Pabna is a riverine region rich in tradition. The smell of its soil, the lush nature is remarkable. Many writers of Pabna have enriched Bengali literature and culture.
Among the poets of Pabna district in the medieval period, the strange Acharya possesses a distinguished talent. Ramayana is known as a translator. The duration of the poet is disputed. He can be identified as a poet of the sixteenth century. In the first half of the nineteenth century, Krishna Kishore Roy and Sashadhar Roy of this district wrote poetry in imitation of Panchali like the Middle Ages. Among the poets of this district, Prasannamoyee Devi in contemporary society, Rajanikanta Sen in taste, Pramoth Chowdhury in sonnet, Ambujasundari Dasgupta in spirituality, Priyamvada Devi in mourning, Ismail Hossain Siraji in national awakening, Abul Hashem in tradition and Bande Ali Mia in rural poetry are memorable.
Jyotirindra Maitra, Manindra Roy, Bani Roy, Chowdhury Osman, Abdul Gani Hazari, Mazharul Islam, Tarun Sanyal, Ananda Bagchi, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Zia Haider, Jahan Ara Begum, Omar Ali, Mahadev Saha, Fazal-e-Khuda, Makid Haider, Zulfikar Matin, Daud Haider, Majid Mahmud are notable for his recent poems. Among them, Manindra Roy is the most illuminated name in the variety of numerical abundance and creation. The pain of the era and the romanticism at the same time have been reflected in his writings. Manindra Roy received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1969 for his poem ‘Mohini Ardal’.
The first prominent name in rhyme is Shri Ramprasad Maitra. He wrote a few rhymes. In two history-based rhymes written by him, the caricature of the judicial system of the early days of English rule has emerged. Prasannamoyee Devi used to write regularly in the famous children’s magazine ‘Sandesh’ edited by Upendra Kishore Chowdhury. Rajinikanth Sen wrote many children’s poemsPabna district is very rich in folklore. Barmasya, Dhuaa, Jag songs, wedding geets, feminine songs, local proverbs and the folk tales are very popular among the villagers. Barmasya is a kind of sad song. An example is as follows:
Dhuaa is the composition of the village poets. This song contains questions, answers, hamd and naat etc.
For ages, the common people here have been protecting the cultures from the harsh grip of the era.
These songs once returned to the throats of boatmen and cartmen. Poets and writers have felt the vibrancy of rural life through these songs. Pabna has also contributed a lot to folk music. Singing these folk songs and dancing they enjou the wedding programmes.Durga Narayan Chowdhury can be called a pioneer as a lyricist. He has a compilation titled ‘Sangeet Kusumanjali’. Rajinikanth Sen has composed many songs. His talent is spontaneous in the field of music rather than poetry. His ‘Maa er deya mota kapor’ created a great stir during the colonial period during the boycott of foreign goods. Among the books written by other lyricists of this district are ‘Geetika’ by Pramatha Nath Roy, ‘Geeti Kaumudi’ by Umacharan Chowdhury, ‘Premananjali’ by Ismail Hossain Siraji, ‘Sangeet Kusumanjali’ by Mohini Mohan Nandi, ‘Surlila’ by Tarini Shankar Bagchi. Bimal Krishna Majumdar, Abdul Gafur and Kazi Nurul Hossain wrote several folk songs. Abul Hashem is a notable name in the field of ghazal composition. Gauri Prasanna Majumder, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Zia Haider, Sailen Roy, Abu Hayat Mohammad Kamal, Fazle Khoda and Tarun Roy are notable personalities in the field of modern music. In the case of short stories, the name of Pramotho Chowdhury is the first to be pronounced in terms of creating the fascinating features and forms of the story.
