Bhawal's poet Govinda Chandra Das was 6 years older than Kabiguru Rabindranath. The poet was exiled for the crime of taking pen against the king by abandoning royal favor. Govinda Chandra Das, who was exiled for the poetry book 'Mager Muluk', spent his life in severe financial hardship. Although he gifted Bengali literature with 10 priceless poetry books, the misery of this gifted poet's life was evident. At the end of his life, some noble people like Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das made some atonement for the apathetic society by helping the ailing poet financially. Fighting poverty, the oral poet expressed his regret of not being recognized during his lifetime in his poetry. Questioning the social state, he wrote in a poem, 'If I die, will you put the monastery on my pyre?'
This regret of the creators of art and literature has been echoing for ages. The latest incident is the suicide of Rabindra Sangeet artiste Sadi Mohammed. These incidents silently slapped our society and state. Our society and state have always failed to appreciate meritorious people in their lifetime. It is said that in a society where virtue is not valued, virtue is not born in that society. With the passage of time, we are gradually losing those geniuses that we can bow down to. Our lack of qualified people to fill that gap is constantly being felt.
The number of people who do not compromise with their personality and values is decreasing day by day. On the contrary, the staff and incompetent people are taking place. The huge vacuum created in society is endangering our traditional traditions. Scholars believe that this vacuum is the cause of the various questions that we are seeing in people's minds about the awarding of prestigious state medals and awards in recent times. Where many meritorious people suffer in silence, the pain of not being recognized, the incompetence of those concerned with the awarding of medals adds to the frustration of the meritorious.
In the midst of such a reality, Bangla Academy announced the Rabindra and Nazrul Award-2024 on April 30. Rabindra and Nazrul's efforts are unquestionable to the three geniuses who are being awarded this award. With this award introduced in the name of these two great poets, a symbol of Bengali nation's self-pride, this time the academy concerned have been able to raise their judgment above the question, it has spread optimism.
Professor Bhishmadev Chowdhury and Professor Laisa Ahmad Lisa are receiving the Rabindra Award 2024 for their contribution to the research of Rabindra-literature of Bangla Academy. On the other hand, Professor Razia Sultana is receiving the Nazrul Award 2024 for her research contribution to Bangla Academy Nazrul-Literature.
Eminent literary critic Bhishmadev Chowdhury is a professor in the Bengali Department of Dhaka University. Bengali novels, Rabindra short stories and the literature of Bangladesh are central subjects of his study and evaluation. Bhishmadev Chowdhury, the author of many research books, has two notable books on Rabindra research: Two-four Asrujal: Different Paths of Rabindra Golpo (2005) and Prabhas Surya: Rabindranath Sardashata Janmvarsh Swaran (ed. 2011).
Jagannath University Professor of Microbiology Department and renowned Rabindra Musician, teacher and general secretary of Chhaynat Sangeet Vidyatana Prof Laisa Ahmad Lisa dedicated Rabindranath research. She is trying to build a cultural movement by performing healthy music including Rabindranath's songs. Being closely associated with the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan Parishad, she is also playing a role in spreading the practice of pure music across the country.
Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the beacon of Bengali heartbeat and spirit, was brought to Bangladesh with his family on 24 May 1972 with the permission of the Indian government. Researchers and writers of that time devoted themselves to the study of the silent poet in various perspectives and subjects. Those close to the poet were still alive, and anything needed as a reference book was not scarce. With the availability of information, with deep devotion and devotion, many academicians have tried to evaluate the poet in various ways.
Two eminent Professors of Bengali literature Mohammad Abdul Qayoum and Dr. Razia Sultana couple devoted themselves to Nazrul research. Although the number of books of these two talented researchers in Nazrul research is not huge, the few research books they wrote about the poet play a special role in Nazrul research in this country. That's why they are celebrated as pioneering researchers.
Mohammad Abdul Qayyum presented research on 'Nazrul in various contexts' and 'Nazrul reception and other contexts'. On the other hand, Razia Sultana's research books 'Kathashilpi Nazrul' and 'Nazrul-Anwesha'. Apart from these published collections of books, these two Nazrul researchers have created numerous Nazrul researchers and fans with devotion in their long teaching life; those who are carrying forward the practice of Nazrul in Bangladesh in later life. In recognition of the research Dr. Mohammad Abdul Qayyum and Dr. Razia Sultana-Both poets won the Nazrul Award initiated by the Nazrul Institute. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Qayyum won the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1991.
Dr. Mohammad Abdul Quiyum passed away on June 12, 2020. After the death of her husband Dr. Razia Sultana spends time abroad with her children. On April 30, 2024, Bangla Academy announced the names of 3 people for the Academy Award for Rabindra and Nazrul research. Dr. Razia Sultana was nominated was nominated for the Nazrul award.
It is learned from the relatives that Dr. Razia Sultana has been suffering from various complications related to old age including memory loss. She learned the news of the award from a long distance. But despite this, she is very happy with this news! The look of satisfaction on her face is evident, her daughters said. We are surely happy to know this news because a meritorious researcher is going to be awarded by a prestigious institution of the state for her research even though she is dying. Those concerned with Bangla Academy can certainly get thanks for this. But we also expect that why should a meritorious researcher wait until old age to get her research recognized? The question looms large today as to why we fail to reward an award while having the physical and mental impulse to celebrate it.
We know that many geniuses are still practicing their knowledge and art in secret without any desire for recognition. But when the state itself is dishonored by honoring the incompetent, then the virtuous like many others must be distressed. And not being able to bear the burden of this pain, even the eminent artists like Sadi Muhammad had to choose the path of self-immolation in silent pride. Those who run state institutions should remember that loyalty to power is not the only criterion for award nominations.
Writers who have been able to express the truth in writing without hesitation have a place in history. Syed Ghulam Hussain Khan Tabatbai, the history of the previous rulers during the British rule in favor of the Raj, the authentic historical book 'Siyar-ul-Mutakhkhirin' has proved to be a formal book in the later era. In dispassionate assessment of history, the so-called historian could not maintain his dignity. If we remember this historical reality and uphold the practice of contemporary knowledge and science, give value to real geniuses at the right time, only then will many geniuses be born in the country and we will be able to move forward on the path of building a knowledge-based society and state. Like the poet Govinda Das, we can change the character of the society by 'giving the monastery to the pyre after death'.