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book review

The Crusader with a Pen

by Mohd. Ekramul Haque
Arnora Bangladeshi Amora Bangali by Mahbub Anam Published by. KhoshroJ Kitab Mahal Page 144 Price .Taka 60
COMPILATIONS of published materials are not normally destined to be greeted with much curiosity or to arouse a marked degree of sensation in the literary circle. It would be short-sighted, nevertheless, to ignore the importance of collating worthy pieces and giving them a sort of permanence in the realm of literature. The author Mahbub Anam has indeed indebted us by his title "We are Bangladeshis we are Bangalls"
it comprises 17 write-ups, all as the writer says, of the current decade.
The subject matter of these pieces, however, encompasses several centuries delineating the process of development of our national consciousness, giving the raison d'etre of the partition of the subcontinent and also glimpses of the struggle of our emergence as an independent and sovereign nation. These
pieces also depict most succinctly our distinct ethnic, religious and national identity. Those who have already read them as newspaper columns or special occasion articles, may find a second or even a third reading at once nostalgic and insightful for the issues these pieces deal with are still being hotly debated at the national level and the places and persons mentioned continue to haunt the elderly of today. Anam has the advantage of experience of almost twice his age. He used to accompany his illustrious father Abul Mansur Ahmad even as a child to important political, literary and cultural functions. He has vivid memory of those occasions. They lived in Calcutta from late 30s to late 40s, the most crucial period in the history of the subcontinent, when that port city was virtually the hub of. so to say. our universe and had an easy access to personalities who mattered.
Besides. Mahbub Anam became a political activist quite early and there has hardly been any progressive movement during the last half-a-century that had not seen him as an active participant. His addiction to political activism not only forced him to partake prison diet but also saw him on a prestigious par-
liamentary seat. Though his myriad of calling took him to different spheres of engagements, pen-pushing remained his main avocation and for several years he adored the high chair of editor of a national dally. His writings are obviously steeped with experience at first hand and his facts incontrovertible. Even his belittlers would agree, he argues his case like a deft lawyer but In simple and common man's language. His style is unique. He has an uncanny Intelligence to arrive at the heart of a controversial issue fast and displays his legal acumen as a seasoned practitioner. But he treats his elders with respect irrespective of whether he agrees with them or not.
Just glance through the list of contents in the tide and you will find his penchant for controversial issues. But all his writings are not confined to terse Issues like search for roots, basis of nationality. cultural aggression and the like: there are lighter ones too like “Those Days of Muslim Hall" or the "Editors' Mansion." If you too were there than, you enjoy immensely, if you weren't you regret equally. I admit the Editors' Mansion made me regret. I re-
ally wish 1 was then around.
I wouldn't expect everybody to agree with the contentions of Mahbub Anam on the controversial issues he dwells on. Controversies have always been there and would continue to be. Has the controversy over theism and atheism or over monotheism and polytheism been resolved. But why go to such subjects that have already lost the edge. In our own life-time we have seen two major controversies over the Two Nation and again over the Two Economy Theories. One became the cause of partition of the subcontinent and the other split Pakistan. But has either of the controversies been resolved to the satisfaction of all? I don't take sides, at the moment, on controversies, but commend Mahbub Anam's style, his presentation and his manner of marshaling facts.
Mahbub Anam's writings have an imprint of his erudition. His reference to Emersion in "Some old things and new thinking on a Bengali New Year's Day" is very relevant as much for that piece as for some others. The Impact of Emersion's earlier writings on Mahbub is profound.
Emersion then preached: what is true for you in your own heart is inevitably
true also for all other men. This buoyant optimism was instrumental in consolidating the American nation. But, by the time and if ever Mahbub compromises with Emersion s later day realisation that every man was in some respect crippled by the world bound as much by circumstances as released towards freedom, the crusading flair of his writing might also be affected.
The book reads prettily as it takes the reader on a ride to the panorama of life in its various shades.
Mahbub continues to be prolific. His claim that his published articles may make as many as ten volumes is no exaggeration. I would recommend readers to keep an eye on his writings.
I refer here to one of his recent writings (Dlnkal September 29, 1997) for an idea of the things to expect from the later volumes, if they come. In this piece he takes upon Shawkat Osman, one of our elder litterateurs. He earnestly recalls Shawkat Osman presented him personally with his first publication. That made a great impression on his tender mind. Then introduces the point of contention but prefers to quote Late Abu Zafar Shamsuddin for Judgement.