Sans personal reflection, creativity can't develop

Poet Soumya Salek's essay collection Bingsho Ekobingsho was published at this year’s book fair. His goal is to write thought-provoking essays. As a preparation for writing such essays, he has compiled several analytical pieces in Bingsho Ekobingsho. Mahfuz Sardar from Views Bangladesh spoke with him.

Views Bangladesh: Your essay collection Bingsho Ekobingsho has been published at this year’s book fair. How do you feel about it?

Soumya Salek: Bingsho Ekobingsho is a collection of twenty-one essays. It discusses the intellectual, literary, cultural, and political trends of the twentieth century, as well as the rapid pace of life in the twenty-first century due to the expansion of communication technology. The book also sheds light on the repercussions of technological advancements on human life. My message to readers is that the joy of immersing oneself in poetry and art cannot always be verbally expressed. Through this collection, I have tried to present such reflections in an open literary form. If my analysis of artistic sensibilities, intellectual pursuits, era-specific trends, and humanitarian concerns resonates with even a few like-minded, sensitive individuals, I will feel that my efforts have been worthwhile.

Views Bangladesh: Alongside poetry, you have also ventured into writing essays. What inspired this shift?

Soumya Salek: I have already mentioned some reasons above. Additionally, it is important to express one’s heartfelt realizations about art and social contexts. Different people have different interpretations of artistic works. This practice has been carried out by great writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Buddhadeb Bosu, Jibanananda Das, Syed Mujtaba Ali, Syed Ali Ahsan, and many more. Moreover, to present deep thoughts or innovative discourse, writing is essential. I write essays to articulate my thoughts and perspectives on life and art.

Views Bangladesh: How important do you think literary criticism is? What should be its approach?

Soumya Salek: In our literary scene, criticism is often either excessive praise or outright condemnation. However, literary criticism should be analytical, free from biases of friendship or rivalry. English and French literature have strong traditions of literary criticism, but Bengali literature has not developed such a robust critical discourse. As a step toward writing thoughtful essays, I have engaged in analytical writing. My aim is to contribute to thought-provoking essays, much like how Mohammad Barkatullah has written about the human faith.

Views Bangladesh: How do you see the current state of Bengali literature?

Soumya Salek: This is a broad question, and it’s difficult to answer briefly. Many books are being published, but I have not seen a truly timeless poetic or fictional work in the past fifteen years. This is a concerning issue. When we read Sonali Kabin or Raktogolap, we can confidently say they are masterpieces of poetry and fiction. However, in recent years, I have not come across such profound works. Perhaps such masterpieces exist but have not yet reached my reading list.

Views Bangladesh: What are the key differences between the literary landscapes of Bangladesh and West Bengal?

Soumya Salek: A major challenge for West Bengal is maintaining the practice of Bengali literature amidst the dominance of Hindi and English. The number of Bengali publications and newspapers is gradually decreasing there. On the other hand, Bangladesh has taken the lead in Bengali language promotion, and Dhaka has emerged as the center of Bengali literature. However, a lack of professionalism and care in our language and literary practices remains a concern. Maintaining quality and dedication is crucial for the expansion of language and literature.

Views Bangladesh: Has the rise of digital platforms increased or decreased readership? What are the reasons?

Soumya Salek: If by "reader" you mean people who leave short comments on Facebook, then yes, readership has increased. However, can such rapid scrolling truly be considered reading? I have my doubts. True literature readers are now very few. Even among them, most prefer fiction, while profound literary works dealing with deep human consciousness have very few readers. One major reason is the struggle of everyday survival, which leaves little room for deep reading. Another issue is the tendency to adopt trends without critical evaluation—whatever is new is embraced impulsively. Without spending dedicated time in solitude, creativity and awareness cannot flourish. It seems that today’s generation lacks both the time and the inclination for introspection.

Views Bangladesh: How essential is regular reading for writers?

Soumya Salek: I believe a true writer’s work involves four key aspects: thinking, traveling, reading, and writing. Reading is absolutely crucial. A single book can spark one or multiple new ideas within a writer. Without reading, it is difficult to even call someone a writer.

Views Bangladesh: What are your thoughts on this year’s book fair?

Soumya Salek: The atmosphere of the book fair is as expected, but I found the Little Magazine section particularly appealing this year, even though fewer new editions of little magazines were published. However, one unpleasant issue is the excessive number of street vendors and peddlers inside the fair. This does not create a suitable environment for a book fair and should be controlled. Since this fair is happening in the aftermath of a major political shift, the sense of uncertainty prevailing in other sectors is also evident among writers and poets.

Views Bangladesh: What is your opinion on literary awards?

Soumya Salek: Literary awards are a positive tradition, but some recent controversies have cast them in a negative light. The situation has now reached a point where even when awards are offered, some writers hesitate to accept them. Discussing this issue has also become somewhat uncomfortable. However, before finalizing any award recipient, the selection committee should thoroughly evaluate whether the candidate is truly deserving. Likewise, recipients should also carefully consider whether they should accept the award to avoid controversy. Ultimately, I believe a truly creative writer is far greater than any award. For example, I consider Leo Tolstoy and Kahlil Gibran to be a thousand times more significant than the Nobel Prize itself.