The Review and the 'Exchange': Editor's Note

Though near unanimous support was expressed for the editorial position/argument, it became clear to me that many thought that in my rejoinder the last paragraph need not have been written. Everything else was fine, they said--in fact, refreshing--but no matter which way you dice it, that last paragraph was uncalled for. I agree. My apologies to all concerned.

One interesting letter was from Mr. S. A. Reza Hussain (ex-Member of Parliament, ex-Chairman, Parjatan Corporation) who, among many, many other compelling formulations, informed me that "The author (of Broken Milestones) Mashuq Bhai is a friend of mine. He should be thankful to you that because of your criticism the book has generated some interest amongst the readers of English language literature."

Mr. Hussain's words contain a deeper truth than is readily apparent, for it implicitly raises a point which goes beyond the particularities of Mr. Murshed's auto-da-fe, my review of it, or who said what to whom. It is a point that I think readers instinctively appreciated, the fact that there was a larger issue being debated here: about the standards of English used in our public spaces, about the need for new distinctions within those very spaces. Seen from this perspective, our English is the long-term gainer here. Therefore if the review, and the subsequent exchange of opinions, helped raise our collective awareness about this issue, then all of us involved, Mr. Manzur Murshed, Mr. Faruq Choudhury, I, Mr. K. Z. Islam, and indeed, Mr. Reza Hussain, ought to feel pleased about it.