It has been a while Sakib wrote anything on Turni, but like he himself said it many times, he holds the keys to the editorial office, without him nothing can be published. Ladies and Gentlemen, you better believe him, as this is true. So Sakib, today I am writing for you, may not be about you. However, ‘for’ or ‘about’ can be quite similar in some case; and just like, I like to say often, what is the difference?
There is so much confusion I see in you Sakib, and it is equally proportional to raw talent. Predictability is not your middle name, and that is a fact! But whatever it is, you keep us true to ourselves and keep us running. For that we are all thankful to you. I understand the struggles you face while reading a complex story. I expected that and, believe me that was one of the reasons I asked you to read 1Q84. There is also a reason I asked you to listen to the audiobook version. Not only I enjoy Allison Hiroto’s soothing voice, but I also enjoy that wonderful short film at her portfolio. I waited a long time for you to see it, and only recently I revealed that to you. It is hardly known, as she is not a celebrity, but does that matter?
There are many things that resonate for me there. First, in today’s globalized world, anyone can be anywhere in the world. I truly believe that. Because I see that all the time with my own eyes. But people still get surprised when I say, the most common language at the streets of Rome, is Bengali. The most common ownership of all gas stations from Louisiana to southernmost tip of Florida is Bengali. It is very common to get ‘Bengali Halal’ food in NYC. So why it is uncommon to have a romantic relationship between a middle-aged Bengali Muslim gentleman with a middle aged (or younger or older!) Japanese Lady?
Secondly, we are not in perfect control of our lives, we often do not know what is coming next. We are most commonly not prepared for it, but we still do quite well. We adapt, we improvise, and we enjoy. Many people do not like their present, at present. But as people grow older, and the present become the past, sometimes the thought process changes. Other times, the thought process does not charge. So what? Like it or not, it is here, and it is with you now. That is the beauty of present. Whether you like it or not, doesn’t matter the least. However, if you do like it, your life is so much easier for you, and that is all that I am saying.
I think we as a society, globally, are going through a major transitional phase. Lots of conventional wisdom is shattering. This social experiment you are deeply involved in, is at the cutting edge of that change from a variety of different ways. Many of us, are so deep into it, often it doesn’t feel that way. We often see the stale, stagnant and dark side of this social experiment. However, as a creature of darkness, I can tell you about the light. Simply because, one appreciates the light a lot more, if he/she is a creature of darkness. If this social experiment is even remotely successful, it will change lives of not only you, but many other people surrounding you. Some of it is already happening, and I know that you know about it well. All I am saying is simple, I am asking you to believe. That is all.
Oh! When you bring tea for the lady, please remember to make your presence audible and visible ahead of time, will you? It will help you protect against unfortunate circumstances! 😊
-Editor
আজ সৃষ্টি সুখের উল্লাসে–
মোর মুখ হাসে মোর চোখ হাসে মোর টগবগিয়ে খুন হাসে
আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখের উল্লাসে।
আজকে আমার রুদ্ধ প্রাণের পল্বলে -
বান ডেকে ঐ জাগল জোয়ার দুয়ার – ভাঙা কল্লোলে।
আসল হাসি, আসল কাঁদন
মুক্তি এলো, আসল বাঁধন,
মুখ ফুটে আজ বুক ফাটে মোর তিক্ত দুখের সুখ আসে।
ঐ রিক্ত বুকের দুখ আসে -
আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখের উল্লাসে!
আসল উদাস, শ্বসল হুতাশ
সৃষ্টি-ছাড়া বুক-ফাটা শ্বাস,
ফুললো সাগর দুললো আকাশ ছুটলো বাতাস,
গগন ফেটে চক্র ছোটে, পিণাক-পাণির শূল আসে!
ঐ ধূমকেতু আর উল্কাতে
চায় সৃষ্টিটাকে উল্টাতে,
আজ তাই দেখি আর বক্ষে আমার লক্ষ বাগের ফুল হাসে
আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখের উল্লাসে!
আজ হাসল আগুন, শ্বসল ফাগুন,
মদন মারে খুন-মাখা তূণ
পলাশ অশোক শিমুল ঘায়েল
ফাগ লাগে ঐ দিক-বাসে
গো দিগ বালিকার পীতবাসে;
আজ রঙ্গন এলো রক্তপ্রাণের অঙ্গনে মোর চারপাশে
আজ সৃষ্টি সুখের উল্লাসে!
আজ কপট কোপের তূণ ধরি,
ঐ আসল যত সুন্দরী,
কারুর পায়ে বুক ডলা খুন, কেউ বা আগুন,
কেউ মানিনী চোখের জলে বুক ভাসে!
তাদের প্রাণের 'বুক-ফাটে-তাও-মুখ-ফোটে-না' বাণীর বীণা মোর পাশে
ঐ তাদের কথা শোনাই তাদের
আমার চোখে জল আসে
আজ সৃষ্টি সুখের উল্লাসে!
আজ আসল ঊষা, সন্ধ্যা, দুপুর,
আসল নিকট, আসল সুদূর
আসল বাধা-বন্ধ-হারা ছন্দ-মাতন
পাগলা-গাজন-উচ্ছ্বাসে!
