Call to take inspiration from poet Sufia Kamal’s works to establish equal rights of women

Islamic Society

21 Jun 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com

Call to take inspiration from poet Sufia Kamal's works to establish equal rights of women

Kamal's work for women's rights   Bangla Academy celebrates Sanjher   Academics and writers at a function in Dhaka on 19 June called for taking inspiration from poet Sufia Kamal's works to establish rights of women.  Addressing the programme organised to celebrate the 70th anniversary of publication of the poet's first collection of poems, Sanjher Maya, they said Sufia Kamal had become an inspiration to all Bangalis through her 70-year of devotion to poetry.    Bangla Academy organised the function, entitled 'Sufia Kamal's devotion to poetry' with eminent poet and former Jahangairnagar University vice-chancellor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui in the chair.    Professor of Bangla at Dhaka University Bishwajit Ghosh presented the keynote paper on the occasion. Writers Selina Hossain, Mofidul Hoque and director general of the academy Syed Mohammad Shahed spoke on the occasion. Praggha Laboni recited poems from Sanjher Maya at the function held in the seminar room of the academy in Dhaka.    Bishwajit said, 'Sufia Kamal was one of the very few Muslim woman poets who have enriched Bangla poetry. She had established herself in the realm of poetry during the influential era of some renowned poets in the 1930s.'    'Sufia Kamal has become an inspiration to all Bengalis through her 70-year of works relating to poetry,' he added.    Mofidul said, 'Sufia Kaml touched all of us through her immense power to love all.'    He urged to all to read again 'Sanjher Maya' to understand her ideals and follow those in our socio-political life.    'Sufia Kamal believed that it was impossible to attain progress without establishing equal rights of men and women,' Selina said, and urged all to take spirit from her poems to establish women's rights.    'In her poems, she [Sufia Kamal] had featured pains,    joys and universal truths in life    and that is why her poetry is relevant to our life today,' Selina continued.    Zillur said, 'The publication of Sanjher Maya in 1938 was a unique occasion in the history of Bengali poetry.'    He also recalled the honest belief and ideals of Sufia Kamal and stressed the need for the implementation of her ideals.    Shahed told the function that the academy would organise such events to promote the works and lives of talented writers.    Bngladesh Mahila Parishad will celebrate the 97th birth anniversary of the poet, also the founding president of the parishad, through a function at the BIAM Auditorium in the capital.    Sufia Kamal was born in Brahmanbaria in 1911 and died in Dhaka in 1999. She won the Bangla Academy Award in 1962.