Introduction: The Fragility of Life and Its Realization
In our pursuit of success, wealth, and recognition, we often forget the simplest, yet most powerful truth: being alive is everything. I learned this lesson from a stranger whose life was miraculously spared after a near-fatal accident. Though I don’t remember his face or his name, his story stays etched in my mind forever. It was a moment that shaped how I live, how I view challenges, and how I prioritize what’s truly important. Sometimes, you don’t need a name to change your life; a single encounter, a shared story, a fleeting moment can leave a lasting imprint.
A Vacation Turned Tragic
It all began when a man, his wife, and two daughters were on vacation in the hilly terrains of Chattogram, Bangladesh. A simple family trip turned into a nightmare when their microbus veered off the road and plunged 200 meters down a cliff. Miraculously, the family survived, with everyone sustaining only minor injuries. Everyone except for the man I met.
His injuries were catastrophic. His neck was broken, multiple ribs fractured, and he suffered many internal injuries. His life hung by a thread, and doctors were pessimistic about his survival. His family and friends were prepared for the worst, and for days, he remained unconscious, caught between life and death.
But then, against all odds, he woke up.
The Man Who Survived
When I met him, he shared his incredible story with us. After spending months in a coma, after doctors had almost given up on him, he returned to life. But the man who woke up wasn’t the same man who had fallen into that coma. He had been face to face with death, and something inside him had shifted.
He told us that during his recovery, in those long, painful days of unconsciousness, he realized one simple truth: being alive is everything.
Before the accident, he had lived like most of us: pursuing career goals, accumulating wealth, and striving for recognition. He had been focused on things that, in the grand scheme of life, seemed vital. But when death loomed, all of it lost its meaning. No matter how much wealth or status he had, none of it mattered as much as his breath, his heart, his life. And when he came back to life, he couldn’t help but marvel at the preciousness of it all.
A Life Transformed by a Near-Death Experience
This man’s words resonated deeply within me. In our day-to-day struggles, it’s so easy to get caught up in the rat race: deadlines, societal expectations, ambitions. We chase after titles, degrees, promotions, and the approval of others, all while life itself slips by unnoticed. Yet, this man’s experience was a wake-up call. It made me realize that nothing—absolutely nothing—matters more than being alive.
I started applying this mindset to my own life. In moments of frustration, when things don’t go according to plan, or when I feel overwhelmed by the weight of expectations, I remind myself: being alive is everything.
The Tragedy of Lost Perspectives
I couldn’t help but reflect on the tragic stories that have become all too common in today’s world: a teenager who takes her life after failing to top her class, a young man who ends it all after failing to make the merit list for an engineering college, or a woman who can no longer bear the weight of a broken heart. These stories break my heart, and every time I hear one, I wonder: why don’t we value life as much as we value success or perfection?
People are so focused on external validation—grades, wealth, love—that they forget the value of their own existence. We measure our worth by achievements, by things that can be lost in an instant. But life itself, the very breath in our lungs, is irreplaceable. And no success, no possession, no love, or title should overshadow the profound gift of life.
A New Perspective as a Father
As a father of two beautiful daughters, this realization has transformed my approach to parenting. I want to teach them that life, in its rawest form, is precious. My goal is not only to equip them with the skills they need to navigate through life but also to root them in the philosophy that life itself is the ultimate gift. No matter what happens—whether they succeed or fail, whether they win or lose, whether they feel loved or rejected—being alive is everything.
In a world where academic scores, social media fame, and career achievements are often seen as the ultimate goals, I want them to understand the true essence of living. I want them to know that no matter what life throws at them, they can always keep moving forward as long as they are alive. Success is fleeting, but life—life is everything.
Spreading the Message of Life
This lesson has become the core of my worldview, and I want to spread this realization beyond my immediate family. Every chance I get, I want to remind people: life is precious. It’s not about chasing material wealth or external accolades; it’s about being grateful for each moment we have.
We live in a world where too many people are obsessed with success and status, with comparisons and competition. But if we can shift our focus, even a little bit, towards appreciating the gift of life itself, we might just start living more intentionally, more gratefully, and more compassionately.
Conclusion: Living, Not Merely Existing
In the end, the greatest lesson I learned from the man who survived is simple: life is the most valuable thing we have; not the life I had yesterday, not the life we will have tomorrow, the most valuable part of life is the life we’re living today. It is not something we should take for granted, nor should we allow it to be overshadowed by the pressures and expectations of society.
