Sunil's death a loss to Bangladesh, literature
Say litterateurs, cultural activists
Bangladesh has lost a true friend with the passing of Sunil Gangopadhyay, whose death has created a vacuum in the Bengali literature, said noted litterateurs and cultural activists of the country yesterday.
The prolific poet and novelist, who wrote for generations of readers, had been and will remain an inspiration to those who write poetry and novels in Bangladesh and West Bengal, they added.
Noted poet Nirmalendu Goon said, "Sunil always stood beside Bangladesh in national disasters and helped the country during the War of Liberation in 1971 through his poetry."
Sunil had always been vocal in protecting Bangladesh's interest and also put pressure on the Indian government on issues like Teesta water-sharing, he said.
"Through his writings he (Sunil) portrayed the most important time frame of the Bangalees' life. He presented history in the easiest possible way to readers in the form of novels,” he said.
Sunil pioneered a new style in the history of Bengali poetry through the magazine "Krittibas", of which he was the founding editor, and played a key role in assimilating poets and litterateurs of the two Bangla, said Nirmalendu.
He was a true friend of Bangladesh, and his death is a huge loss to Bengali literature, he added.
Eminent poet-playwright Syed Shamsul Haq said Sunil was very respectful and sensitive towards the art, literature and culture of Bangladesh and perhaps the only writer of West Bengal who deeply nourished and evaluated Bangladesh.
In West Bengal, Sunil wrote poems, novels, short stories and plays with immense power for the last 60 years and had been an inspiration to the poets and novelists for four generations, he added.
Mentioning about Sunil's historic novels like “Sei Samay”, “Protham Alo” and “Purbo-Paschim”, noted cultural activist Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu said Sunil has uniquely influenced the youth of Bangladesh through his writings.
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