His story collection is ‘Char Yaari Katha’, ‘Neel Lohit”‘Chitrapot’ is a collection of short stories written by Saralabala Dasi. One of its stories won the ‘Kuntalin Award’. Giribala Devi received the ‘Nirupama Memorial Award’ for short stories. Parimal Goswami’s specialty is in juicy storytelling. His collection of stories is ‘That Man in the Trump’, ‘Back Market’. The theme of the story of Sardar Zainuddin and Mazharul Islam is the writing of the common people of rural Bengal. In this case, Sardar Zainuddin’s special addition is ‘Khorosrot’, ‘Nayan Dhuli’. In the case of the novel, the name of Gaurnath Niyogi can be mentioned first. In 1872, his ‘Asha Marichika’ came out. This romantic book is memorable. Although not anecdotal, it is significant for historical reasons. Then ‘Ashoka’ came out in Bangla 1296. Composed by Prasannamoyee Devi. Nazibur Rahman Sahitya Ratna wrote a number of ideological novels. Among them, ‘Anwara’ gained special popularity. The famous novel “Roy Nandini” is written by Sjraji.The notable writings of the writers of Pabna are. Radhacharan Chakrabarty’s ‘Mrigaya’, Hemendralal Roy’s ‘Jhorer Dola’, Bani Roy’s ‘Prem’, ‘Kone Dekha Alo’, Khandaker Mohammad Elias’s ‘Koto Chhobi Koto Gaan’, Sardar Joyen Uddin’s ‘Onek Surjer Asha’, Swaraj Bandyopadhyay’s ‘Biddya Baulir Brittanto’, ‘Aaj Raja Kal Fakir’, Maqbula Manzoor’s ‘Ar Ek Jibon’ and Rashid Haider’s ‘Khachay’. Bamacharan Majumdar’s name is memorable in the field of drama. His play ‘Jomidar’ is like a mirror national drama. Parimal Goswami is particularly adept at writing comedy. In this case, his addition is ‘Ghughu’, ‘Dushmanter bichaar’. Abul Hashem, Bande Ali Miah and Manindra Roy are not playwrights. Despite this, they have multiple plays. Among them, Abul Hashem’s ‘Master Saheb’, Bande Ali Mia’s ‘Masnad’ and Manindra Roy’s ‘Bhishma’ (poetic play) and ‘Lakhindar’ etc. can be named. The first significant work on travel was ‘Aryabarta’ (1295). The writer is Prasannamoyee Devi. Ismail Hossain Siraji has written a book on Europe and the Middle East. They are: “Turoshko Bhromon” and ” Syria bhromon”Parimal Goswami’s special contribution in this regard is ‘Pothe Pothe’. Renowned musician Abdul Ahad visited China as a member of the cultural mission. Based on this, “Gono chin e 24 din” has been written. Some memoirs have been found in this district. In this case, the first prominent name is Prasannamoyee Devi. His essay is “Purbosmriti”. Then Pramatha Chowdhury wrote an autobiography. He also wrote an article titled ‘Pabnar Kotha’ in the Kartik number ‘Sabujpatra’ of Bangla 1333. Parimal Goswami’s memoirs are ‘Patrasmriti’ and ‘Those whom I saw’. Moizuddin Ahmed’s ‘Mahasamarer Patcchhaya’ is rich and happy in the light of his experiential life. Based on past memories, Bande Ali Mia’s ‘Jiboner Dinguli’ and Ashok Bagchi’s book ‘Pichu Dake’. Comparatively more biographies have been written in this district than memoirs.Among such books are Alauddin Ahmed’s ‘Boro pir saheber Jibonchorit’, Gourgobind Upadhyay’s ‘Acharya Keshab Chandra’, Prasannamayi Devi’s ‘Tara Charit’, Sarlabala Dasi’s ‘Bhogini Nivedita’, Yogendra Lal Roy’s ‘Mostafa Kamal Pasha’, Mohammad Sanaullah’s ‘Hazrat Fatima’, M Serazul Haque’s ‘Siraji Charit’, Abdul Jabbar Siddiqui’s ‘Manusher Nabi’ and Bande Ali Mia’s ‘Jibon Shilpi Nazrul’ are memorable.
