Letters
A Polymath of Our Time
I always wondered what inspires a great writer like Syed Shamsul Haq and how he comes up with new ideas to write about. This story gives the reader a rare view into the head of one of the greatest writers in our literature. I was fascinated to learn that Syed Shamsul Haq still finds the same joy in writing as he did many years ago. This joy in his heart and love for man make him special. I wish him a long life of creativity.
Shurid Shamim
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
***
It is very well written feature. While in school I used to read Syed Shmasul Haq's column Hrit Kolomer Tane published in the daily Sangbad and was enlightened by it. Since then I have read many novels and poems by him. In my opinion he is one of our finest writers. He has written about many things but the liberation war and love remain a central theme in his work. The Star has done a great job publishing a cover story on Syed Shamsul Haq.
Shayma Azmi
Gulshan, Dhaka
***
India's Poverty Story
The feature gives the reader an idea about the real state of development in India over the decades. Although there is a lot of talk about India emerging as the next superpower, the fact is it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. A significant percentage of the population still do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitary latrines. Amartya Sen in a seminar last year pointed out that India lags behind Bangladesh in many social development indicators such as child mortality and women development. In states like Bihar, I have seen people defecating in open fields. While Indians are patting themselves on their own backs propelled by a Bollywood-created sense of complacency, a large number of their fellow country men and women suffer needlessly from absolute poverty.
Aniruddha Roy
Via Email, from London
***
The Life of a Rebel
I enjoyed reading the piece very much. I want to thank the writer and the Star for this feature on the life of a great poet who believed in humanism above all things. Nazrul's message of love for all and equality have made him immortal. At a time when our nation is divided along petty political and ideological lines, his poems and songs have more relevance today. He never shied away from voicing his concerns against the oppressive British Raj despite being intimidated and jailed several times. His works will continue to inspire generations to come.
Fazlul Karim
Malibagh, Dhaka
***
Minority Report
It is a well written piece. I agree with the writer that the real solution to fighting terrorism does not lie in trapping ideologically and emotionally vulnerable youths in staged sting operations but in engaging them in proper education, equipping them with a true version of their religions and assimilating them in the society. Religious institutions have a huge role to play in this regard. As the writer points out, leaders and teachers at these institutions should put more effort in educating the youth about the non violent Truths of their tradition. I believe parents should try to have a more open relationship with their children and monitor their activities more closely.
Mohammad Bashir Ahmed
Uttara, Dhaka.
***
Back into my Cocoon
I want to thank the writer for this well written article. Like him, I too felt a little depressed watching the news of the VC of Jahangirnagar University being held hostage for days by a few faculty members of the same university because he did not pay heed to their demands. This is sad. This incident represents the total collapse of law and order in the country. If the VC is abusing his power, isn't there a proper procedure for taking actions against him? Could the senate members not call a meeting and vote to impeach him or something? Could the faculty members not write to the chancellor and demand actions? Why did they have to protest by holding the VC hostage in his own office and during this time why did they stop teaching classes causing irreparable losses to the innocent students? On the other hand, VCs in our universities often abuse their power. They forget that they are teachers first and their main purpose is to make sure how education can be better imparted to the students.
Nasiruddin Khalil
Ex-student of Jahangirnagar University.
***
A Case for Palestine
This is a well written book review. I read The Almond Tree and liked it very much. I appreciate Michael Cohen's effort to tell a comprehensive story about Palestine that illustrates the hardship experienced by so many throughout the last 63 years under Israeli occupation. What I liked most was the neutral tone to characters and the narrative style of the story. However, while I was initially very happy to see the Palestinian experience being explored in such an accessible format, I was a bit disappointed by the fact that The Almond Tree depicts Palestinian resistance as reactive and Palestinians in general as almost backward. However, all said and done, this book is an encouraging effort to understand the untold sufferings of the Palestinian people at the hand of the Israelis and portray good hearted people on both sides of this conflicts who want to see peace in the region.
Khalid Omar Nahiyan
Via email.
The Life of a Rebel
I enjoyed reading the piece very much. I want to thank the writer and the Star for this feature on the life of a great poet who believed in humanism above all things. Nazrul's message of love for all and equality have made him immortal. At a time when our nation is divided along petty political and ideological lines, his poems and songs have more relevance today. He never shied away from voicing his concerns against the oppressive British Raj despite being intimidated and jailed several times. His works will continue to inspire generations to come.
Fazlul Karim
Malibagh, Dhaka
***
Minority Report
It is a well written piece. I agree with the writer that the real solution to fighting terrorism does not lie in trapping ideologically and emotionally vulnerable youths in staged sting operations but in engaging them in proper education, equipping them with a true version of their religions and assimilating them in the society. Religious institutions have a huge role to play in this regard. As the writer points out, leaders and teachers at these institutions should put more effort in educating the youth about the non violent Truths of their tradition. I believe parents should try to have a more open relationship with their children and monitor their activities more closely.
Mohammad Bashir Ahmed
Uttara, Dhaka.
***
Back into my Cocoon
I want to thank the writer for this well written article. Like him, I too felt a little depressed watching the news of the VC of Jahangirnagar University being held hostage for days by a few faculty members of the same university because he did not pay heed to their demands. This is sad. This incident represents the total collapse of law and order in the country. If the VC is abusing his power, isn't there a proper procedure for taking actions against him? Could the senate members not call a meeting and vote to impeach him or something? Could the faculty members not write to the chancellor and demand actions? Why did they have to protest by holding the VC hostage in his own office and during this time why did they stop teaching classes causing irreparable losses to the innocent students? On the other hand, VCs in our universities often abuse their power. They forget that they are teachers first and their main purpose is to make sure how education can be better imparted to the students.
Nasiruddin Khalil
Ex-student of Jahangirnagar University.
***
A Case for Palestine
This is a well written book review. I read The Almond Tree and liked it very much. I appreciate Michael Cohen's effort to tell a comprehensive story about Palestine that illustrates the hardship experienced by so many throughout the last 63 years under Israeli occupation. What I liked most was the neutral tone to characters and the narrative style of the story. However, while I was initially very happy to see the Palestinian experience being explored in such an accessible format, I was a bit disappointed by the fact that The Almond Tree depicts Palestinian resistance as reactive and Palestinians in general as almost backward. However, all said and done, this book is an encouraging effort to understand the untold sufferings of the Palestinian people at the hand of the Israelis and portray good hearted people on both sides of this conflicts who want to see peace in the region.
Khalid Omar Nahiyan
Via email.
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