I Am Sheikh Mujib; An Epic Monologue

By Anisur Rahman

In his epic monologue, Bengali-Swedish writer Anisur Rahman (b. 1978) brings to life the voice and mind of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during all hardships and struggle for an independent nation for the Bengali speaking people of the Indian Subcontinent. The political history of Bangladesh has manifested itself as the people's proclamation of language

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dracopis Press
• Release date: Mar 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9789187341151

Anisur Rahman

Bengali-Swedish writer Anisur Rahman's (b. 1978) authorship based in Bangladesh and Scandinavia. He is one of the board members of the Swedish Writers' Union. His diverse literary works include prose, poetry, novels, short stories and books for children. His plays have been presented on the Swedish Radio Theatre, the Norwegian Radio Theatre, and at various universities and theatres in Africa, Asia and Europe. Educated from Dhaka University and Stockholm University, Rahman works for the Uppsala Centre for Literature, where he also leads creative writing programmes. He is heavily involved in literary cultural debates in media houses like bdnews24.com, unt.se and anisur.net, etc.

Book preview

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Title Page

I Am Sheikh Mujib

An Epic Monologue

Anisur Rahman

Translated by

Anisur Rahman with Zaheer Ahmed

Dracopis Press

Copyright Page

Dracopis_009

Anisur Rahman: I Am Sheikh Mujib; An Epic Monologue

E-book

ISBN 978-91-87341-15-1

Printed editions:

ISBN 978-91-87341-13-7 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-91-87341-14-4 (Softcover)

© 2021 The Writer, the Translators, and Dracopis Press

Published by Dracopis Press, Sweden, 2021. All rights reserved

Translated from Bengali by Anisur Rahman with Zaheer Ahmed

Edited by Melanie Perry and Dominic Williams

Cover Illustration by Rafiqun Nabi

We would like to thank Md Moshiul Azam Shajal, Dhaka.

www.dracopis.com

Dedicated to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Foreword

A tale of dark days in prison for fighting for freedom and justice. This monologue brings back the voices of people whose heritage is located in the Indian Subcontinent. I am inspired to seek out those people once more, to share and discuss this captivating piece of writing. Anisur Rahman’s energy, attention to time and place, personal connection and knowledge of the changes in 20th Century India give this apposite monologue gravitas and agency.

The piece traces the political and cultural basis for, and impact of, the creation of Pakistan and ultimately an independent Bangladesh. From the perspective of Sheikh Mujib, much of the monologue is set during his many prison terms as he reflects on his life from the late 1930s to the mid 1970s. He considers his move through activism and politics, and his role in the fight for a fair and just Bengal for Muslims and Hindus. The foundation of his sickly childhood, the aspirations he shares for his own children, and his concern to support the vulnerable are integral lights in his humanity.

I am a man for works.

What I think, I try to do it.

I made mistakes, I corrected them.

Whether you read this on the page, or hear the voice in performance, I am sure that you will be moved by this personal insight into the major political struggle and change that helped create Bangladesh.

Melanie Perry

I Am Sheikh Mujib

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy.

I remember him in this lonely prison.

How could he extend his hands of blessing towards me?

How could I get in touch with him?

On which morning?

He introduced me to many paths of politics in our country.

I also remember my eye operation in the operating theatre at Calcutta Medical College.

Since the operation I have begun to use glasses.

I dropped out from study because of my illness.

Then I fell behind in my schooling for a few years.

I had nothing to do.

I had no work.

I did not study.

Everyday I was drawn towards the Swadeshis, native activists for freedom.

I became fond of Subhash Bose’s party.

At that age, I realised