Book Review: 71 er Roktopadmo

Jamal Uddin Jamal :
More than a half century ago, the great war of
liberation passed. We have achieved an independent state. We are moving forward with
our culture, education and economy. After 52 years of our independence, it makes no sense
to divide the nation into pro and anti-independence. Such type of words can be heard in some people’s voices. But after reading poet Surovi Jahangir’s book titled
’71 er Roktopadmo,
anybody can understand that one can never think of working together
in harmony with the Rajakars or those who hold the spirit of anti-independence and liberation war.
Anti-libertarians can never be reformed. Their characters are terrible.
The author has expressed the words of the oppressed people
in the war of liberation very splendidly in simple language.
Rajakar Leru Sardar becomes Khan Sahib. They killed everyone including Padmorani’s parents, brothers and sisters and forcefully married her as a hostage. After independence, Leru Sarder
assumed the name of Khan Saheb and became a social worker.
Surovi’s historical book is about such cruel stories. Although the author tactfully refers to the novel as a fiction, it is basically set
in the war of independence and the Rajakars. Remembering those days, Padmorani still screams in her sleep. Author describes the
torture of Leru Sardar as follows, “Leru Sardar with his team,
Al Badr Bahini, Al Shams Bahini, entered the home of Bonomali Dham and first tied everyone with their backs wrapped. Everyone
is speechless. There is no language in anyone’s mouth. Both
eyes are detached. Senseless. The first oppression began with the youngest son Aditya. Before thinking about anything, Aditya’s head was snapped with the sound of taqbir. It was taken down!
The whole body is soaked in blood. Padmorani fainted. Before Fulorenu could understand anything, Leru lifted Padmorani into Sardar’s lap and started cheering. Rajnarayan Babu says, “You take everything, leave my daughter.” Narayan Babu says, “You killed my daughter in front of me. But don’t do anything ugly to my daughter.” Leru Sardar killed everyone one by one. He bound Padmorani with chains. Leru Sardar is now Khan Saheb. Instead of Bonomali Dham, the house was named Khan Manjil, after Padmorani, Nargis Khan. The author is yet to free Nargis Khan from Leru Sardar in her
writing. Leru Sardar’s name is Khan Saheb alias Leru Khan.
Surovi Jahangir’s book could not be continued. The history of the distant past has sometimes been haphazard. Even then, the author has highlighted the history of the Bengali nation and the British
rule, the male-dominated society. She enriched the book by describing child marriage. In the 112-page novel, she has
also mentioned the respect of girls earlier in the day.
This is Surovi Jahangir’s second novel. The book is published
by Jukto Prokashoni, cover art is designedby Momin Uddin Khaled. The price of the book is Tk400.