I was able to enjoy nature first hand in my Grandpa’s village. My Grandpa was a lover of nature,he planted trees,flowers and all sorts of fruit trees he was able to find. His garden looked like a little park where we all could play,eat,run and enjoy ourselves.There was no fear of predators, wild animals or anything that could be a source of fear to us.It seems he built his garden for his grand kids,so we would be completely satisfied. And we did, it was sad Grandpa left us long before we visited, his beautiful house and garden.
We were in awe when we looked around this garden. We weren’t old enough to realize how much time Gramps spent building this place. We spent endless hours looking at the fruit trees,the flowers,they were a joy to behold.I wouldn’t mind spending any number of days in my Grandpa’s house and garden. A journey to a forest or a city simply cannot be compared with the fun we had in my maternal Grandpa’s place.
The sky and the air free of the piteous groans of the oppressed
Only when the battle fields are cleared of jingling bloody sabres
Shall I, weary of struggles,rest in quiet,
I,the great rebel.”
This is a part of the poem of Kazi Nazrul Islam. He was imprisoned, tortured,poisoned slowly, still he did not give up fighting for the country he loved. This is one of the characteristics of an individual that makes him immortal. His name will remain in the hearts of people for generations to come.
He was born on the 25th May 1899 in a small village named Churulia near Asansol,Burdwan district of undivided Bengal, in India.His father was Kazi Faqeer Ahmad.He was the Imam and caretaker of the local mosque and mausoleum. He had two brothers and a sister. He studied in a madrassah ‘It was run by the mosque. He learned to read the Quran at an early age. He was only ten years old, when his father died. He started working in his father’s place to support his family. In a short time he was able to take the job of the Muezzin in the mosque where he studied.
Despite his poverty,he continued to study. He worked with theatrical groups. He learned the art of writing poetry,drama and literature. He made strong verbal attacks against the British Raj in India. He preached revolution through his poetic works.’ Bidrohi,the Rebel’ was his most famous Bengali poem.It was collected in a volume titled,”Agnibeena” in 1924. The first anthology of his poems.
His poems depicted elements of romanticism,heroism and love.He called for rebellion against all forms of oppression including the oppressive acts of the British Raj in India. It is believed he got his inspiration from Walt Whitman’s ,’Song of Myself’.
His activism landed him in prison. He wrote ‘Deposition of a Political Prisoner’, while in prison. He worked for the freedom of the downtrodden masses in India.
He enrolled in schools whenever he was capable of paying the fees,he loved to study . He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge,which he acquired whenever he got the opportunity.
Throughout his career he wrote short stories,novels and essays.He was well-known for his poems. He wrote and composed music for nearly four thousand songs.
At age eighteen,he joined the Indian army. He enrolled in the British army for two reasons; his inclination to study the unknown,secondly the call of politics. He was posted in Karachi cantonment. He wrote his first prose and poetry in Karachi. He read extensively and was influenced by Tagore and Saratchandra Chattopadhay,also the Persian poets, such as Hafez,Rumi and Omar Khayyam. He learned Persian poetry from the regiments Punjabi Maulvi. He practiced music and pursued his literary interests.
At the age of forty three this vibrant poet lost his voice and was silenced forever,he also lost his memory. He died in Bangladesh in 1976 at the age of seventy-seven!
The Daily Prompt about ‘Not a mere Mortal’,sounds good.I have a problem with it. It is highly doubtful to attain immortality easily. I am a mere mortal.I can try but to be immortal, by doing what? This is my question.
When I think of immortality I think of Iqbal,Gandhi,Rabindranath Tagore,Shakespeare and so many others. They did not decide they will become immortal overnight. I don’t think they were trying to be either. It is their hard work,their dedication, their endless fight to achieve the truth at the time, that made them immortal.
They are therefore remembered by all of humanity. They were role models. Their work was appreciated.There are people who are trying to follow in their footsteps. It hasn’t made them immortal. It is a very steep mountain to climb. Not everyone can go that far up.
How many have climbed Mount Everest? Not that many! Therefore I can only say,I have neither the tools,nor the enthusiasm,like all those great men to be able to come even a centimetre close to them. I am not a defeatist,I am practical. Therefore for me it is an unachievable feat!
