Overshadowing the past
The first day of the Bengali New Year 1422 passed on Tuesday without ever-continuing Bangla. The Dhaka University campus, the Ramna Green and the Suhrawardy Udyan murmured on, but there were not National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Polli Kobi Josimuddin, poets Ghulam Mostafa, Farrukh Ahmad, Bonde Ali Miah, Kaikobad and Begum Rokeya, folklore singers Abbas Uddin, Abdul Alim, Ferdousy Rahman, Sohrab Hossain, Bedar Uddin and folklore songs composer Abdul Karim. I did not find them in the Bengali New Year’s celebrations, or it might be that one or two poems, which were recited, one or two songs, which were sung, escaped my notice.
Architect of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangabandhu, did not forget them. At page No. 111 of his book ‘Ausamto Atmajiboni’ (Unfinished Memoirs), the great leader writes: One day, (while journeying by boat) in the river, had I not heard the bhatiali songs in Abbas Uddin Ahmad’s own voice, a part of my life would have remained unfulfilled. When he was singing in a low voice, it appeared that the rivers’ ripples were hearing his songs. His two students Sohrab Hossain and Bedar Uddin tried to retain reputation of Abbas Uddin to a certain extent.
Abbas Uddin said to me: Mujib! Great conspiracy has begun against the Bengali Language. If Bengali is not recognised as State language, the songs you love today will disappear; Bengal’s civilisation and culture will be faded away. Do something. Bengali must be made State language. I have him word and worked accordingly. Today, I shall request every Bangladeshi to read the book ‘Ausamto Atmajiboni’ (Unfinished Memoirs), to take lessons therefrom and to cite those as reference.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
