Touching the heart

Poet and author Rummana Chowdhury's sixteenth book was launched at the Amor Ekushey Boi Mela 2013 on 21 February. It is a compilation of 27 Bengali verses with their English translations, both written and translated by the author herself. Published by Anyadhara, printed by Probe Limited, with the book cover etched by artist Jashim Katabi, the book is selling for 120 taka or tend dollars in the United States and Canada.
The first poem, "Brishti Badol O Chotto Pakhi" or "Rainfall and a Little Bird", which is also the title of the book, depicts a little bird which symbolizes the moral or ethical conscience of the international man or woman who is concerned about the state of the world. The artist aptly depicts a bird flying in the darkness of a vast sky amidst rainfall and clouds. The bird is battered, its wings broken and its face distorted due to the warfare the world has brought about. Yet the bird has a streak of colour in its wings to symbolize the life, hope and beauty that exist within a world of dread, hate, jealousy and corruption. The poem emotionally touches upon global struggles, evils and the pitfalls of being human, irrespective of culture, creed or religion.
The twenty six poems that follow, each written in both English and Bengali, touch the human heart with an aura of mysticism, love, nationalism, universalism or patriotism. For example, in one poem Rummana touches upon the marching steps of courageous youth resisting and rebelling against injustice in Bangladesh today. The present Gonojagoron at Projonmo Chattar, which started in Shahbagh, Dhaka, has now spread its wings all over other cities of Bangladesh and even some parts of the western world. Rummana has dedicated this poem, entitled "Tarunner Agrajatra", or "The March of Youth" to the new and thriving youth force, a poem which depicts the endless possibilities and potentialities of a new era.
Her most impactful poem is "Ami Ekjon Nari", or "I am a Woman," a heartfelt, disturbing yet very raw and honest poem about the daily injustices and brutalities endured by Bangladeshi women. In the poem, a woman, speaking in the first person, discusses the countless times that she has been raped by her husband, her family, and even by strangers and society at large. Rummana effectively refers to the concept of rape in this poem in an ideological way that includes all kinds of injustice committed against women, not only rape in the literal sense, but any action that works to take power away from women at both the individual and systemic levels. The poem demands justice for the many counts of oppression faced by the female race.
Rummana Chowdhury's most striking poems include "Bhalo Basha'r Shonga" or "The Definition of Love," "Nistabdhatar Kichukhon Japan'e" or "Some moments of Silence in Japan," "Kodam Phuler Dike Takiye" or "Looking at the Kodam Flowers" and "Nei Shur Tall Loy" or "There's no Tune, Beat, Rhythm." She writes about issues such as the wandering gypsy heart that travels all over the world but finally finds peace and a home in Bangladesh, the resilience of people with disabilities who refuse to be handicapped by society, the spiritualism, patriotism and romanticism of Rabindranath Tagore, Amir Khusro, Mirza Ghalib or Nizamuddin Aulia's teachings, Swami Vivekananda's insights into life and living, the Apsharas and water fairies of Cambodia, and more. She elegantly finishes her book with her last poem, "Ekhon Bidayer Shomoi" or "Time to Say Good Bye," a poem about departure from and death in this world.
Any reader who is passionate about a good, in-depth, emotional read will enjoy the versatile range of topics that Rummana aims to cover in her work, including socio-political poetry, romantic verses and philosophical prose. Although she has mostly used blank verse, her poetry has a rhyme and rhythm of its own.
Rummana Chowdhury is an author, writer and cultural activist in Toronto, Canada. She was the national badminton champion in 1975-1978, recitation leader and debate guru while living in Bangladesh until 1981. Rummana ensures her own literary work and that of others is translated into English for global access and exposure. She is the representative of PEN Bangladesh in Canada. Her passion is to ensure that Bangladeshi culture thrives in diasporic communities across the West. Rummana has become a leading commentator on issues of migration, women and violence, and cultural and historical remembrance strategies. She is the author of books comprising poetry, short  and analytical articles, and is currently working on her first novel.

DR. DURDANA AHMAD BHUIYAN IS A CHILD SPECIALIST AND HAS TO HER CREDIT A NUMBER OF BOOKS ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH. SHE IS AN AVID READER OF POETRY.