The making of a mother
Pratibhas Publication gave a ceremonial launch to the book at the Liberation War Museum on December 8. Eminent educator Sarder Fazlul Karim, litterateur Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, President of IDEAL-SPRING International Foundation Amy Kraft and Sharmin's husband Dr. Amr Abdallah were present at the launching programme.
Sharmin Ahmad is the eldest daughter of Syed Tajuddin Ahmad, the first prime minister of Bangladesh.She is now living in the USA. She has recently come to Bangladesh and on this occasion her sister Simeen Hussain Rimi took the initiative to publish the book. Previously the story was published in the weekly Robbar in 1995.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. At the event Sharmin narrated how she was inspired to write the book. She had to study children's literature when she was a research student at the George Washington University in 1986-'87. The course involved reading storybooks to children, listening to their questions and finding out the reasons of those questions. This interested Sharmin in telling stories to children. So, when one day her own daughter asked the inevitable question, she just started telling the imaginary story of how Aunrita came to find her mother.
Besides the uniqueness of the plot, the story also involves some parallel themes like 'Accountability of the Infinite to the Finite', and lessons of mercy towards all living beings.
The book has illustrations of beautiful watercolour paintings by eminent artist Syed Enayet Hossain that will surely attract the young minds. The book comes in bilingual text in Bangla and English which will facilitate children all over the world. With good binding in hardcover, the book has been priced at Tk. 250.00.