Kathaprokash celebrates author Mashrur Arefin's work
On the evening of Friday, October 14, Kathaprokash organised an event titled, "Lekhok-Pathok Shommilon", which marked the 53rd birth anniversary of renowned author, poet and translator, Mashrur Arefin, at Dhaka city's Bangla Academy.
The event began with a musical performance by the famed Rabindra Sangeet singer, Adity Mohsin, and a welcome speech from Jasim Uddin, the publisher of Kathaprokash. In his speech, the publisher said, "Mashrur Arefin has already been able to carve a spot for himself in the Bangla literary canon through his unique thoughts and use of language".
"Through his very first novel August Abchaya (Prothoma, 2019) he has established the quality of his language and literary skills", he also mentioned, speaking of the author's fictional account of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination. Four of Arefin's novels have been published so far, alongside three books of poetry and critically acclaimed translations of the Iliad and of Kafka's short stories.
Poet Kamrul Hassan also commented on the author's works during his speech, "The manner in which he is writing, he will climb the hilltop of Bangla literature."
His remarks were followed by a speech by writer, economist and diplomat Faizul Latif Chowdhury, who commended the brazen and outspoken manner in which Mashrur Arefin has exposed the intricacies and taboos of our society.
Chowdhury added, "I really don't have any expectations that anyone will ever be able to write a book like Ariyal Kha (Katha Prokash, 2022)".
The event then proceeded with the Director General of Bangla Academy, Mohammad Nurul Huda, revealing the cover of Mashrur Arefin's new novel Maine Coon, which is set to be released in February of 2023.
Following the speeches, Mashrur Arefin took the stage to discuss the themes that inspire his writing as well as to talk about the different literatures which have influenced him.
"There are a lot of things happening in the world right now. These are interesting times for us—the writers. I do think of myself as a provocateur, even though my writing is not something through which I express my opposition to anything", he said.
Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, who presided over the event, said, "The ability to see things through and have a clear perspective are essential for a novelist. Mashrur has both of these qualities and has a strong sense of imagination. With a combination of these qualities, he has cemented his position in our literature."
"Lekhok-Pathok Shommilon" concluded with a stimulating question answer session between the panellists and the audience.