Savouring our Bangalee ethos
FOR any Bangalee, the months of February and March are sources of joy and inspiration. February initiates spring and also symbolizes the re-affirmation of our rich cultural tapestry associated with our mother tongue. March on the other hand, stands not only as an emblem of the great sacrifices made by the people, but also as the validation of our emergence as an independent nation. February 21 has particularly gained international cognizance and has been accorded the status of Mother Language Day for the whole world. This universal agreement was a step in the right direction. This relationship with the rest of the world has, however, resulted in certain responsibilities. Most intellectuals believe that this has made it that much more incumbent for us to propagate the beauty of Bangla within our country and also abroad. It is probably this consciousness that has encouraged us towards the holding of the annual 'Boi-mela' (book fair) within the precincts of our Bangla Academy in Dhaka. Publishers as well as readers wait for this annual event and the literary end-products that reaffirm and celebrate the vibrancy of our legacy. Like most, I also acknowledge the importance of this process. It is like touching base with our inner selves before venturing out again for the rest of the year. In a manner of speaking, it is like undertaking a pilgrimage into our soul and re-discovering ourselves. Like every year, this year's observance of Ekushey has also been filled with poignance. There has been, as usual, the publication of thousands of new books and the emergence of new authors, especially poets. It ranged from juvenile literature to examples of drama and fiction. There have also biographies, novels, collection of essays and research papers. It has been an interesting mix where established authors have shared the stage with first timers. This year, in particular, saw many lady authors. There were also publications that were poor in quality and smacked of commercialism. Some newspapers also reported the presence of several pirated editions (that raised serious questions about ethics and effective monitoring by the relevant authorities of the Bangla Academy). I must admit that I was encouraged by the number of books aimed at the juvenile audience. It was good to see young students walking around stalls, leafing through publications that had captured their fancy and purchasing a few. This was hope at work. Another important aspect caught my attention. It appears that this year there were more translations in Bangla of foreign authors. In the long term such exposure to foreign literature will create its own impact on our domestic audience. It will widen our sensitivities and expand our intellectual horizon. The Boi-mela and the diverse cultural events (in the fields of literature, photography, painting and drama), as in the past, added 'joie de vivre' to the otherwise dull lives of our city dwellers. It provided an opportunity for families to share quality time and savour events together. Nevertheless, I take this opportunity to highlight some aspects that need to be given attention by the requisite authorities. The foremost is the need to recognize that the Boi-mela is no longer a small event that attracts just a few hundred visitors during its tenure. It attracts that many every day. It has grown -- and immensely. It is this and the insufficient availability of space that was most noteworthy this year. It transformed the book fair area into one of congestion, dust and frustration (for many with young children) and also affected considerations of safety and security. The grounds of the Bangla Academy and its immediate surroundings no longer have the required space for such an event. Consequently, it might be advisable to hold this book fair in the more spacious Dhaka University playground, located very near the Academy. The cultural events could however continue in the grounds of the Academy. That would definitely make the Boi-mela more functional and enhance enjoyment potential. The next point relates to making the Boi-mela more expatriate friendly, both for the resident diplomatic and foreign communities in Bangladesh and also for the non-resident Bangladeshis visiting Bangladesh at this time of the year on their holidays. Many of them visit the Boi-mela not only to savour the atmosphere but also look around for the possibility of purchasing books to add to their already existing collection. I have talked with some of them. There was one common complaint -- the absence of translated works in English or in any other foreign language -- of important Bangladeshi authors. They felt that this deficiency needed to be corrected given the fact that 21 February has now been accorded the status of International Mother Language Day. Some non-resident Bangladeshis, especially those, resident in Europe, Canada and USA or in Malaysia or Japan, felt that the availability of such translated works could have enabled them to take some publications back home as presents for their foreign friends. I must admit that there is a lot of logic in their comment. Bangla Academy could possibly constitute a special board to examine this. They could also seek the support of banks and other corporate institutions for this purpose, as part of their corporate social responsibility. Any support received in this regard could also be formally acknowledged within the book or on the rear book flap. The third suggestion refers to the possibility of asking publishers to also have the text of new publications available on the CD format as is done in the western countries. Encryption of a special code could be used by the publisher to protect their intellectual property right. The availability in such a format, of a particular work, would then reduce space and weight, both important constraints, in today's air travel as well as in storage capacity, within apartments abroad. Such a possibility will also facilitate the spread of our literature to public libraries and foreign educational institutions. The Bangla Academy should be pro-active in this regard. I am sure that multilateral institutions would be happy to cooperate in such a venture as an example of soft power. We have to remember that Bangladesh has a branding problem. I am confident that we can re-invent ourselves in the global network if we are able to use our options (arising out of the opportunities created by the months of February and March) carefully and wisely. We have a rich cultural heritage, woven with the strands of music, folk and modern art, drama and poetry. This embroidered quilt needs to be nurtured and used to our best advantage. Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador and can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net
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