Farzana Afroze ZerinI was 5 to 6 years old. One day my mother asked me “let’s go to the Ekushe Boimela”. Though I was very young, I knew what 21st February is, and what a boimela is, but had never been to there before. I replied her “ok” but till then I din’t know that verily the day would be special to me, it would open a new world in my mind. That day I discovered a new world around myself, the world of books; much more interesting, exciting, informative and enjoyable than text books. And the story book that my mother gave into my little hands for the first time was “Mojar Bhut”, a children’s book by Humayun Ahmed. From that day I can’t give any exact figure of how many books written by Humayun Ahmed have been read by me, I think I have completed almost all which have been published.
He wasn’t the only author I like most, but he is my most favorite among all. I know my story is common like many others. That is why we saw numerous people at his mourn. People came to say him goodbye, but their eyes were wondering. They couldn’t believe that their favorite writer was lying on a coffin. He will never present any new magic to his fans and “Ekushe Boilema” will never show any new book of Humayun Ahmed. TV channels will never present any new cinema, drama or telefilm directed by Humayun Ahmed during Eid festivals.
Humayun Ahmed was so popular to the people of all ages. But what made him so popular? Various fans give various reasons. To me Humayun Ahmed was the magic man of people’s conscious and subconscious mind. He could express the desire of peoples’ subconscious minds through his characters. Some people say that Humayun Ahmed’s creations were so light; he couldn’t write anything in depth. I don’t want to oppose anybody’s thought. But the people who speak this have they ever noticed that Humayun Ahmed could present the irony moments of life so easily. In his creations, he showed that well and woe walk together handing hand in general peoples’ life? He showed “Happy Ending” is not the fate of every life in every time; “Bakers” still sacrifice their lives for our society. May be his easy way of expression were not accepted by those people who underestimate him. Moreover, Humayun stared a new style in Bengali drama. Before him, languages used in Bengali dramas were dwellers written languages. But he started the use of rural peoples’ spoken languages in his dramas. Now-a-days various directors are following his path. I feel gloomy when it comes to my mind that this great creator is no more in this world. His characters will never fly in his sky of imagination. He has hidden himself within his creations. His last wish was to establish a cancer hospital. He encouraged the young generation to come forward to make his drams come true. Today on his 1st death anniversary I pray and hope from the core of my heart that his dream will come into reality very soon.
(Farzana Afroze Zerin is the Managing Editor of Greenwatch Dhaka)
