Remembering Shawkat Osman

To mark the seventh death anniversary of the acclaimed Bangladeshi author, Shawkat Osman, little magazineDanrkakrecently arranged a commemorative meeting at the Liberation War museum.

Chaired by eminent poet Shamsur Rahman, many renowned poets and writers of the country went back in time to recall old memories of Osman.

The leitmotif of the meeting was the strong essence of hatred and protest against evil and injustice in the works of Osman. The speakers also suggested that the writer be honoured at the National level.

Author Selina Hossain expressed the hope that the younger generation will keep alive the legacy of Osman and follow his ideals. In her words: 'Shawkat Osman was secular, open hearted and a strong believer in democracy who never compromised against his beliefs.'

Poet Muhammad Rafique quoted one of Osman's eternal words; 'I spent most of my life struggling against evil and uncertainty. When will I get the time to practise creativity?' Mohammad Rafique regretted this phenomenon and pointed this out as a universal problem for all creative people in the country. Painter Hashem Khan also reconstructed his old days with Osman by saying: 'I have been moved by many of Osman's characters like Abbas, who leaves his ancestral roots to become established in life.' He also suggested that such programmes should be held outside Dhaka so as to acquaint people with the ideals of the great litterateur.

Educationist Selina Bahar Zaman paid her tribute to the litterateur by presenting the commemorative book on Shawkat Osman to the chairman of the programe Shamsur Rahman. Edited by Selina Bahar Zaman, the book was published on the very day of the meeting.

Jafis Osman, the son of Shawkat Osman, recited some of his satiric rhymes on different political issues like mass arrest and biggest ever ammo haul in Chittagong. Reciters Rupa Chakroborty and Ishita Hossain recited from the write ups of Shawkat Osman and Shamsur Rahman.

Among others, poet Rafique Azad, poet Shamsudra Gupta, writer Mushtafa Muhammad and writer Nazrul Alam also spoke on the occasion.