When pessimism is on a roll
Tusar Talukder speaks of poetic agony
Ekhono Murti Hotey Parini Rakibul Hasan Ghash Phul Nadi
Ekhono Murti Hotey Parini (Yet to Be a Statue), a collection of poems, penned by Rakibul Hasan shows us a clear picture of our contemporary society and modern man's dilemma in present times. Most of the poems in this collection are pessimistic in tone and theme. As soon as the readers come across the poems, they will easily perceive the poet is suffering from mental agony. Let me say that I believe every poet dwells in some agonies and those agonies ultimately compel him/her to take the pen in hand. Whatever it is, what kind of agony Rakibul Hasan suffers from can better be realized if some noteworthy poems from this collection are analyzed.
The very first poem of the book, Nobojonmader Proti (To the new born), will easily draw the attention of readers because of the last two lines of the poem, which indicate the poet's utter despondency with the present world. The same frustration is vivid in other poems such as Mangshakirno Nagore (The Town Full of Fleshy Human Species), Probhati (The Morning Song), Bishayoner Madur (The Mat of Globalization), Agachhar Udyan (The Garden of Weeds), Kennorer Jibon (The life of an Earthworm), Somporko (Relations), Barta (Message), Bagh (Tiger), Brishti (Rain) and so on.
Let me delve deep into some poems. The first poem which compels me to write something on it is 'The Town Full of Fleshy Human Species', hinting broadly that the whole world has become a place where corruption of the human flesh is rampant. Here flesh is much more important than mind; excessive materialism engulfs people's minds. A sensible man has no place in this world; he always tries to adapt to the inhuman approaches of other people but fails. The poem, 'Yet to Be a Statue', is also the title of the book delineating the present world as a place inhabited by flatterers. The man who does not have that ability to flatter is quite at odds with this world. The poet here develops a character, which is yet to be an idol because he/she is yet to be a complete participant in the world of flattery.
How most people in the urban regions are leading their lives is clearly portrayed in the poem, 'The life of an Earthworm'. This poem also shows us the pitfalls associated with the class system prevailing in our society. Conversely Nijeke Gondar Gondar Lagchhe portrays that people, in our times, are so much accustomed to the irrelevancies of society that people have totally forgotten to react to any kind of injustice imposed on them. One assumes readers will get a holistic view of human civilization in the poem, 'Tiger'. Thereupon I restrain myself from giving you an in-depth analysis of the poem. But I do invite you to go through the poem. Do not forget to keep the focus on poems like 'Insomnia' and 'Characterization'. In case of composing the poems, to what degree Rakibul Hasan has been pessimistic can be felt in two lines from 'The Garden of Weeds':
"There are more weeds than flowers in this garden
So is it needed to clean up all the weeds?
Rather it would be better-
To make a garden of weeds
Removing all the plants of flowers"
One cannot but point out that this book calls for a review for multiple reasons. And I think the readers have already perceived it. Being one of the young poets of Bangladesh, Rakibul Hasan will surely create a niche in readers' minds through this collection of poetry. Last but not least, one would like to add a contrasting note regarding the collection. Many years back, the poet Sukanto Bhattyachariya noted:
"And leave we will. Yet as long as I breathe,
I will go on clearing the debris
With all my strength
From the face of this earth.
I will make this world habitable for this child;
This is my firm pledge to the newborn".
And many years later, Rakibul Hasan dares people to say, 'Abandon all hopes before you enter here'. This appeal to the new born of the world definitely has a reason insofar as the the poet is concerned. Why Rakibul does not have any iota of hope and why he does not have the spiritual as also moral strength that Sukanto has are answered through the compositions of the collection. Readers may wander through the poems of Ekhono Murti Hotey Parini to find answers to their queries.
Tusar Talukder is a free lance writer and translator. He teaches English at Central Women's University (CWU).
E-mail tusar.talukder@gmail.com
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