Deeply rooted in own tradition

The year 1960 was significant for Bengali literature since this year saw the publication of Prothom Gan Ditio Mritur Aage (First Song Before the Second Death), a collection of poems by young poet Shamsur Rahman.

Rahman, however, was well known in the literary arena by that time as his poems had been in circulation in the literary magazines since 1948. But the book ushered in a new era as it contains poems which were different from the traditional form of Bengali poetry.

Rahman, in a span of over half-a-century of literary practice, brought a new dimension to Bengali poetry. He also made a record composing a staggering number of poems covering diverse themes within a very short time. He was perhaps the most productive poet in Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tegore. Rahman authored nearly one hundred books most of which are collection of poems.

With the geographical division of Bengal in 1947, its literature also became divided. One was dominated by the writers based in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and another by Dhaka, the new capital of the then East Pakistan.

The Dhaka-based Bengali poetry was also divided mainly into two groups. Ahsan Habib and Abul Hossain led the progressive group who were deeply influenced by the West Bengali poets of 1930s. The other group led by Farrukh Ahmed and Syed Ali Ahsan was labelled pro-Pakistan. Later, Shamsur Rahman, Al Mahmud and Shaheed Quadri emerged as the most powerful poets on the progressive front in the fifties and sixties. In this group Shamsur Rahman was the most active in composing poetry.

Shamsur Rahman is the poet of Dhaka in the true sense. Probably, he was the only successful poet in modern Bengali literature who was born, brought up and spent his whole life in Dhaka.

Rahman loved Dhaka very much. He wrote memories of his childhood in a book titled Smritir Shahar ( The City of Memories) which is considered a classic document of old Dhaka.

In over half a century of his literary practice he wrote five novels, a number of short stories, many patriotic songs and lyrics. Rahman was deeply rooted in his own tradition.

He successfully reflected Dhaka's colloquial language in his poems. We can mention the poem "Aaie matowala rath" (This Drunken Night) which is full of Dhakaite idioms and dialect. Rahman successfully used old Dhaka's dialect which is a mix up of Urdu, Persian and Bengali words.

Urban themes, symbols, signs and resemblance also figured widely in his poems. Though Rahman composed Bengali poetry in modern forms, many Urdu and Persian words got their appropriate places in his writings.

As a poet and a citizen of Dhaka he could not dissociate himself from the political development of East Pakistan which later emerged as Bangladesh. Though he was never active in politics, he composed a number of poems inspiring the freedom fighters of the country.

One of his popular poems during that time was "Asad's Shirts" which depicts a young political activist being brutally killed by the police in a protest rally against the repressive army rule.

Like bunches of blood-red oleanders, like flaming clouds at sunset/Asad's shirt flutters/ In the gusty wind, in the limitless blue./ To the brother's spotless shirt/ His sister had sown/ With the fine gold and thread/ Of her heart's desire/ Buttons which shone like stars/ How often had his ageing mother/ With such tender care/ Hung that shirt out to dry/ In her sunny courtyard?

After independence of Bangladesh, Rahman emerged as the most powerful poet in the country reflecting the true spirit of independence and the freedom fight. He could successfully use the terms and words which were perfect embodiments of our independence.

"O, You Independence" was one of his famous poems. In this poem he tried to delve into the inner meaning of independence and freedom.

Independence You are/ like the deathless poems and immortal songs of Rabindranath/ Independence you are/like the wavy long curly hair of Kazi Nazrul/ Great man, vibrating with the joy and happiness of creation.

Through this piece of poem Rahman reflected the true sprit of independence. Shamsur Rahman was also very active during the struggle against the autocratic rule of Ershad. He even took the risk of losing editorship of government-owned Dainik Banlga and joined the protest rally against the Ershad regime.

His famous poem, "Odvut uter pidhe choleche swadesh" (The Country Riding On A Peculiar Camel ) was about the misrule and political stagnation prevailing in the country during the Ershad regime.

Since school days I was very fond of poet Shamsur Rahman. He was like an icon to us and thousands of others who tried to write something in the poetic form.

I still remember that I had bought the collected poems of Shamsur Rahman from the money I got as stipend during school days. I had also the chance of getting his autograph on the copy of his books that I bought.

We did not see Kazi Nazrul Islam or Jashimuddin who were also huge icons of Bengali poetry and had passed away long ago. But we saw Shamsur Rahman who was very close to us. He joined and rallied with the people fighting for all the great causes the country witnessed in his time.

When Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam arrived in Dhaka after independence, Shamsur Rahman visited the ailing poet at a hospital. He wrote later that seeing such a vibrant poet in such condition was very painful for him.

After so many years, the same situation happened to him. Going to see him at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital was very painful for a person like me who has been following his works since childhood.

When I first visited him at the intensive care unit of the hospital, he was semi-conscious and moaning in pain. His breathing was very shallow and he was kept alive with artificial support.

May his soul rest in peace.

The author is Staff Reporter of The Daily Star