Dear Editor

I read the book review entitled 'Books from the Ekushey Boi Mela: On Anisul Hoque and Dr Mohit Kamal' by Mr Azfar Aziz, published in the literature page on March 17, 2007. The review delighted me as Azfar Aziz touched upon the time-relevant issue, the mushroom growth of cheap writings and writers. It is a traditional belief that a Bengali having an iota of education becomes a maniac of writing poetry or story. The saying 'A little learning is a dangerous thing' is pertinent here. It is a great regret that the people with the mania are not aware of danger regarding being poets and writers.

Azfar Aziz wrote, “Even the lowest-grade writers of the 19th and 20th century would surely turn over in their graves from shame if they knew that these sort of books are nowadays considered popular Bangla literature”, which, I think, is well justified.

I also read the write-up entitled 'Book Review: An Exchange' in the mail bag of the Star Literature of April 21,2007 by two students of Islamic University of Khulna. Munmun Ali and Umme Salma are perhaps emotional readers of literature of the 21st century. Maybe their tender psyches has been swirled by the invectives on the bestseller of Ekushey Boi Mela 2007. Maybe they cried out as well as got thrilled with the characters of the stories they swallowed, which compelled them to 'lecture' Azfar Aziz. Consequently Munmun and Salma requested the critics (maybe especially Azfar Aziz) to ask the readers about the real mystery of Chandmukh's success. It is a true conundrum indeed!

I would add a different analogy. The most accurate and best films in the film industries of the world earn critics' awards, while the common viewers rebuff such films. The average readers of the present time, who entertain themselves by reading books replete with raw, bemusing ingredients, also keep the finest and valued books away. They sometimes choose books with attractive labels for reading.

Most general readers of Bangladesh are unable to select good books with excellent standards. The number of good readers in the country is disappointingly very few. We altogether should find a way out to bring forth the quality writers who can generate genuine readers of literature. I heartily congratulate Azfar Aziz.

Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Lecturer, Department of English Metropolitan University, Sylhet