Charyapada, the earliest form of Bangla, can inspire people to lead a life in communal harmony and promote self-dignity, academics and litterateurs said yesterday.

“Charyapada actually speaks of good conducts and good living,” said Dr Sukomal Barua, professor of the Pali and Buddhist studies department of Dhaka University, at a book launching ceremony at Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum.

“Mystic Poetry of Bangladesh”, written by Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud, was launched at the ceremony organised by Bengal Foundation. Har-Anand Publications published the book from Delhi.

The book contains the translation of the Charya verses in English. Hasna, who herself translated the verses, said she visited Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia and Tibet to see the manuscripts.

Charyapada dates back to at least the 9th century. A manuscript of writings on palm-leaves containing the poems was discovered in the library of the royal court of Nepal in 1907 by Haraprasad Shastri.

Author Hasna Moudud said Charyapada was best described as spiritual poetry using mystical language and imagery. Though these poems were metaphysical in nature, they depict the life of common people and beauty of riverine East Bengal, now Bangladesh.

The poems are part of the cultural and religious heritage of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, she said, paying tributes to the great minds of Bangla including Poet Jasimuddin, Prof Abdur Razzaq and painter Zainul Abedin. 

Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud, daughter of great Bangla Poet Jasimuddin, matched the poems with contemporary terra-cotta tiles found in northern part of Bangladesh, showing that the poems or the pictures were seemingly made for each other.

The book documented the oral, written and art work of the period and a rare form of Buddhism, Sahajia mysticism, which flourished in the then East Bengal.

Prof Kaiser Hamidul Haq of the English department at the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh, said Charyapada spoke of the great philosophy of liberty.

Translating such a book in English means a wider reach, he said. “The book should inspire others to do more work in this area.”

Speaking as chief guest, Brac Founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed said he was delighted to see the great work by Hasna Moudud, who developed interests in literary works, alongside many other fields of work.

She was a lawmaker, worked on environment, and is now researching and writing, which is praiseworthy, Abed said, congratulating Hasna Moudud.

DU Bangla professor Dr Shoumitra Shekhar said Hasna Moudud had been very methodological in researching and translating the Charyapada, which needed considerable scholarship.

People all over the world would now know that the center of Charyapada was today's Bangladesh, which is great, he added.

Abul Khair, chair of Bengal Group Ltd and Bengal Foundation, in his welcome speech, lauded Hasna Moudud for her tireless work that "will inspire others".

Har-Anand Publication Chairman Narendra Kumar, Prof Fakrul Alam of DU's English department, and Poet Aminur Rahman also spoke.