Visions yet to be realised

Ferdausi Majumdar (L) and Subarna Mustafa (R) recite excerpts from works by Sufia Kamal and Jahanara Imam, Aly Zaker speaks at the event

June 20 marked the 95th birth anniversary of poet Sufia Kamal and yesterday was Jahanara Imam's 12th death anniversary. A discussion was held at the Liberation War Museum in Shegun-bagicha on June 25 where cultural personalities reminisced on the contributions of the two icons.

Theatre personality and a member of the Museum's Trustee Board, Aly Zaker said, "I was fortunate enough to have been personally acquainted with both Sufia Kamal and Jahanara Imam. 'Sufia Khala', as we used to call her, with her feeble frame used to slowly get on the stage with the help of others at events. Yet she was a maternal figure to us all, with a vision of a nation, free of gender-discrimination as well as other social injustice.

"Jahanara Imam, enduring the agony of cancer, was the key figure in organising the Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee (a committee vowing to bring to justice individuals that committed murders and collaborated with the Pakistani army during the Liberation War). An interesting fact that many may not be aware of is that when a bed-ridden Sufia Kamal was approached during the formation of the Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee, she suggested Imam. Who better to lead the committee than a mother who had lost her son (a Muktijoddha) to the war?"

Actor Subarna Mustafa then read excerpts from works including Anya Jibon and Ekatturer Dinguli by Jahanara Imam. Through Subarna's emotive rendition, images emerged of Imam's childhood, family life, experiences during the war and dealing with a terminal illness. "Allah! Even the blazing pits of Habiah (hell) isn't enough for these 'vigilantes'" -- goes a line referring to the war criminals from Ekatturer Dinguli, Imam's most notable publication of her journal written in 1971.

A visibly moved Subarna seemed to strike a chord with the audience. The script was edited by Sara Zaker.

Veteran theatre activist Ferdausi Majumdar fondly remembered her encounter with Sufia Kamal at the 50th staging of Kokilara (Ferdausi's solo performance). Ferdausi then recited poetry from Shanjher Maya (Kamal's first book of poems). The presentation (edited by Mofidul Haque) also included letters and comments from noted personalities including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain. Kamal's first book came out in 1938, bearing a foreword from Nazrul and attained acclaim from renowned critics, including Tagore. Shanjher Maya was translated in Russian in 1984. Begum Rokeya, who can be regarded the first feminist of Bengal, had a lasting impression on Kamal.

The poet actively took part in the Language Movement. In 1961, when the Pakistani government banned Tagore songs, she became involved in the movement among Bengalis that ensued. During the mass uprising in 1969, which demanded the resignation of General Ayub Khan, she promoted the cause by forming Mahila Sangram Parisad (a women's organisation) and she was deeply involved in the Liberation War. Kamal was also instrumental in getting the first women's dormitory of Dhaka University to be named Rokeya Hall, after Begum Rokeya.

These pioneering women are not among us any more. However, their visions, yet to be realised unreservedly, should inspire all to continue the struggle on which they had embarked, felt many among the audience.