Fiction portraying dark reality
Masud Ahmed appreciates a writer's verve
Nanga Hujurer Pathar Shorgo An Advocacy for Science and Worldliness Lovely Bashar Salma Book Depot
Lovely Bashar is not one of the regular writers whose creativity frequents printed pages. Nonetheless her writing verve and skill are deep and incisive enough to attract the ones caring for logic, reasonableness and equity in society. We, members of civil society, have been quite vociferous for long against stopping exploitation and indignity to women. This fiction is worthy of discussing for these factors along with other social and cultural significant issues of traditional Bangladesh society.
In this story written in Bangla there are a protagonist, subsidiary characters, plot, sub-plot and a main theme. But the main chord of the tune is a stance against superstition, phantoms, hocus pocus, abradabra and exploitation of the vulnerable classes in the name of religion, still rampant in our rural society. The nangahujur (a rustic cleric) is at the centre of this exploitation. His clout is invincible as all the parasites of the rural economy also support him in their own material interest. The ignorant and illiterate rural people of our country fall easy prey to exploitation by mendicants, who guarantee a treatment and cure of all ailments with the application of stones and medicines they claim have been derived from the dreams they have had.
The nangahujur is one such in the habitation of characters of this story conceived at a remote place of Tangail. He is a misogynist and blames the womenfolk of the village for anything, including infertility. He prescribes treatment for them for the same and again blames them through a resort to excuses when it is unsuccessful actually owing to his ignorance. Lovely Bashar also depicts the daily life and chores of the village where the marginal males are also within the clutches of a vicious circle. The overall environment is illogical, anti-science and ignorant. She emphasizes the need for reasonableness, logic, argument and a rational system for distribution of honour, recognition and resources on an equitable and scientific basis. However, in doing this, she does not take upon herself the role of an essayist or social campaigner. That would shed the aesthetics of a fiction. Instead, by putting her characters to talk and dialogue, explaining their introspection and depicting the backdrop and environment, she has been successful in attracting readers to a credible life-like story told by her.
Through a careful choice of diction, vocabulary and names (Golam Ali Fakir, Sapura, Meyenok, etc.), the writer has evidenced a high level maturity in her power of observance and compatibility with rural life and livelihood. It is especially the local aroma, cacophony and sights of Tangail that are there in the book. The influence of Aroj Ali Matubbor and Serajul Islam Choudhury are perceptible in her expression of opinion. These are not mimicry or copying but are metabolized by the writer. Objectivity and dispassion are the two praiseworthy virtues of this writer. She poses nowhere as one with dislike of humanity. Rather she speaks of equal treatment for human beings irrespective of their sex. The metaphors and similes used are relevant
It has to be said, though, that in spite of having many good qualities necessary for fiction, there is little humour in the story. Spelling and punctuation are flawless. Readers who are for worldliness and science should read this book.
Masud Ahmed writes fiction and is Comptroller and Auditor General, Bangladesh
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments