Our literature

Mofazzal Haidar Chowdhury :

Among us there are some over-enthusiasts who want to import Muslim trends of thoughts and Muslim ambience in Bengali literature. For this they want to use the so-called Muslim words, images and symbols. Ok. Bring Muslim trend of thought. It is good. If the revolutionary zeal of Islam can be successfully depicted in literature, then great literature is supposed to be created. But we want its successful depiction. It cannot be considered literature if only some hackneyed words are chanted -even if those words are of highest range. What is spontaneously derived from one’s own heart, the recitation which is sprightly with the touch of the poet’s heart, only that can take the shape of genuine literature, and such literature is self-established with self-honour. It should not have to be propagated by beating drums, and attaching labels. Even if it is not religious talk, or talk against religion, yet it will be literature, and people will accept that with love and affection. Theism and atheism in literature is not the big issue, its basic purpose is the successful depiction or simple creation of life. Many of our things have been established based on religious attitude-hence we search for Islamic trends of thought and ideals in literature, and stand against if we can smell anything of anti or un-Islamic. But the main purpose is to render enjoyment-this should be remembered.
Next, let us talk about Muslim ambience. Those who say this-what they think, that is-the fence of Irani or Arabic society or the gos of Delhi or the United Kingdom. But all these fashions are purely terrestrial and local matters of those regions, there is nothing of Musalmanism in these. The people of these regions who are not Musalmans, even they also have taken the fashions and ambience as theirs. And if these were not any Musalmans, yet their environment and fashions would remain the same.
The fashions, ways of life, speech-in one word the culture that we see in the Arabic or Persian society-these were quite the same before the emergence of Islam. Nothing specific has gone the other way; what has happened is due to the course of time. Hence, this is purely social or temporal matters-there is nothing religious in it. As the speakers of Urdu say water as ‘Pani’ and for this reason the thing or word has not become Islamic, the Hindus of that region (Agra, Ajodhya) say water as ‘Pani’ also. Hence, the words ‘Apa’ (sister), ‘Bubu’ (also sister), ‘Fufu’ (aunt) ‘Fufa’ (uncle), ‘khala’ (aunt) etc. are not Islamic or Musalmani words. These are Indian or Rajputani words and in these regions all irrespective Hindu-Musalmans use these words. Yet due to the influence of a specific class of our Muslim society, they have become Muslim words and speech. This is the lack of self-realisation of Bengali Muslim society and a result of historic foolishness. As a result, our literature has become veiled by being confined into a definite cover-cloth.
In future let there be seen no aggravation concerning this among our litterateurs. We don’t want that our language be inert and meaningless due to the profusion of Farsi and Urdu words and they (as once were the Hindu) make society and literature align from the Universe and motionless to maintain the Muslim sanctity; the well-wishers of East-Bengal literature cannot want this also. Only curbing ourselves we should not give next to inferiority complex and reactions. Contrarily, what is inextricably mixed with our own blood and bigotry fake pride we will commit great mistake if we sacrifice our culture on way.
Starting firmly on our own place we will borrow from other with an open mind without any hesitation and bias. No culture flow can remain alive being disconnected from the consecutive flow source of past. The over flooding profusion of literary nectar of Bengali literature is our proud , the newer trend will be inspired with life in newer ways from the tradition, the literature of East-Bengal. But from the source it derives, it must have connection with that. (slightly abridged)