<i>Sudeep Sen's powerful poetry wins accolades</i>

(From left) Dorothea Muller-Ott, Aminur Rahman, Sudeep Sen, Faiz Ahmed, Rafiqun Nabi and Md. Muniruzzaman Photo: STAR

Sudeep Sen, the internationally acclaimed poet and literary editor, was awarded the Kathak Literary Award for his contribution to Bangladeshi literature on November 9. The programme took place at Gallery Chitrak and speaking on the occasion, apart from the poet himself, were Aminur Rahman, director of Kathak; Faiz Ahmed, eminent journalist and writer and Rafiqun Nabi, leading local artist. Dorothea Muller-Ott, leading literary personality from Vienna, also spoke on the occasion.
Sudeep Sen's book of poetry Rain (Borsha) and his magazine Atlas were launched too that evening -- amidst candle lights, radiant blossoms -- under the darkening clear sky. Moving poetry recitation by Sen and Aminur Rahman, in Bangla and English followed the prize giving. This was received with thundering applause.
Kathak is an international group of literary activists, initiated in Bangladesh. Aminur Rahman said, “We wish to promote Bangladeshi literature and art. We have published several books and translations like Sen's Rain. Sen needs no introduction. Atlas, a literary magazine, is an international publication and it's edited by Sen. The poet was in Dhaka for the past five years, while his wife Priti was working on a British project. Postcards from Bangladesh, a best-seller book, which Sen has edited, and is also being exhibited today.”
Sen has translated many of our poets like Jibanananda Das, Fazal Shahabuddin and Aminur Rahman too. “He has also published a few books containing writings of Bangladeshi authors like Kaiser Haq,” Rahman said. “Two years back, he organised a workshop and founded a group, 'Brine Pickles', at the British Council, promoting works of young local writers,” Rahman continued. “The workshop was a turning point for many young writers. Sen's contribution to the Bangladeshi literary scene, in short, is remarkable,” Rahman concluded.
Faiz Ahmed said, “We are proud of Sudeep Sen's poetry and what he has translated into English. His workshop and his editing have also contributed greatly to our literary scene. I myself, lap up his works with great eagerness.”
Rafiqun Nabi said that back in the day conventional English poetry was in vogue rather than the experimentations found in contemporary literature -- as is seen in Sen's works. Every poet has an individual style of expressing himself/herself today. Some are simple while others go in for the complex mode,” Nabi said, adding that poetry, which communicates well with the reader, is the best.
Speaking in particular of Sudeep Sen's Rain, Nabi said that the words on the pages formed a pattern of the falling rain, with a break in between to relieve the monotony. With the rush of modern existence, the poems were easy to appreciate, as they are not time consuming. A few words say it all, he concluded.
Sudeep Sen, himself, talking to The Daily Star, said that he was very happy to be in Bangladesh and was very much at home here as the people are genial and receptive. “It's like visiting my extended family as the people are very familiar. I've lived here for five years; I was associated with more than a dozen books. I was touched and moved by my various experiences here in Bangladesh.”