3D panoramic view of Mount Everest. Picture made using SRTM data, freely provided by NASA. Français : Vue panoramique 3D du Mont Everest. Image réalisée à partir des données SRTM fournies gratuitement par la NASA. Deutsch: 3D-Panorama des Mount Everest. Bild unter Verwendung von SRTM Daten, von der NASA frei zur Verfügung gestellt. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Yes we can be taught a few things from others. I was always very shy in school.I did not make friends easily. I very seldom took the initiative of starting a conversation.This gave a wrong information to my classmates. They all thought I was very proud.
Once my classmate wanted to go to the public library with me. I was surprised. She never went to any library. I agreed. We went to the library.When we sat down with our books,she said, ‘ Chaman I want to tell you something’,I gave her a puzzled look. She continued,’Because you do not talk to anyone we all think you are a very conceited person,I even said on one occasion who does she think she is?’
I was shocked to hear this. I was thinking in my mind, ‘Why will they judge me like that?’ It is perhaps human nature to make their own conclusion without knowing a person.Then in London another classmate of mine remarked, ‘Sabeth ,you will never have enemies’,I asked him why? He said, ‘You hardly talk’. I replied, ‘You’ll be surprised’. I had to explain my experience in the university.
Some think I am quiet because I am proud. Others think I will never have enemies,I hardly speak. So from this it taught me two things,not everyone thinks I am vain. It also says people make up their mind without knowing someone.
English: A Peafowl flaring his feathers. Français : Un paon faisant la roue. Basa Sunda: Merak midang, mébérkeun buntutna anu warna-warni. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
When an artists paints or sculpts or does etching,he imagines how his work should turn out,to please or wow the lover’s of art. When I look at art these things come to mind.
I happen to have a few paintings and etching that my husband and I bought. They are beautiful.We are fortunate enough to have them.There is a painting of a Japanese artist.I absolutely adore .
The main subject is the peacock. The colors are so realistic,it makes one think it is a photograph. The peacock is on the grass,its tail is spread out.There is the blue sky, the pink flower trees,the white pea hens,the flying black birds.The main attraction in this painting is the peacock with its beautiful tail. When you look at it the first time,the peacock’s feathers dazzles the eye,then you look for other things and you can notice that the pea hens are almost invisible. The red,white and the pink flowers add the beauty of this particular painting.
This painting tells me the painter spent a lot of time,before he started. His work proves it.
I have chosen a rowboat for this prompt. My husband’s family lived in the village. Two days after my marriage, I was scheduled to travel to the village, where my in-law’s lived.
This was my first experience on a rowboat. My father was not too enthusiastic taking us to his village because of transportation.Here I was on a narrow boat,the ceiling touching my head. I was a new bride and therefore it was not appropriate to complain.The pace was slow,I wasn’t aware how long it would be before I could free myself from the pressure of everyone around me.
The boatman was taking his time rowing,he was used to this. He felt great, he was feeling important,my husband hired him.
After about two hours we reached the place where we were to disembark. The wharf,where we were supposed to get off looked like a slimy mound of earth. I was terrified,this was my first time,and I was wearing a sari not the best attire to alight on a slippery path. Embarrassment aside I asked my brother-in-law’s help. With his assistance I was able to walk on the path and reach the building. I breathed a sigh of relief when I crossed this hurdle!
Do I belong in this day and age? I don’t know. I am here in this age.It’s all the luck of the draw. Do I like it? There are some things I like and others I don’t know.
Every age has its advantages and disadvantages. I am happy to be in the present age. The other day I saw a car,it has features I didn’t see.I think it’s awesome. The car knows how to slow down,when the driver in front suddenly changes his/her mind. Backing out of the driveway or anywhere else is easier.
The food labels help us to know what we are consuming,the calorie count,how much sugar,salt are in there. So people who are concerned can be careful.
Recycling, taking care of the planet are in full swing,it was there before,but people were not so conscientious. Although the hole that exists,probably cannot be fixed,we know enough not to cause further damage.
Technology has improved so much,it is hard to keep up. Along with technology, there is a high risk for identity theft,which is a concern.
We will perhaps never have a perfect age,then all we can do is enjoy however long we are supposed to be here. I quote from a famous American,”You are here for a short time,stop and smell the roses”.
This is a song written by Kazi Nazrul Islam. He used Bengali and Urdu in the lyrics. I didn’t know he could be so funny. I tried my best to translate this . It may not sound funny in English,but I laughed a lot while I was translating it.
Sabethville 
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