesh: How politically aware do writers need to be?

Rassel Raihan: Every person needs to be politically aware. Writers (or anyone who can influence others) have no choice but to be politically aware at every moment, since they influence others. A writer's unawareness paves the way for others to be led astray.

Views Bangladesh: What kind of poetry do you think young poets in Bangladesh are currently focusing on?

Rassel Raihan: Most of the young poets today are focused on understanding. Personally, I like that. But there are a few other types. All the types together, of course, bring diversity.

Views Bangladesh: You are also writing fiction along with poetry. What is the reason for this?

Rassel Raihan: There is no specific reason. I am comfortable in both mediums, so I am in both mediums. Or you could say, I write because I can write both poetry and fiction. If I could write through only one medium, I would have done so. If I couldn’t write through any of the two mediums, I would not write at all.

Views Bangladesh: What is your assessment of contemporary Bengali poetry?

Rassel Raihan: I think many contemporary Bengali poems can stand tall alongside many of the world's best poems; but all possibilities are being destroyed due to various reasons like the messy and irrational rivalries between the writers and lack of good translation. But that will not stop good poetry from being written. Surely, many, many good poems will be written in the future.

Views Bangladesh: Poetry of today does not reach the wide range of readers — is it the failure of the writer or the publisher?

Rassel Raihan: The primary responsibility, I think, lies with social reality, and the secondary responsibility lies with the publisher. Why should the writer be responsible? The writer's work is to write in his own way. That has been the case for thousands of years. And the reader has chosen literature according to his taste. Now, if the reader is not fit to read, does not enjoy reading, does not consider literature as food for the mind, and is satisfied with alternative means, what can the writer or publisher do?