Monzurul Huq launches 2nd semi-fictional memoir
UNB :
Renowned author, scholar, researcher, and journalist Monzurul Huq is a courageous remembrance of the tumultuous period preceding Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, which he witnessed firsthand and took part in himself; and his second semi-fictional memoir, ‘A Time to Dream and a Time of Despair’—which’ detailed his experiences of the war—was launched at the capital’s Garden Gallery Cosmos, Baridhara, in the capital on Monday.
Published by Cosmos Books from the Cosmos Foundation, featuring exclusive illustrations by artist Sourav Chowdhury, Executive Director of Gallery Cosmos, the book narrates untold stories from the viewpoint of Huq and his family during the stormy days of 1971, as their fate was intertwined with that of Bangladesh.
The launching ceremony of the memoir, which is a sequel to Huq’s 2022 book ‘A Story of My Time,’ was joined on Monday by eminent personalities from all walks of life, including eminent journalist and the daily Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, as the chief guest.
Noted personalities joined the book launch event, including eminent researcher-journalist Afsan Chowdhury, art maestro and Dhaka University drawing and painting department emeritus professor Rafiqun Nabi, and Liberation War Museum trustee, cultural activist, and Monzurul Huq’s elder brother Mofidul Haque as the special guests. The event was presided over by Enayetullah Khan, publisher of the book and founder-chairman of the Cosmos Foundation.
Greeting the esteemed guests, including the author’s wife, Yumiko Kikuchi; diplomats from different embassies; cultural connoisseurs; and dignitaries from different sectors at the Garden Gallery Cosmos, which is located inside the first-ever house built in the capital’s Baridhara, Enayetullah Khan said: “Cosmos Books is delighted to present the second volume of the memoir written by Monzurul Huq, focusing on the pre-independent days of our country.
Prothom Alo Editor and chief guest of the launching ceremony, Matiur Rahman, said, “Enayetullah Khan did not publish this wonderful book to earn money; rather, it stands as a symbol of his friendship with Monzurul Huq, whom I have also known for more than fifty years now.
Monzurul Huq mentioned, “This is not a definitive history because I didn’t want to write history. I just wanted to recreate the memories, my memoir. Many people these days are forgetting about what happened in 1971, so this collective forgetfulness pains me quite significantly, so I wanted to remind people that from the generation, from those who have gone through that dreamy and agony period.”
Eminent researcher-journalist Afsan Chowdhury, art maestro Rafiqun Nabi, and Mofidul Haque also spoke at the launching ceremony, sharing their valuable insights regarding the author and the book. Monzurul Huq conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to Enayetullah Khan and Cosmos Foundation Executive Director Nahar Khan for the publication and also thanked artist Sourav Chowdhury for the layout and illustrations, ARK Reepon for its art direction, and Arif Bachchu for the design.
After the book’s launching, young recitation artist Shatabdi Saha recited Helal Hafiz’s revolutionary poem “Nishiddho Shompadokiyo” and Shamsur Rahman’s “Shwadhinota Tumi” at the event.
