English: Sohel Amitabh: Profile of a young poet

One never tires of listening Sohel Amitabh. He has his own dramatic expressions and explanations for every little thing in life, a talent which keeps one entertained for hours. He has what one calls the "gift of the gab."

Sohel Amitabh is a young poet with three books of verses to his credit. He created a stir in the realm of modern Bengali poetry with his "no-nonsense" attitude and honest confessions of the society we live in. In fact the central theme around which his thoughts revolve and his poems are almost always based on, is society."

"Having been brought up in a home with a library, stoked with books on Marxism and having read them before achieving any mental maturity, surprisingly I chose and graduated from Dhaka University in "Sociology", an absolutely American subject. The combination of the two has helped me in forming a clear picture of the society as a whole, since I had the opportunity to see Marxism from an objective point of view," Sohel said.

Conversationally, he went into the fantastic tale of how he came to be a well to-do businessman, besides being a known figure in the literary world at such a young age. "The youngest child of my parents, I was born in Kushtia in 1957. The background of a broken home brought personal development a little too soon. I left home, came to Dhaka and lived literally in Kamalapur railway station. I would buy a newspaper, read it because I paid for it and then lie on it for the night. That was my first year in the University. By the time I was in the third year, I rode to the University in my car," disclosed Sohel. To feed my curiosity, Sohel continued, "I started doing business as an 'International Trade Fare organizer." In my association with the poet what impressed me most is his ingenious ideas. There is not a single sphere in life in which he does not have a say on or where he cannot do something worthwhile.

He began with editing a literary magazine when he was in the eighth grade. During his university days, he was the GeneralSecretary of Dhaka University Journalist Samity. He was the Press and publications Secretary of the First National Sociology conference of Bangladesh Federation of Film Society and the first convening committee of Group Theatre Federation. He played a part in activities of many political parties; though he never joined any formally.

He seems to have dabbled with a little bit of everything, and his observations, narrated in his humorous way, left me in stitches!

"My first poetry book 'Premer Chumu Chokher Jole' was published in 1980. It caused quite a bit of furor among the older, conventional poets. Many thought my presentation of facts as too direct, cynical. My second book, "Hello, Bhalo Acho" was published in 1987. The Third on its way out is "Shudhu Tomar Jonno", informed Sohel.

Commenting on the state of culture and its development in Bangladesh he said, "Bengalis have heredity of nurturing culture. From beggars to Presidents of the country, all are bent on practicing art, especially poetry. I think it is very encouraging and the more they participate the better the competition will be."

"What is distressful is that there is no spot in Dhaka where poets may gather for sessions. A regular gathering is essential for such an art to grow, because much can be learnt through discussions and comparisons. In Calcutta, all senior poets hold such sessions one another's houses by rotation. The senior poets here are introverts and generally don't like to mix. On top of everything, I am basically a nightbird- and this town sleeps too early," Sohel added ruefully.

Lauded as a great satirist of the east and this generation, Sohel Amitabh expressed bitterness at the state of Bangladesh and its people in both the social and economic context. "Economic upliftment is of the utmost importance and the key to social harmony. Here, the administrators and politicians are both mediocre. One is complementary to the other. What I detest about our nature is that we are lazy, we support the weak and love to wallow in our own sorrow," Sohel said distastefully.

The poet in Sohel Amitabh has led him to acquire friends from all walks of life, apart from those involved in art. He is married to a popular singer, Baby Naznin and believes in giving her all the moral support in developing her career. Letting out a marital secret, with a mischievous smile lingering on his lips, Sohel said, "I depend on my wife for happiness."