'Poetry Council must be a platform for poets, not for businessmen

by Anisur Rahman

The National Poetry Council of Bangladesh has recently expelled its member Mohan Raihan for his alleged controversial role and activities against the secular and progressive spirits within.

In reaction to the council decision, Mr Raihan wrote some series of pieces using wrong terminology and exposing linguistic weakness. Seeing the title of his first one published in The Daily Amader Shomoy dated January 31, 2010, that could roughly be translated as ‘when the people become stupid, the history gets upset’, I thought as if he made his reaction regarding the killers of Bangladesh’s founding leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But, not it is! He just exposed his anger and disappointments against his fellow poets.

It is due and justified as he could express his anger. And thus, he wrote in newspaper. I am upset seeing his linguistic poverty. It is really a pity, how ugly could be a language who loves to introduce himself as a poet, but the more he is a businessman and politician.

Personally I do not like a businessman or a politician will be a poet at the same time, as both business and politics are highest form compromising things in life. Though we have examples of great poets who were also great politicians like Pablo Neroda, Mao Zedong and more, they were exceptions. And, our very own Poet Nirmalendu Goon also contested in parliamentary elections in 1991. Surely, Mohan Raihan and a few more businessmen at the poetry council must not be marked at that level.

I am happy and feel relief as poetry council should not be a platform for any businessman cum politician. It should be an organisation for genuine poets committed for secular, progressive spirit of Bangladesh as of culture.

I have learnt as Mohan Raihan proposed to some of senior poets to form another poetry council. They can try. But it will not be. An organisation is not only a matter of a committee or members. It is a matter of concept and commitment. No second platform is simply possible on the same concept and spirit that poetry council upholds. Moreover, the Mohan Raihans are thousand miles away from those concept and spirits. Second Bangladesh is impossible as poetry council is.

Yes, it is true, Mohan Raihan was one of the primary initiators in the formation of poetry council in late 1980s. So what? Khandakar Mostak was also a cabinet minister in the Mujibnagar Government in 1971. We all know his role in 1975 and so.

Personally, I feel poetry council has been free from a load and stigma as it was also a resort for businessman-politician. Through the expulsion of him, the council has attained a clean image. Image and acceptance is important for advancement of an organisation. I hope poetry council will keep its all spirits in favour of truths, beauties and progressive ideals up. Let’s Mohan Raihan’s do whatever they like to do either resorting with rubbishes on newspapers pages or moving in line with the Jamaat and anti-Liberation elements. Pointer always remains for all ‘tit for tat’. History will not forgive Jamaat and its allies elements.


Caption: A view from Poetry Festival 2008 in Dhaka, organised by the National Poetry Council of Bangladesh.

Photo courtesy: http://www.newagebd.com/2008/feb/03/img15.html