ঐ আসল আশিন শিউলি শিথিল
হাসল শিশির দুবঘাসে
আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখের উল্লাসে!
আজ জাগল সাগর, হাসল মরু
কাঁপল ভূধর, কানন তরু
বিশ্ব-ডুবান আসল তুফান, উছলে উজান
ভৈরবীদের গান ভাসে,
মোর ডাইনে শিশু সদ্যোজাত জরায়-মরা বামপাশে।
মন ছুটছে গো আজ বল্গাহারা অশ্ব যেন পাগলা সে।
আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখের উল্লাসে!
আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখের উল্লাসে!!
Adventure is like an addiction for many souls who love to explore the unknown. Richard is having one such soul which made him left everything of this mechanical world and he left to satisfy the thirst to know the unknown. He started for a great mountain where no one could discover the strange mystery of people being vanished. Before leaving he just asked for a blessing from his parents so that he could return to them satisfying his thirst for that mystery.
He needed a partner of the same soul who has the desire to explore the unknown. Somehow he got a stranger who is also trying to explore this mountain with a cause. They collected as much information as they could collect and left for that adventure. for Richard, it was to explore the mystery but for the Stranger friend, it was something else that wasn't known by Richard. Richard was grateful to have him because he was too much helpful in collecting information and was way more eager than Richard to go there.
When they started for the adventure many native people warned them by telling the horrible history of this. It was like a haunted place as per their stories. But these made them more eager to get into it. Within a week they came to the deepest part of the jungle and they were almost running out of resources they brought with them and were trying to cope up with the resources collecting from nature. Richard was astonished to see the stranger guy as he was so fluent in his steps and felt like he knew this mountain very well and visited it a few times. The stranger guy had some secret maps, articles, notebooks. Richard didn't pay attention to his personal stuff.
They came near a big den where there were six paths to go. Almost all of them were too dark to see anything inside. Rays of the sun were very hard impossible to come through the dense jungle, let alone entering through the den. The stranger told him to aim at the last two paths of the den, because he knew from research that the rest of them goes nowhere. So they decided that both of them would enter the different one and meet again at this same entrance within 24 hours from now. Richard went inside from the last one. He was keeping track from which direction he is coming and to where he is going. After a few hours of exploring he found out that he came to a riddle that has no end. He got into such a puzzled den that he is coming back to the same place over and over again. It has become more than 24 hours than 48 and slowly he was in the last breaths of his life. Here comes the end of Richard's adventure for exploring the unknown.
That stranger guy didn't enter the den in which he was planning to enter. He was waiting outside Richard's one to see whether Richard come out or not. When it was more than a couple of days he was ensured that this was the wrong path. The wrong path of what? Wrong path to lead him to his treasury for which he came here multiple times before. Every time he would send his partner to a den to check if that is the right way to go or a way to the death. Saying so he marked at his map titling the safe path of the den and set his new goal for the next stage way to his treasure. He turned back to the way to his home out of this adventure.
He cleared 80% of this puzzle way to his treasure. Need to come again and again with some more adventurous souls until he reaches his aim. He uses those souls to check the dangers ahead of his way. Richard was one of those victims of him. How far can he go? How many lives will be paid for his greed for the treasure is a mystery like his treasure and the mountain…..
The beliefs which has been passed onto us for generations, some cherish able while, some unexpected. I literally am very proud of the tradition which I am surrounded by. Needless to say, when I compare my traditions over others traditions and get to differentiate what is what, I practically get the answer very much by myself! But deep down, I want to get to know new traditions, cultures and explore as much as possible. Hopefully that will happen soon!
Let me share about one of my culture which is very much favorable amongst us (My city/division). WEDDING! Yep, you heard it right! There is saying, when it comes to guest, we are probably the best (we try our best) people to take care of them. In fact the guests become more like a family to us than of other relations. And when the word weeding comes around, this becomes a festival for two families than just an occasion.
This side of the world is little different when it comes to wedding. There are is walking down the aisle but there are different parts of a wedding, where we celebrate it with all the family members and make it a memorable event for all the family members for the rest of our life.
The very first event that takes place once both the families agrees to the wedding. To be more precise, this side of the world people tries to stay together as a joint family thus all these traditions makes sense to us. So coming back to the event, it is the one where the wedding dates gets fixed by an event. Where only close family members gets together and all the elders of the family come together and participate and arrange the wedding date officially.
One of the most exiting part is, we have all sorts of songs as well depending on different occasions of the wedding ;) I will share those, if I can find them on the internet ;)
Yep, this is where an event takes place before the wedding date. Normally before a day of the wedding or even before that. Here the bride and grooms family arrange the event in their respective places. Where the event takes place with the family members. Where the bride and groom are the key attention and some of the traditional things are done. Like applying ginger (paste) on cheeks of the bride and groom and also different sorts of foods are also available to make them eat those.
Once the holud event is done for than the mehendi part revives, immediately after the holud event. This is quite similar to holud but the ginger paste replaces the mehedi. And once this event is done the magical night reappears ;)
After all the traditional tasks there comes the party for youngsters. Nothing vulger guys just some dances and mad dances all through the nights with cousins, friends and others. This goes on for the rest of the night and thus becomes one of the best night to remember for a long time.
