Encounters with Sankar
The cavernous hall at Independent University, Bangladesh at Bashundhara, was packed with an august audience to hear Mani Shankar Mukerjee. The invitation was from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Bazlul M. Chowdhury.
The entrance to the hall showcased the English translation of Sankar's first two novels, 'Chowringhee' and the 'Middleman'. The third, 'The Grief Unknown', is expected soon.
'It is wonderful to be in Dhaka. It is a joy and gladness… Nevertheless it took me such a long time, over fifty five years, to arrive. That has given me so much of happiness'. The writer stressed the importance of English. It is necessary to make Bangla literature international. He was much impressed by the state of English in Dhaka and its cosmopolitan ambience. Talking in Bangla the writer humorously added that speaking in English confronts us with tricky questions, like what should I say? And how should I say it? The audience laughed, and with the fading of the laughter Sankar began his talk in eloquent English.
The writer was a sixteen year old lad when he set out in search of a livelihood. He started off as a clerk to the last British barrister of the Kolkata High Court, who introduced Sankar to literature and to the contemporary literary circles of Kolkata.
After the sudden death of Barnwell, the barrister, Sankar wanted to honour him, and decided to write a book about him. That impetus led to his first novel, 'Kato Ajanere'. It was labeled as a stimulating novel. However, his detractors ridiculed his work and titled him as the 'one-book author.' This tremendously hurt his ego. His mother consoled him, with examples of Kashiram Das, the reputed author of a single work, the Mahabharata.
It was during the same period that he produced 'Chowringhee', 'on a rainy day at the water-logged crossing of Dalhousie, a busy business district in the heart of Kolkata.'
At the Senate Bhaban, Dhaka University, a book publication ceremony was arranged by The University Press Limited, to honour Sankar. The special attraction was the publication of 'Chowringhee', 'Asha Akankha', and 'Kotha Monohon'. The books were on display and quite a number of copies were signed by the author for readers.
Imdadul Haq Milon, the prominent writer, declared that next to Sarat Chandra, Sankar was the most widely read Bangla writer in modern times. Nearly one hundred works of Sankar have been published.
No writer should promote his own books. In earlier times promotion of the self was usually discouraged. It was generally supposed that writers became prominent after death. And Bangla writers indeed became famous after their death. Sankar from his own experience said that he had to make enemies to reach his publisher.
In Dhaka he noted the prominence of English, and this is comparable to conditions in other mega cities of the world, like Mumbai or Delhi. About Kolkata, he said it was becoming more and more a non-Bengali city, for Bangla is hardly the language in use, be it for the benefit of literature or business.
The role of UPL was compared to that of building a bridge. The aim of this endeavor was to promote a reading of Bangla books through publication across the border.
Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre arranged an evening with Mani Shankar Mukerjee.
Sankar responded to the question from the audience: 'Please tell us who or which book inspired you into a career in writing?'He began by recounting many of his failures --- like not doing well in school, particularly in arithmetic. He tried to learn singing, but that too was a total disaster. He did various odd jobs, and then came his work as a clerk in the chamber of a British barrister. It was this association that made him familiar with people in hotel management, in the railways and in business. He was placed in a reading room and so gained much familiarity with books. It was through these small mazes of life that his writing career began to take shape.
Mahboob Alam, former diplomat and a friend of the writer, spoke on behalf of The Reading Circle, a group that loves books and reading.
As moderator, Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam noted that Sankar's visit to Dhaka was the opening of a door to an exchange of books and publications across the border. This, he said, would lead to a much needed promotion of writers and books from Bangladesh.
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