Bangabandhu rejuvenated for children

Publisher: Nikhil Prokashon

Amid a plethora of books on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Husne Ara Shahed's "Amader Priyo Bangabandhu" comes as a praiseworthy venture. She has written thisas a children's book which makes it unique. Kids will find it smoothly readable abecause of the author's percipient organization regarding all the facts. This book wonderfully covers the entire life and events of Bangabandhu in a lucid, lively language.

The author deserves admiration for the technique she applies in the book. As it is mainly for children, it was the author's duty to make it comprehensible to them. So, the most important thing of the book is its diction, and she has done it in a very well-planned fashion. Avoiding austere vocabulary, she has used catchy sentences for children to grab easily. This will surely attract even the parents of the little readers.

The author's use of an extremely attractive story-telling method will generate a ratifying feel in readers' minds. Children are curious for listening to stories, not prose, and here they will get a wonderful story. There are also rhetoric questions which will prepare infants as self-conscious persons. They will start to question about rights and wrongs, about rationality and irrationality and moreover, about the world.

Another salient feature is the sufficient explanation of the complicated terms. For an instance,in page thirty, the author uses a difficult term 'sedition' that is very possibly unknown to a child. She then explains how it implies to do something against nation. Thus,the entire book proves her craft in creating a dainty work from technical perspective.

In this book, it is clear that Bangabandhu was instinctively extremely honest and kind toward the suffering mass. He was named as "Khoka" by the fellows and from the very beginning he was the role model and leader of the local boys. He was sympathetic and had a very clear, keen and thirsty soul which could easily win the heart of millions. Another momentous issue was the representation of Saira Begum, the mother of Bangabandhu, and his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib. The writer has depicted how Saira Banu was always caring to her children and how Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujibhad played the most crucial role in February 1969.Pakistan government wanted to release Mujib on parole. But it was Fazilatunnesa Mujib who was adamant to accept the overture. Thus the role of women power in Bangabandhu's life was immense, something many biographers haven't highlighted much.

Bangabandhu's meeting with Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haq was a turning point in his brave journey. Hamid Sir has turned out to be a key character in constructing his socio-political knowledge and a kind of left-leaning political view in him. Along with Bangabandhu, the book begins with the British period in1920 and covers the great division of India in 1947,1952's Language Movement,1962's movement for education, 1969's mass movement, election of 70's and Liberation War of 1971, leading to August 1975. Therefore, the book gives an approximate political overview of 55 years. By reading such kind of books, our next generation will definitely get a crystal-clear knowledge about our own history. They will have a clear concept about their own identity and will be able to relate themselves with the spirit of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman. The book portraits the Liberation War vividly as well as the Mujibnagar Government and Bangabandhu's numerous outstanding activities as the president of independent Bangladesh.

The bibliography at the end ensures that the provided information have solid footings. From every standpoint, the book is inimitably successful in portraying the father of our nation.I would like to congratulate Husne Ara Shahed for undertaking such a mammoth, difficult task particularly as a woman when women's participation in our writing arena is not still deemed equal. I wish a wide readership of this book.

The reviewer is an M.A. in English,  University of Dhaka and an occasional contributor to this page.