‘Judge Farrukh Ahmad by his poetry, not politics’

Say speakers at 33rd edition of Star Itihas Adda

Poet Farrukh Ahmad has often been judged through the lens of his political identity, with his literary contributions overlooked, said speakers at an event yesterday.

They called for assessing his literary works, evolving ideas and personal identity beyond such biases.

They made the remarks at the 33rd edition of The Daily Star Itihas Adda, titled, “Farrukh Ahmad Amid Political Changes”, held at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

They said dismissing a poet’s work because of his political beliefs or portraying him solely as a representative of a particular ideology would be unfair to his legacy.

Poet Zakir Abu Zafar said Farrukh’s literary strength had been overlooked because of assessments based on his political identity. “When a nation weighs its art, literature, poetry and poets on political scales, it can never become a civilised nation,” he said.

Highlighting the language, imagery and humanist outlook of Farrukh’s poetry, Zakir said, “Farrukh Ahmad has not endured merely because of his ideology. He has endured because of his words, his message and his imagery. He is a humanist, a poet of universal humanism.”

Referring to the relevance of Farrukh’s poetry after the July uprising, he said, “When we read Farrukh Ahmad’s poetry, it sometimes feels as though these poems were written after the July revolution.”

Poet, essayist and art critic Sakhawat Tipu said judging a poet solely by political identity made it difficult to appreciate the significance of his language, imagination and aesthetics.

Referring to Farrukh’s love for Bangla and his role in the Language Movement, Sakhawat said the poet should not be confined to a single political or religious identity.

Khorshed Alam, professor of Bangla at Jahangirnagar University, highlighted the influence of Arab-Persian traditions, Bangla folk literature and humanist thought on the poet’s work.

Referring to “Sat Sagorer Majhi” (The Sailor of the Seven Seas), which he said had attained classical status, Prof Khorshed said, “This Bangladesh will rediscover Farrukh Ahmad.”

Farrukh Ahmad’s son, Syed Wahiduzzaman, said his father always wrote for people, keeping marginalised communities at the centre of his thoughts.

The poet was mentored by politician, journalist and writer Abul Mansur Ahmad, he said.

Wahiduzzaman urged readers to study the memoirs of Farrukh’s colleagues to understand his character and called for his works to be included in school, college and university curricula.

Journalist Shamsuddoza Sajen said a broader assessment of the poet’s literature, ideas and personality is needed.

Born in 1918, Farrukh Ahmad is known in Bangla literature as the “poet of the Muslim Renaissance”.

Alongside Muslim heritage and Arabic-Persian influences, his poetry explored exploitation, poverty and the aspiration for human liberation. He died in 1974.

The discussion was moderated by Emran Mahfuz.