Abul Mansur Ahmad’s writings guide Bangalees

Noted author Selina Hossain today said eminent writer and political persona Abul Mansur Ahmad has enriched Bengali language.

“His (Abul Mansur Ahmad) write-ups have ushered in the Bangalee consciousness,” she said while speaking at an international seminar titled ‘Abul Mansur Ahmad and Contemporary Bangla: History and tradition’ in Kolkata today.

The programme was jointly organised by Netaji Subhas Chandra Open University’s Language, Translation and Cultural Centre’s Partition and War of Liberation, and Bangladesh’s Abul Mansur Ahmed Memorial Committee. The discussion was held at the university’s auditorium in Salt Lake in Kolkata.

Selina Hossain said,” Abul Monsur Ahmad’s writings are still luminous and continue to guide and inspire Bangalees. He had enriched Bangla language and expanded it. When the Muslims were lagging behind in literature, he arrived in the field of Bengali literature to rejuvenate it.”

In terms of Abul Mansur Ahmad’s contribution to literature, Selina Hossain said, “He safeguarded Bengali Muslim Literary Society, took the helm and financed it. Following the trail, the Bengali language has emerged in the world.”

Mahfuz Anam, the general secretary of Abul Mansur Ahmed Memorial Committee and also the son of Abul Mansur Ahmad, said, “We Bangalees don’t know each other, fail to recognise each other. Bangalee Hindu and Muslims don’t know each other and embrace each other.”

Anam, also the publisher and editor of Bangladeshi English daily The Daily Star, also said, “We have to understand each other and know each other. We have to embrace each other. We have to say we are Bangalees, let it be our identity. So, our soul must transcend upholding the tradition of our respective religion.”

The programme was presided over by Netaji Subhas Chandra Open University’s Vice-chancellor Shuvashankar Sarkar. Inaugural discussion was also attended by Asansol Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University’s Vice-chancellor Sadhan Chakraborty.

The discussants also highlighted different aspects of the life of Abul Mansur Ahmad (September 3, 1898-March 18, 1979). His secular ideology was also upheld in the programme. An informative video on his life was also projected during the discussion.

Satya Mithya (1953), Jiban Ksudha (1955), Ab-e-Hayat (1968) Chouchir, Pradip o Patanga are some of his novels. He also tried his hand in different genre of Bengali literature.