Initiative being taken to brand Dhaka thru art, culture and literature

For the past four decades, the country 's eminent poet Rezauddin Stalin has enchanted readers with his Bangla poetry. Love, protest, humanity and social values have emerged in his work with powerful artistry. Born on 22 November 1962 in Nalbhanga village of Kaliganj upazila in Jhenaidah district, he is the author of many poetry collections, among which Valobasha Tumi (You are Love), Judhdho Noy Shanti (Not War, but Peace) and Ami Tumi Shey (I, You, He/She) are particularly notable. Recently, he has been appointed Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. He spoke briefly to Views Bangladesh about the Academy’s activities, future plans and dreams. Interview has been taken by Shahadat Hossen Towhid, Editorial Assistant, Views Bangladesh.

Views Bangladesh: As the new Director General of Shilpakala Academy, what are your plans? How are you reorganising?

Rezauddin Stalin: I am overhauling the programmes that have long been ineffective at Shilpakala Academy and those that could not progress properly due to politicisation. Among them are our music festival, dance festival, art festival, and the Asian Art Biennale—these are being redesigned. Then, in every department, we are reassigning duties to competent officers and staff after reorganisation. The training programmes are also being restructured.

In addition, I am making the branch institutions of Shilpakala Academy outside Dhaka more effective. I have taken a special initiative to set up a book sales centre at Shilpakala Academy. Alongside, we will also stock some publications from Bangla Academy and Nazrul Institute so that people come here and buy books. Since book buying and reading habits have declined, this initiative is being taken to revive them. We want to make available Shilpakala Academy’s historical records and important research works to the people. We will not seek profit; the books will be offered at very low prices.

Another initiative is to brand Dhaka internationally. Our directors are highly skilled—some in branding, some in research, others in theatre or music—and they are carrying out this work. We want to brand Dhaka in the cultural world. For instance, France is branded with the Eiffel Tower as a great centre of fine art. London is branded through its culture. In that way, we will brand Dhaka. That will be a matter of pride for us.

As for our native culture, folk songs—often looked down upon by city people—are in fact the true songs of Bengal. These songs carry people’s sorrow, pain, cries and joy. We plan to bring folk songs forward in an urbanised form. We will also honour our eminent figures—our important poets, writers, artists and musicians. We will commemorate those who have passed away, such as poets Shamsur Rahman, Al Mahmud, Rafiq Azad, Abul Hasan, Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah. We are thinking of presenting Jibanananda Das in a somewhat different way. My challenge ahead is to revamp Shilpakala Academy.

Views Bangladesh: The former Director General raised allegations of many irregularities. What is your position on this?

Rezauddin Stalin: I am trying to identify those irregularities and free Shilpakala Academy from them. I am trying to instil a sense of freedom. As a poet and writer, my task is to create a world of love, a world of art, where all stakeholders will have equal rights and equal opportunities.

Views Bangladesh: The former Director General spoke of a distance with the Ministry of Culture. How is the relationship now?

Rezauddin Stalin: No, our relationship with the Ministry of Culture is very good. They are always very supportive. At present the Ministry has a competent Secretary, and Honourable Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, who is giving us strong support. He is thinking in an innovative way about how to advance Shilpakala Academy further.

Views Bangladesh: What is your thinking on culture? Recently there has been talk of so-called “Babu culture.”

Rezauddin Stalin: Some Kolkata-centric intellectuals here try to suggest that everything good comes from Kolkata. They tend to overlook our own poets, artists and writers. Yet in our country, poets like Shamsur Rahman, Al Mahmud, Abid Azad, Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah are great figures. We are not presenting them adequately. When a poet from Kolkata comes to Bangladesh, there is a lot of excitement about them, but we do not value our own poets and artists to that extent—we give them less recognition.

Of course, Kolkata is also part of the Bangla language, and in that sense we respect them and have a very good relationship with them. But we must try to present our own culture first, to build it up. From their two-hundred-year-old literary history and heritage we can also learn. We will adopt what is good, but we must give priority to our own poets, artists and writers—that is what I mean.

Views Bangladesh: When a poet becomes an administrator, does that not disrupt the poet’s creative thinking?

Rezauddin Stalin: My inner world is completely different. At work, I act as a professional and an administrator. I draw on my thirty years of experience, including my time at the Nazrul Institute where I worked as an administrator. I am doing the same work here, though on a much larger scale, which requires me to spend more time. But I still study and write every night until 2 or 3 am.

Many great poets and writers of the world, such as Pablo Neruda, worked as diplomats. Octavio Paz was also an ambassador. In our own tradition, poets in royal courts undertook great responsibilities. Poet Alaol had important roles in the royal court. So did Krishna Chandra Sarkar. Thus, this is not new—poets have long had such experiences. Out of love for my country, land and people, I will try to establish Shilpakala Academy as a good institution within a short time. In this, all my colleagues are giving me full support.

Views Bangladesh: Thank you very much on behalf of Views Bangladesh.

Rezauddin Stalin: Thank you too Views Bangladesh. May your newspaper always remain connected with art, literature and culture. We will be very glad if you work in cooperation with Shilpakala Academy.