The contribution of this district is particularly memorable in the field of translation. A few poems of Prasannamayi Devi’s poem ‘Banalta’ are translated from English. ‘Sports In Jheels And Jungles’ written by Kumudnath Chowdhury translated by Priyambada Devi. His translation of ‘Jheel e Jungle e Shikar’ appeared in a few issues of Sabujpatra. Based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Comedy of Errors’, Habibur Rahman translated ‘Bhranti bilas’. One of the most notable books translated by Parimal Goswami is ‘Sukher sondhane’ (Original: Bertrand Russell). Muhammad Mansuruddin partially translated Rumi’s Masnavi Sharif. A few poems of Bani Roy’s poem ‘Jupiter’ are translated from English to the prose work ‘Mona Lisa’. Abdul Gani Hazari translated ‘Golden Ass’ based on Apuleius’ ‘Swarna Gardabh’ written in the second century AD. Another notable attempt of his in this regard is ‘Mon: Somikkha’ (Original Freud). “Ekti samannyo Mrittyu” by Fateh Lohani based on Arthur Miller’s ‘Death Of a Salesman’ and a translation of Eugene and Neil’s play ‘Bilape Bileen’. Based on the original book of Muhammad Shamsul Haque, a valuable book called “Shiksha o Jatiya Unnayan ” has been translated by Dr. Abdullah Al Muti Sharfuddin.
Pabna district also has a prominent role in children’s literature. A significant number of children’s writers have appeared in this district at various times. Among them Prasannamayi Devi, Ambujasundari Dasgupta, Priyambada Devi, Hemendralal Roy, Muhammad Sanaullah, Muhammad Mansuruddin, Muhammad Abid Ali, Bande Ali Mia and Kazi Golam Akbar can be named. Children’s literature. Akbar Ali, Sheikh Abdul Hakim, Shah Fazlur Rahman, Sardar Zainuddin and Dr. Abdullah Al Muti Sharfuddin’s donation is also worth mentioning. Among them, the number of books by Bande Ali Mia is sufficient in terms of numbers. In recognition of his special contribution in this regard, he received the ‘Bangla Academy Award’ in 1962.
The contribution of Pabna district in the field of essays is extensive. First, literary criticism and research essays can be discussed. Pramatha Chowdhury, Muhammad Mansuruddin, Shivprasanna Lahiri, Dr. Mazharul Islam, Dr. Golam Saklayen, Dr. Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Khalek, Manowar Hossain Zahedi, Dr. M. Abdul Alim, Dr. Md. The names of Habibullah and others are memorable. Pramatha Chowdhury’s contribution to the evolution of Bengali prose and the genre of essay literature is particularly memorable. His outstanding contribution in essay literature is ‘Birbal er Halkhata’, ‘Nanakotha’, ‘Nanacharcha’. Pressing of the sentences is the main feature of his works. Dr. among other essays. Dr. Mazharul Islam has done special research on folk literature and gained special fame in research on modern literature. Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal. Dr. Manasvita is identified in the research article The Bengali press and literary writings, 1818-1831 and the essay book ‘Shilipir Rupantar’ written by Abu Hena. The famous Dr. in the field of research on folklore. Muhammad Abdul Khalek and Dr. Muhammad Abdul Jalil.
Shashadhar Roy, Mohammad Barkatullah and Rafiuddin etc. are famous for writing philosophical essays. A memorable effort in this regard is Mohammad Barkatullah’s ‘Manusher Dhormo’. Radharman Saha, Tarini Charan Chowdhury, Bankimchandra Roy, Mirza Abu Saeed, Moktar Ahmed Siddiqui claim distinction in historical works.
Pabna district is also associated with the name of poet Rabindranath. Rabindranath spent significant time in Shahjadpur Kuthibari on the banks of Karotowa. Karotowa, Ichhamati, Padma and Jamuna are particularly prominent in his works. During his stay here, he wrote numerous poems, songs, short stories and letters. Kabiguru Rabindranath visited Pabna several times. While staying at Pabna, one evening Singa heard a true incident of cremation from Mr. Tarkanath Adhikari, the legal advisor of the Tagore estate. Rabindranath mixed a little imagination with this and wrote the story ‘Jeebito o Mrito’.
The name of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is also associated with the literary pursuits of Pabna district. In 1932, Poet Nazrul presided over the Bengal Muslim Youth Conference. He also wrote some poems during his stay in Pabna.
Apart from literature, Pabna district also plays an important role in the cultural arena. The theater movement is centered around the Banamali theater located in the heart of Pabna city. Many famous actors of the subcontinent have performed on this stage. Suchitra Sen is notable among those who have performed on this stage.
Mohammad Kamruzzaman: Senior Educationist and Literary Researcher, Head of Department (Bangla), Government Edward College, Pabna.
Translated by: Ananyo Haider, Coordinator, Centre for Pabna Studies.
