Narrative with wit and humour
Ziauddin Choudhury praises an expatriate writer's debut
The author has titled his book Kolachhela Bola. The word 'Kola" in Bengali has several meanings; banana, arts, and artfully or cleverly. I tried first translating the title to "Artfully Speaking" until I read the eponymous article in the book where the author gives out the meaning which is a spin on the original Bengali phrase Katachhela Bola (speaking by way of conversation). To this, however, the author wittily adds that his title is also a pun on the word Kola which has several meanings. The reader is left to his own wit to interpret the meaning. In any case, this is the maverick title of the first book by Ashraf Ahmed, which is a collection of his writings that appeared in a local daily over the last few years. The book contains articles that cover a wide spectrum of the author's life experiences, observations, reminiscences, and reflections.
Ashraf began writing at a rather mature age. In this he is not alone. Nirad Choudhury the author of The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian-- never hit the literary scene until his fifties. Henry Miller wrote his first novel in his mid-forties. Maturity in age provides a unique perspective on life and the surroundings that youth cannot see or perceive. This is an added advantage to people who also combine with it a natural gift of acute observation blended with humour. Life to these people is something that carries a present of surprise, the unknown, and delight instead of drudgery and boredom. Life to them is an enjoyable journey despite the pains and unpleasant experiences that accompany it. Ashraf's book is a compendium of such experiences and delights in our everyday life.
The kaleidoscope that the book provides is multicolored and covers a wide range of topics. Some are reflections and observations on the life of an immigrant or an expatriate, some are reminiscences of a life several decades past, and some are memories of dear and loved ones who have travelled beyond this world. The author has also added a review of the autobiography of the founding father of BangladeshBangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Each article carries the stamp of a thoughtful person composed with words that are carefully chosen and embellished with wit and humour where necessary. Collectively, the essays portray a person who is progressive in thoughts, pragmatic in outlook and a patriot at heart.
Ashraf is among those in Bangladesh without whose moral and active support Bangladesh would probably not have been bornnot at least within the time that it came about. Some articles in his book are a testimony to the support for the fight for our independence that our youth provided from within the borders. His stories and accounts on Captain Saigol, the imaginary travel to Dhaka on Google Map, and those on Pillows take us back to the war of 1971 and the sufferings at that time, including the author's own experience.
A most poignant article is on the author's mother and her role in building the family through adversity and pecuniary hardship. It is one of the most touching accounts narrated with feeling, love, and utmost sincerity. Ashraf provides a great tribute to his loving and sagacious mother in this account.
The author reveals his liberal and progressive outlook through several articles, most prominently Haram Khor,and Kaborer Andhokare. Although told in forms of stories these carry deep thoughts on our beliefs, prejudices and perhaps bigotries.
The article reviewing the autobiography of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shows the author's profound appreciation of the father of the nation's political career, his assessment of the political leaders of his time, and his own tribulations up to the period in which he recorded his autobiography.
The best part of the review is Ashraf's own summary of the major political events captured in the
autobiography.
The other articles are reminiscences of college days, friends who influenced the author, and observations on social life in his adopted country. Readers who live in a similar social milieu can relate to the author's comments and observations in the essays titled Arshir Porshi, Bhabi Shamachar, Heart Attack-er Upakarita, etc. These are very lively articles full of wit and humour on events of everyday life (except heart attack, perhaps) in the US that a Bangladeshi experiences.
The articles are all well written in a language that flows effortlessly, and keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end of each article. Some of these are written on very mundane and trivial topics, but the manner of narration, wit and humour make them very readable. This is the hallmark of a writer of promise, and Ashraf's writing provides that promise. The only drawback of the book, if I can call it a drawback, is the arrangement of the articles in the book. The author has arranged the articles by the dates of their original publication in the press. This has led to jumping from a serious to non-serious nature of the topics, from frivolity to solemnity, which at times has resulted in distraction for a reader. The book would have read better if the articles were arranged thematically rather than chronologically.
This is Ashraf's first book, but I am sure this will not be his last. In fact one wonders why he took so long to begin writing. The author has a masterful use of Bengali language, and an effortless way to narrate an event or story with fun and merriment. One hopes he will continue to delight us with his writing.
Ziauddin Choudhury is a former World Bank Executive and a former District Commissioner of the Bangladesh government. E-mail: zchoudhury@verizon.net.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments