Letter From SYLHET
Little magazines of the region
Boipatra, an exceptional bookstore near Alhamra at Zindabazar, replete with rare books of various subjects, magazines, etc., is not only a bookstore, but also a meeting place for writers and poets resident in Sylhet. Many famous poets, writers, journalists come here to buy books, spend time and get news of recently published books. Its owner, Mostak Ahmad Deen, a poet and writer by himself, recently told me about the long and rich literary and cultural practices in Sylhet.
In the 1940s Balaka helped disperse the stream of progressive literature in Sylhet. Aside from Balaka there were other publications through which the rich literary-cultural tradition of Sylhet reached the people. About one hundred years before the publication of Balaka, Gouri Sankar Bhattacharya Tarkabagish edited Sangbad Vaskar (1839), Sangbad Roshraj, Hinduratna Komolakor all of which played a vital role in transmitting literature and culture, establishing rights of marriage for the widows, promoting female education and developing socio-economic conditions. Srihotto Prokash (1875) edited by Paricharan Das and Poridarshak (1880) edited by Bipin Chandra Paul are also worth mentioning, where regional problems, education, and culture were.
Balaka, edited by Kaliproshonno Das, started in 1935 as a tri-monthly magazine, in spring, summer, rains and autumn. In 1937 it became a monthly publication, then was published irregularly, but in 1939 turned into a daily, starting publication in September 1939. The September issue of Balaka was proof that it was an outstanding periodical. It contained Shuvendu Imam's introduction on Sumen Chand's story 'We Three'; in it Projesh Kumar Roy, Tara Prasad Borua, Ashuk Bijoy Raha contributed poems; Sumen Chand, Bhobani Prasad Dutta, Kaliprosonno Das, Monmoth Chowdhury, Kollyan Kumar Soum, Dhurjoti Prasad Dutta, Punnobroto Aditya all contributed stories; Achinto Kumar Bhattacharya wrote an essay and so on.
In 1936, another tri-monthly literary magazine Srihotto Shahitto Parishad Potrika (Srihotto Academy Literary Journal) was published. The periodical was published regularly for thirteen years with eminent editors Krishna Bihari Roy Chowdhury and Jatindro Mohon Bhattacharya. The near-contemporary monthly publications of Balaka were Azan (1941), Al-Islah (1932), Komola (1931), Al-Balag (1931). The monthly Komola edited by Romoni Mohon Das and Achyutocharan Chowdhury was published from Akhalia, Sylhet -- those who were in touch with Sylhet periodicals admit to the high standard of Komola as a literary magazine. It was published in Sylhet for two years and later some issues of it were published from Habigonj.
Al-Islah,/ though an Islamic magazine, was published with essays on folk-literature, folk-music and folk-culture of Sylhet. It was edited by Mohammad Nurul Hoque and published in 1932. It stopped after the death of its editor and re-started in 1994 under an editorial panel that included AH Sadat Khan, Mohammad Asaddor Ali and Ragib Hossain Chowdhury.
'Sylhet Academy' was undergoing many challenges and in 1979 it published Silot Academy Potrika. Mohammad Asaddor Ali was its editor. As per the objectives of the periodical, the articles on mystical literature (a strong regional interest), heritage and culture of Sylhet were published in it.
In the 1970s a periodical entitled Mastul was published from Sylhet with the editorship of Abu Bakar Mohammad Hanif. Only four issues of the periodical have been published so far. Parikshit Dutta Chowdhury, Abu Bakar Mohammad Hanif, Modhumita Chakraborty Sheuli, Shah Ashraf Hossain among others contributed stories in the fourth issue of Mastul published in August, 1980. Hamid Mohammad's Hridoyer Rongdhonu, a book containing the contributions by Jishnu Roy Chowdhury, Parikshit Dutta Chowdhury, Setu Basit, the regular writers of Mastul, has been recently published.
Swanito Kalarob, with Nosir Uddin Ahmed as editor, was published by 'Muslim Shahitya Sangsad' in 1980. Ishan, edited by Rafiqur Rahman, was brought out as a poetry magazine in 1982, but the next issue, however, had stories and essays. 'Kushiara Shilpigushthi' published Nodi Nirobodhi in 1982 and its editors were Brojendro Kumar Das and Syed Mamunur Rashid. On 21 February and 26 March of 1983 and on 21 February of 1984 the periodical Shikor was published with the successful editorship of Shuvendu Imam and Hamid Muhammad. Later, in 1993, the editor Shuvendu Imam published another issue of the periodical.
