The Yeast/Irish Lesson:
Some thoughts of
Abul Mansur AhmadDr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
February 2000
[The following translation was done in the context of a Topic of the Month discussion on Shetubondhon]
Dear Shetubondhon Friends,
Salam and greetings.
In this concluding part "Historical example", Abul Mansur Ahmad draws on the valiant Irish history as a case in point. He explains one of the main reasons behind the great literature produced by the World-Poet Rabindranath. He also explains the role and contribution of W. B. Yeats in the Irish renaissance. It was only natural that Nazrul would strike such a chord with the general populace of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan or, in his words, Pak-Bangla). The national distinctiveness is essential, according to the author. To him, the Language Movement was the first stepping stone in this regard. As he has explained in his book, we may not have taken steps much further than those valiant souls that sacrificed their life for this. Once again, one does not have to agree with every single aspect of his articulation, as I myself do not. However, one should focus on the main thrust of his articulation.
The Yeats/Irish Lesson (4/4): Some thoughts of Abul Mansur Ahmad
English literature is very developed and rich literature. It's the domain of Milton, Shakespeare-Scott-Shelley. Yet, this great literature did not succeed in inspiring the Irish nation. Many great Irish, such as Swift, Berclay (spelling?), Goldsmith, and Bernard Shaw, have served this English literature, and became world famous. But their service literature occurred residing in London, not in Ireland. That literature was not able to inspire the national life of those living in Ireland. It's no wonder that the enormous sacrifice and struggle of great statesmen such as, Parnell, Davitt(spelling?), Redmond, did not facilitate the independence movement of the Irish nation.
However, when the national poet of Ireland, W. B. Yeats, succeeded in creating Irish literature, independent of English literature, when he gave the Irish literary works - free of imitating English-culture - the Celtic root and distinctiveness, that day the Irish people's soul found its own treasure. It became enamored by the ecstasy of new life. It became ardently devoted to build its own destiny. The result is that the failed independence movement of the Irish nation for two centuries succeeded under the leadership of D. Valera in just twenty years.
What happened in case of Irish nation repeated in case of the Muslims of East Pakistan and if the distinctiveness of literature is not secured, the rest about the Irish nation's history would come to pass as well. To awaken and enliven the Muslims of Bengal in every sphere of life, to bring about renaissance in his life, his literary pursuit must be rescued from imitation or following. They have to create their distinctive literature. The Bangla literature produced by the Hindus is genuinely great - classic. However, by imitating Muslims won't succeed in creating such living literature. Rabindranath could not produce such great literature by imitating Homer, Milton, Shakespeare. Because he was able to provide his literary pursuit the root of his own culture, he is today the World-Poet Rabindranath.
The Muslims of Bengal too cannot pursue greatness by imitating Rabindranath. They have to make their mark on the foundation of their own distinctiveness, on the foundation of their own culture, heritage and legacy. In the sky of Bishwa-Bharati of World Poet Rabindranath so many times crescent appeared in autumn, and during those seasons of Sharodiay Puja "Anondomoyi Ma" appeared so many times, but not for a single day the crescent of Eid or Muharram appeared in the sky of that world. The task of making that crescent appear was on the shoulder of Nazrul Islam. There is nothing to be upset about it. Because it's natural. It's harsh reality."
[Abul Mansur Ahmad, Bangladesher Kalchar, Ahmad Publishing House, 1966, pp. 163-168.]
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