Progression and change is never easy. For a developing nation to ensure a presence beyond its borders is always challenging. Conflicts and tensions arise as parts of our population extend their hands to the world outside, and the others want to be self-sufficient and focus on history and past struggles. Finding a balance between traditionalism and globalisation is hard. But it's good to know that initiatives are being taken to work towards that balance, so that both sides may come together to not only represent, but also reconcile.
British Council and Monsoon Letters, a literary group headed by entrepreneur and literary patron Rubana Huq, joined hands recently to contribute to this mission. Muse Masters, a nationwide performance poetry contest and the first of its kind in Bangladesh, welcomed works in both Bangla and English.
The response was massive -- more than 750 poets from across the nation contested and each poet was allowed to submit up to three works. This large pool of submissions was reviewed and dried down to find the 20 best poets among the lot, who were then invited to participate in a two-day workshop arranged especially for them, on the 19th and 20th of February, so that they may do their best at the final competition. These 20 top poets came from different parts of the country, bringing their home-charms and stories to tell at the workshop that was facilitated by Nigerian-British poet, performer and visual artist, Inua Ellams.
The workshop saw them sharing, learning and playing in English and Bangla, helping and translating for one another, arguing and discussing their love of poetry. Together they performed, rehearsed and critiqued each other sincerely, not as competitors, but as fellow artists and new-found friends.
The workshop was followed by the final competition on the 21st of February, which was judged by Rubana Huq, renowned bilingual poet Kaiser Haq, and Eeshita Azad, Head of Arts, British Council -- all of whom were chosen to be on the judges' panel because of their familiarity with both English and Bangla literature. Ellams was also kept in the panel to judge the performances and the overall growth he saw in the performers throughout the workshop.
The performances saw passionate expressions of bold ideas, of love and ideals lost, and of hopes renewed. There were music, angry roars, and shy faces. All in all, it was an amalgamation of languages and emotions translated into poetry.
The top performers were promised exposure trips to the UK, and the deserving winners of this exciting award were announced at the closing ceremony of the SAARC Literary Festival on the 28th of February, another event that was organised by the WRITE Foundation in association with Monsoon Letters. The top three contestants -- Shazedul Hoq Khan Abir, Syeda Samira Sadeque and Sadaat Mahmood -- were handed their awards by the eminent writer Samaresh Majumder, as were the rest of the 17 who received their certificates also.
The poets conquered the tensions that communication gaps tend to create over time, and moved beyond them to realise how very much alike they are. From Jessore to Barisal to Chittagong to Dhaka, poetry is what brought them together. The experience is best worded by the participants themselves, and one of them, AHM Mustafizur Rahman said, “…The workshop gave a platform for budding poets from different walks of life to come together under the umbrella of poetry, allowing them to exchange ideas, realising that they aren't alone in their love of the art. Monsoon Letters also gave an added incentive with their support and lastly, the British Council must be applauded for conducting and organising such an event.”