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Ahmed Sofa: Voice of the underprivileged

Takir Hossain
July 28 marked the 11th death anniversary of Ahmed Sofa. On the occasion, writers, social and cultural activists placed wreaths at his grave at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur, Dhaka. A number of institutes and writers associations also organised discussions on his life and immense contribution to Bangla literature.
Ahmed Sofa was one of the most prolific writers of Bangladesh. He was born in 1943 at Gaachbaria in Chittagong. Among the contemporary fiction writers in Bangladesh, Sofa belongs in the first rank for his thought-provoking and contemplative writings. Most of his writ-
ings shed light on social, political and economic issues. Fie wrote novels, stories, essays, poems, translations, songs and criticism. Sofa was outspoken and bold. He hardly practised religion but his conviction was unquestionable.
About Ahmed Sofa and his political view, eminent literary critic Mahfuz Ahmed Khan said, “Sofa's candid personality and courageous expressions brought him into the limelight. Simultaneously, the genius was very friendly towards the younger generation. He was never seen hankering after fame, money or materialistic gains. He was truly a secular thinker.”
About his modes of writing, poet Mahadev Saha said, “Most of his literary works were often based on his personal and social experiences. Fie protested social and political injustice, and tried to depict yearnings, demands and thoughts of the masses through his writing. Fie always handled his stories with meticulous thought and planning.”
“I come from a family of farmers. It is very hard to overlook this fact. I do not want to exaggerate anything. My forefathers had been directly involved with agriculture. I feel proud to be a part of them. I want poor farmers and labourers to eat rice and sing in a jovial mood,” Ahmed Sofa was quoted in a book, titled "Ahmed Sofar Samay”, written by Nasir Ali Mamun. The book received high acclaim for its simple and ordinary language.
Sofa was very closely associated with noted painter SM Sultan. Both were bohemians, bachelors and had no interest in conventional life.
“We could not find such a personality in the last 100 years. His themes were all encompassing. Fie is the icon of Bengal. He is the greatest painter of the soil. He is also a philosopher. Nobody has come forward to explore him truly. We need Sultan because he was the son of a farmer. Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hassan are not presented in such way. They are gentlemen. They do not identify with peasants and workers,” said
Sofa at ‘Ahmed Sofar Samay”.
Sofa's novels are usually not voluminous. All his novels draw the attention of the reader for their well fleshed out, familiar and lively characters. Flis works plunge deep into the suffering people and their miserable living conditions.
Ahmed Sofa's "Jadopi Amar Guru” is a remarkable book- focused on National Professor Abdur Razzak's way of life. Abdur Razzak is recognised as one of the foremost intellectuals of our country. He was a thinker, philosopher, political scientist, and analyst of various contemporary issues.
Sofa embarked on his career as a novelist with “ShurjoTumi Shathi”. Published in 1967, the literary work got an extremely favourable response. Readers felt that after a long time they had found a writer who spoke their language.
Sofa wrote what he believed in. He disliked pretension and his writing is devoid of exaggeration. His writings strongly voice the concerns of underprivileged people in our country. Writing was his passion. He led a very simple and ordinary life with little place for comfort and luxury. For a long time, he stayed in a single room with nothing else but a bed, chairs, table and bookshelves.
Ahmed Sofa died in 2001.