Sufia Kamal’s “Ekusher Kobita”

A day unforeseen as such! None mourns the dead

Nor do they fear death; Intrepid, what illumination

Brightens their weary frames, and faces; steps

Evince staunchness clad determination, ignite thus

The tenacious resolve!

As if they inscribed in Bangla

Their own names in their very death warrant:

'Today I take my mother to my bosom from the earth'

There were Salam, Barkat, and countless others name unknown

Father's eternal hope, mother's treasured possession,

Husband to some, only brother to the sisters-

Gone they are today.

Gone?- Nay, they are here-

Closest to our hearts, they surround the sky and the air.

The procession marches, with fearless strides; voices

Hum the songs of death; fierce are the fire-spitting eyes.

Faces stern and firm are mother-wife-sisters

Such unforeseen as a day it is!

Eternal Ekushe,

Thus became invincible with Bengali language in its vein!

Motiur Rahman is a lecturer of English at Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology.