Alok Acharja

Among those who are writing at a fast pace during this time of our country, the notable name is ‘Abu Afzal Saleh’ undoubtedly. If the names of some poets of this period can be discussed in literary, then surely the name of future poet Abu Afzal Saleh comes up in front. The name is undoubtedly very familiar and loved by literature lovers. Literature itself is a vast river and someone floats himself on this river. That river has many branches. Poetry, stories, short stories, novels, essays, plays, etc. are all branches of literature. Some writers are efficient in one or two branches or more practices. He enriched that entire branches. Abu Afzal Saleh is a poet, essayist, essayist from that point of view and he has another identity with it. He is a very well known columnist. His columns are publishing in the leading newspapers of the country. He writes about various problems, possibilities and realities of the society. It is a kind of responsibility. Poets should have some responsibilities. They write from that place of responsibility. Even poetry is a place of expression of responsibility. Even if, that poem is from sense of romantic. There is also responsibility. If not to anyone else, but to one’s own faith, to mind and to time, that responsibility lies. Poet Abu Afzal Saleh wrote poetry from that responsibility. So we would like to focus on the ‘poet’ Abu Afzal Saleh not columnist. The content, depth, use of words etc. of his poems deserve discussion. Poetry is inspiration and the relationship between soul and spirituality.

Poet Abu Afzal Saleh has planted the seeds of insight into the collection of feelings in the circle of poetry, the results of his thoughts and consciousness. Each word of the poem fascinates the reader and makes him think deeply. Poetry is like a raging river; once it floats it does not want to rise. If the words of the poet’s poem do not make the reader think, then the poem has no meaning. In other words, there should be depth in poetry, not incomprehensibility in poetry. As there are complaints these days that poems are becoming unintelligible, poet Abu Afzal Saleh is beyond that complaint. That is, his poems are not unintelligible. His poems are quite simple and lively almost against the times. Poet Abu Afzal Saleh was born on October 15, 1981 in Madana village of Chuadanga district. His father Md Rezaul Karim was a brave freedom fighter and mother Shahida Begum was a housewife. He is the son of a farmer family. He completed his primary and secondary education from his village school. After that, he obtained BA from Darshana Government College and BA in Bengali and Literature from Kushtia Government College. In personal life he is a government official and father of two daughters. He started writings as a hobby. He devotes whatever time is left to his work and family. An officer and a poet both are his identity. Between work and even during the time of work, the words of poetry revolve in his head. This is his meditation knowledge. Poetry is the main strength of his literature, even if he wanders into other branches of literature.

Sometimes he is a lover, sometimes a complete person. Women, nature and love stand in the mirror of his poetry. The language of his poetry is simple. But the concept goes beyond simplicity. But it is not unintelligible. The mood of the poem, the use of words, and the use of smiles has not been disturbed. The words are used a little differently for the needs of the poem. The poet deeply observes nature. He has traveled to many places in the country. He is also strong in travel literature. That form of nature is also included in the poem of the poet. Nature and love are inimitable in his poetry.

In the poet’s poem ‘Megh Hoye Ude Jete Chai’, the poet wrote – ‘Meghera Ure, desh deshantore/chokher jol niye, Anondasru niyeo/ Sobuj mora pahar tader pochondo/ Shekhanei jiriye nei ektu/ Ga vijiye deyo. Not everyone has the ability to bring out this nature with words. Many wanders, approach nature but not all can bring it into poetry. It is the characteristic of the poet. In the poetry of the poet, love has come; failure has also come same way. The poet also regretted not getting it. Poets also have to learn. In the poet’s poem  ‘Tomake na dekhe nistobdho hoye jacchi’ he writes ‘Tumi chile priyojon, Apon/ Vora choitifosholer maath, sonaranga rodh/ Bikeler norom gham, utola mon…..Takiye takiye theke roktochoukkhu hoye/ Nistobdho hoye jacchi kromosho/ Tomake deke na peye.’

Nature lies in woman and woman becomes nature. In his poem ‘Nature is poetry and nature is love. The natural beauties of his travels are aesthetically brought out in poetry. In the poet’s poem ‘Satati Rang Ekti Kobita’, he wrote, ‘Nilachole sobuj paharchuray parijat roktokorobi/Eleye deoa nilamborir anchole kalo megh/ Begunichurir runjhun komla thoth/ Furfure haoyai duronto shoishober rongin ghuri /Nil nil khupri-durer Khagrachori.’ Sometimes love goes beyond the human level. The high level of beauty that is the place of his love is reflected in the poem. The poet talks about another beauty in his poem ‘Parambapara’. The poet is intimately connected with nature. He witnessed the green scenery of the mountains, the sound of the waterfall from very close the sound, the roar of the sea, the green cover of the huge trees. He wrote poems depend on these. Not once but repeatedly. The poet’s desire to return is also there in those poems. In the poet’s poem ‘Protibar notunvabe dekhi’, he writes ‘Sylleti Pahar beye uddam Jhornadharay/ Cha baganer sobuj Dheue/ Rema-Kalenger bonufule, projapotir chotto danay/Tomari onubhov.’ This is how the poet has been writing regularly in various daily newspapers, little mags and literary portals of the country and outside the country. The number of books published by poet Abu Afzal Saleh is three. On these,two books of poetry, Barbar Phire Asi (2018) and Bolei Feli Bhalobashi (2022) and his book of rhymes titled ‘Chhraay Chhraay Utsav’ (2018). Within a short period of time, the poet won several awards. These include Donagaji Padak (2021), Priya Bangla Writer Award 2022, Sahityaras Award-2018 and Daily Manabarta Award-2018. He has come to enrich the literature of this country which proves his passion for work.

Alok Acharja

Essayist, Pabna

Mobile: 01997-390145

Email-sopnil.roy@gmail.com