The big day arrives. One of the concept which I do not really like that much is this phase. You will have to invite all the relatives across the country if possible all over the world and ride out to the bride's place and have one time food of the day (the bride family will have to bear the cost). This tradition is sowewhat seems like a waste to me. And even after all that there will be some sort of complain either about the food, place or something else from random people who were invited as guest. But since this is a tradition families will have to bear the consequences of this particular situation. This event is the main part of the wedding. Where the groom visits the resident/ a n elected place of the event and bring the bride along with him to his own resident. There are few more occasions which happens during this day. And all the fun lies in that particular period.
The next event is the walima. This event is organized by the groom family mostly. The same thing happens in this event which happened in the wedding day but this time the groom and bride will be together and just the family of the bride shall be visiting the place of the groom with their family. The same usual concept of the complain will happen by some arrogant people but still it continues. Shit happens but life goes on.
The most arrogant prospect of this whole situation is DOWRY. Yep, even in 2021, there are some families who force fully puts this dowry over the bride's family. Even it is against the law of the government but some families makes it a must by the name of tradition. But so far literacy is increasing and changes are happening in this particular zone. One of the thing which I hate about this all wedding is this one. Hopefully it will eradicate soon and everyone will be happy from both sides.
There are few more events which takes place but they mostly depend on different families. Like get together and get to know different family members after wedding of the groom's family and that day is also a fun event. While the visits and functions which takes place after wedding to the bride's family is also an interesting turn of event. There are lots of event which takes place during this occasion. Like I stated above this is not only a relation of two but also of the whole families coming together and be as one.
In a recent turn of event, there was an incident with one of my little brother (neighbor). He is in a relationship and their relation is about almost 10 years. The fact now is, they want to get married but the girl she can not say about this relation to her family. And she insisted of giving the proposal to her family from the groom side but we can not mention anything about this relationship. This was more than a challenge. So keeping everything aside, few of us went to meet with bride's father and believe me it was one of the most difficult task to handle lol. How would you even start to talk about this relation since they both were quite young and we can not even mention about their relation. But after the meeting somehow the topic was raised and we gave the proposal and it went into consideration. After few arguments between their family and taking everything into consideration it was final and the date has been fixed. They are finally going to get married!
Time and tide wait for none; but for her time just doesn't seem to pass; she keeps staring at the clock and it feels that the clock hands don't move at all. There's nothing she can do to change the situation; old age is becoming a burden to her and her family. If you're thinking that she has a vamp of a daughter-in-law then you are very mistaken; that lady is an angel. No one thinks that she's a burden, no one ever makes her feel that way even for a second. Then why has life turned into that? Mrs. Rabeya is still looking at the clock without blinking; her eyes seem to have some sort of pain but masked with something else.
Her husband had died prior to her eldest daughter's marriage; and do you know what happens to daughters who lost their father? Even if their mother and relatives don't think of them as a burden, society surely does; and they don't back off from reminding you what burden is. If you concentrate hard enough, six children is definitely a burden for a widowed mother. Within a year of their father's death, the eldest two daughters got married off and even though their married lives were a struggle, they always helped out. Her son was still a teenager but he started teaching other kids to contribute to the family like his sisters. One by one all the daughters got married off and her son started working at a bank.
She first became a grandmother at the age of 51, pretty young, but she too got married at an early age. The first feeling of being a grandmother, she was over the moon; her granddaughter had filled joy in every corner of her heart. Later on all of her children gave her grandchildren and she would see all 12 of them play around; a sight for sore eyes. Rabeya was now living with her son and his little family. She thought the last days would be great; a penny for thoughts?! Did I mention that her daughter-in-law is an angel; she takes care of the house and everyone, hospitable towards her in-laws and a sincere smile that never leaves her lips. So, when everything looks picture perfect then why is Rabeya so miserable?
Do you know that you don't have to put someone through struggle to make their lives unbearable? Be lovable towards them and be attentive; when your priorities change and life seems to take a roller coaster ride, the other person will start to feel different, abandoned is the word. It's not your fault that your life got busier and it certainly is not Rabeya's fault that her torment is caused by loneliness; yes, loneliness. Her grandchildren (from her son) are in school and her daughter-in-law keeps going back and forth trying to drop and pick them on time. Then their coaching classes, cooking and whatnot around the house; this poor lady doesn't have a break. The son comes home after 9 pm from office and after this long hour and a lengthy commute, he too gets tired; but he tries to at least spend half an hour with his mother to check up on her. Rabeya's grandkids come to her in the evening for a short while but they're kids so you can't expect them to stick around in one place for a long period. Her daughter-in-law sometimes sits with her over a cup of tea and biscuits; Rabeya looks at her and she knows that she's exasperated. Now at the age of 83, what can she do other than wait in her room. Her friends are dead; her relatives, older and younger, are dying too but she's still here and surviving one heartbreak everyday. Life shouldn't be this prolonged; it just kills you a little at a time.
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