The maiden issue of Bhashkor edited by Pulin Roy was published on 21 February, 1990. From the very beginning to the end, though at a slow pace, Bhashkor kept developing its standard and earned readers' appreciation. The uniqueness of this periodical was that the editor ensured at least one new young writer/poet in each issue. The young writers' contributions were highly encouraged by the team of Bhashkor. To date, seventeen issues of Bhashkor have been published.
Ahmedur Rashid published Shuddhoswar, taking the role of a mediator to have made coordination between the right and the left, on 16 December, 1990. The fifth issue of Shuddhoswar earned readers' attention because it published a supplementary on Kishwar Ibne Dilwar. Suddenly the periodical stopped being published but revived after some years. Gronthi by Shamim Shahan was published in 1993. Paradigm edited by Ahmod Minhaz, TM Ahmed Kaiser, Nasimul Hoque and Sarwar Chowdhury was published in 1994. Some other periodicals , such as, Nodi Pakhi Megh edited by Helal Uddin Choudhury, Srishti edited by Priok Rashid, Nirbyaz edited by Liakot Shah Faridi were also published in 1994. Riti, exclusively a poetry magazine, edited by Fazlur Rahman Babul, was published in 1995. Many veteran poets also contributed to the magazine. Shah Shamim Ahmed edited and published Ridi in 1997. Writers of both the West Bengal, and East Bengal contributed poems, stories, essays etc. to the magazine. The story 'Manusher Vasha' by Avijit Sen in Ridi was a must read for the readers. Khuab edited by Habibur Rahman was published in 1996. The first two issues published only poems. The third issue brought out a supplementary on Baul songs. Shah Abdul Karim was highlighted in that issue of Khuab. Jawaher Hossain published Ektara in 1999. Though only one issue of Ektara was published, the readers enjoyed some beautiful poems in the magazine.
Orchid edited by Rakesh Chakraborty came into light in 2000. In the first issue of this periodical, the editor gave space for writings invariably but its second issue was with selected writings. The West Bengal poet Nirmal Halder was highlighted in the third issue and it was highly praised by the readers. Bangla edited by Salman Farid was also published in 2000. Young writers of both Bengals contributed in the periodical.
Sunrito edited by Ahmed Sayem lasted from October 2000-2007. This little magazine used to publish supplementaries several times. The notable supplementary was on Ahmed Safa. It encouraged quality contributions by the writers. In the fourth issue of the magazine, Ruhul Mohsin expressed his disagreements with Syed Monzoorul Islam in one of his writings which made Mohsin known in the region. There were some translations published in its fifth issue which were worth mentioning. The last issue contained a complete novel by Ahmod Minhaz and the translation of English poetry of five hundred years by Subroto Augustin Gomez. Pathokriti, a periodical of poetry edited by Shuvendu Imam, was published in 2001. No sooner had it been published, than the readers flocked to it. Chhaya-prochchhaya edited by Mahboob Elahi, Boonon edited by Khaled Uddin and Ovimot edited by Muktadir Ahmod, were also published in 2001. The Ovimot has recently published a special issue featuring Shah Abdul Karim. Boitha, edited by Ujjol Das and Shajibu edited by Sheram Nironjon, boosted awareness of the readers.
The first issue of Jarul was published a few years ago and its second issue featuring some excellent poems by young writers came out in January 2007. Ujanga, the periodical based on poetry, edited by Chybon Das came out in 2005. Onkut edited by Muhammad Mamun and Rezaul Sumon was published ushering poems, stories and translations.
The Mobile Pathagar published Chhayalap edited by Abid Faisal. In each issue of the magazine, a prominent personality was covered. Shoshyaporbo edited by Nazmul Albab has been recently published. The magazine contains poems worth reading. Besides, many periodicals such as Bonotulshi, Poth, Prokshepon, Ahona, Shohobash, Sangom, Adda, Onneshon were published several times from Sylhet.
Sylhet, the city of a bud and two leaves and also of shrines, is a lush place where many enthusiasts of literature and culture were born. It is also affluent, and literary activities in Sylhet are running smoothly with some people here enthusiastically supporting literary activities.
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