Youngsters are like clay, but it takes a skilled potter to shape them

One of the leading prose writers of Bangla, Syed Manzoorul Islam, is an educationist, literary critic, and fiction writer. He taught at Dhaka University for more than four decades. Currently a professor of English at the University of Liberal Arts (ULAB), he is also a member of the National Museum and the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Board of Trustees. The educator recently spoke to Views Bangladesh about the capacity of the young generation and Bangladesh's education system. Interviewed by novelist and journalist Ranzit Sarker.

Views Bangladesh: Why is the relationship between the state and literature not agreeable?!
Syed Manzoorul Islam: Literature's relationship with the most ideal state is never cozy. State and literature should be in two poles. If the state is a democratic one, people want it to nurture culture because a state is nothing but the reflection of human will. It is just a structure. It has a parliament, an effective parliament, to reflect the people's will. It has a judicial system that provides justice, not injustice, and does not strip away human rights. There are law enforcement agencies that try to protect people's rights, stamp out the evil, and reward the innocent. This is what an ideal state is all about. Even there, people are being tortured by the police. In America, a black person had to die at the hands of police due to his skin color. The people elect the government. In the ideal state, the government is nothing but should be subordinate to the people. But whenever a democratically elected government comes to power in countries around us, they think people are their underlings.

This is a fundamental transgression of human beings. It is prevalent in all countries. The ideal state there can often be contradictory to literature because literature reveals the truth. Those truths can be unpleasant to the state. The state can be an obstacle to that literature. Those are not ideal states where free thought and, concerning literature, free thinking are suppressed.

Views Bangladesh: In what direction does our state and literature stand?
Syed Manzoorul Islam: The present government of Bangladesh may seem friendly in its deeds and conversations to literature or writers' independence, but ultimately, the structure in which it has placed itself cannot be justified by arts and literature. We structured Bangladesh after this model and have continued unamended since 1971. It was like a Pakistani prison. They imposed a colony on us. We could not make any fundamental changes in that structure. Everything is the same as before. Without fundamentally changing the structure, the state or the government cannot be literature-friendly.

Views Bangladesh: How much has our education system progressed in the last 52 years?
Syed Manzoorul Islam: It did not progress at all. Our education system is archaic, using history-dependent, guide-based materials and memorization. I think the enemy of education in Bangladesh resides inside the family. The curriculum is changing frequently. As a result, the education system is being disrupted. First, a sufficient budget is not allocated in this sector. Expansion of education also requires scaling up its quality. But that is not happening. If we do not invest in education, how can we deliver it?

Views Bangladesh: A section of students is being deprived of science. What is your take on this?
Syed Manzoorul Islam: In tomorrow's world, the army will not fight wars; scientists will take charge. Humans no longer propel drones; instead, they are equipped with radars. Simply put, a drone will be capable of firing a nuclear bomb. Then, you can sit in the laboratory of a university and control the war. The future will not have any need for an army. This is going to be the nature of war in the future. In other words, we will produce scientists who will develop small weapons instead of warships, doing away with the necessity to buy them. For example, China is capable of destroying a submarine. People in the army will sit with scientists.
Consequently, artificial intelligence will reach such a stage that a revolution will happen. Due to our backward ideas about talent, many students, such as madrasa students, are deprived of science education. Many are deserving students with much potential, but they will study religion. However, it is essential to study religion, especially when people have forgotten moral education.

Views Bangladesh: Today's young generation has successes and failures on various issues. What is your take on this?
Syed Manzoorul Islam: I do not blame the young generation. Just as a potter sees clay in different shapes, the clay is not at fault; it will take shape the way you mold it. Young people are like that clay, but where is that potter? Those who knowingly misuse the clay are not worth the salt of a potter. The elders consciously poison the young people. They also have children. They forget that. Children die taking spurious medicine, and yet some do not hesitate to sell them. Surrendering to greed and personal benefit, the elders have spoiled society.

Views Bangladesh: How much international status do you think our literature gained in the last 52 years of independence?
Syed Manzoorul Islam: If a writer starts writing with the dream of becoming international, that author will not go too far. If our country wants to attract international attention, it must first come through the economy. We have many writers. They would have gone a long way if their writings were translated into English. The Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah talked to Dhaka Lit Fest some time ago. He asked me what I write. I said I write short stories and novels but feel more comfortable writing short stories. He said, "Very challenging." I said I get satisfaction writing short stories. He asked if I had written in English. And I replied, no, I'm happy with what people of my country are glad to read.

He appreciated when I said that a day would come when foreigners would translate my fiction to foreigners. Our sources of culture have eroded. social media and beautiful have become the culture now. Millions of people are watching content fanning extremism. Listening to the song "Shada Shada" from the movie Hawa has also changed the trend. And Resistance inspired by culture is a positive sign. Too much bureaucracy in a country is not conducive to vigor. We have an abundance of potential, but youngsters are somewhat aggressive.

Views Bangladesh: Do you have any sense of unfulfillment, or is there anything you could not attain in your long life?
Syed Manzoorul Islam: Every day, I celebrate, and my life begins. I used to enjoy sports, mainly playing cricket. I had enough potential in cricket. But I could not actualize it, and I do not regret it. I originally wanted to be a chemist. But it did not happen for various reasons. Maybe it is good for me that I could not be a chemist. Again, I feel bad that I could not fulfill the purpose I came to university with. The list of unfulfillment goes on. There are many things I couldn't do that I wanted to. Later, I studied English literature, so in a way, there is no pain of disappointment. I am still happy to be able to do so.

I didn't dream, but it would have been nice if there was one to see that I had a dream book like many. I wanted to go to all the places in Bangladesh that I haven't been to yet. It is my inability that I did not see so many rivers of Bangladesh. There are many trees that I do not know about. It is impossible to fulfill everything in one life; you must be born many times. The dreams that I dreamed of in 1971 were not fulfilled in the 52 years of independence. The patriotism was there is no more. Now, narcissism has become more significant than patriotism. I did not go to the War of Liberation, and my friend Solaiman was martyred in his childhood. How young he died is a regret. I am satisfied with what I have received in my teacher's life. I have received students' love as a teacher, which is a massive attainment in the life of a teacher. In my life, achievements are far more significant than regret.

Views Bangladesh: Thank you.
Syed Manzoorul Islam: Thank you, too.