I hope this message reaches you, wherever you are in your journey. Whether you’re facing challenges, setbacks, or feeling lost in the pursuit of something that seems important, remember: being alive is everything. Nothing else compares. Life is a gift, and it should be lived—not merely existed through.
Let this realization sink in, and ask yourself: how can you value your life more today than yesterday? How can you begin to live fully, without letting external pressures steal your joy of simply being alive?
A Reunion of Souls: Rediscovering the Cadet College Bond
There are places that shape us, not just through the lessons taught in classrooms but through the bonds we form and the experiences we live. For me, that place was Sylhet Cadet College, a chapter of my life that still feels like a dream—intense, beautiful, and unforgettable. Recently, I had the privilege of returning to this sacred ground for a reunion, an event that wasn’t just about revisiting old buildings but about rekindling friendships and reliving the essence of who we once were.
As I stepped through the gates, the years melted away. The bricks, the corridors, the fields—they stood still in time, but we had journeyed far. Yet, despite the passage of decades, one truth resonated through the laughter and nostalgia that followed: “Adding numbers to our age is undeniable, but whether to get old or not is our choice.”
The Cadet College Experience: More Than Just a School
For those unfamiliar, Cadet Colleges in Bangladesh are akin to the public schools of the UK—elite, disciplined, and deeply transformative. Administered by the Bangladesh Army, these institutions are more than just schools; they are breeding grounds for resilience, leadership, and lifelong camaraderie.
Admission to a Cadet College is no easy feat. At just 12 years old, we competed with thousands of hopefuls, securing a place that would define our youth. From class 7 to class 12, we lived a life of structure—academics, military drills, sports, and values that would shape us forever. Many of us went on to universities, some abroad, and a good number joined the Armed Forces, carrying forward the legacy of discipline and honor.
But ask any cadet, and they will tell you: it wasn’t the education or the uniforms that made the experience extraordinary. It was the people—the friends who became brothers, the seniors who became mentors, the juniors who became younger brothers and followers, the teachers who became guardians.
A Reunion Unlike Any Other
Fast forward to the present—during this 9th OCAS Reunion, like all other batches, our batch of 1996-2002 came together for a grand reunion. It was the biggest gathering we had ever seen, a testament to the strength of our bond. Some of us flew in from the UK, the US, Japan, and beyond—executives, bankers, entrepreneurs, scientists—yet in those three magical days, titles and achievements became irrelevant.
We laughed like teenagers, cracking the same silly jokes. We shared beds, blankets, and even towels, just like the old days. We ate together, without a care for seating arrangements. And most importantly, we felt young again, untouched by the burdens of adulthood.
Upal, our dear friend and General Secretary of the Old Cadets’ Association of Sylhet, orchestrated the event with unmatched dedication. His efforts made it one of the most memorable reunions in years, bringing our families into this unique brotherhood.
A Reunion of Souls Rediscovering the Cadet College Bond – 9th OCAS Reunion
The Power of Friendship: A Timeless Connection
One of the most touching aspects of this reunion was how seamlessly our families blended into our world. Wives, children, and even parents witnessed the unbreakable connection we share.
Seeing Zahid, who now resides in Japan, after 25 years was a surreal moment. Would we meet again? Maybe. Maybe not. But for those three days, time bent to our will, allowing us to hold onto something pure, something untouched by the passage of years.
And as we parted ways, there was an unspoken understanding—we may not know where or when we will reunite again, but we know we will.
For the Young Dreamers and Their Parents
If you are a young reader wondering whether Cadet College is worth the challenge, let me assure you—it is. It will push you beyond your limits, test your resilience, and forge friendships that transcend time and distance.
And if you are a parent, considering this path for your child, know this—Cadet College doesn’t just prepare students for a career; it prepares them for life.
Aging is Inevitable, Growing Old is a Choice
As I walked away from the reunion, I carried with me an unshakable realization. We have added years to our lives, but we have not grown old. The spirit of those twelve-year-old cadets still lives within us, refusing to fade.
Because at the end of the day, we are not just alumni of a school—we are a family, bound not by blood, but by something far deeper.
Until the next reunion, my brothers. Let’s live, laugh, and carry the essence of those days with us—always.
This story is more than a personal reflection; it is a tribute to the institution that shaped us and the friendships that continue to define us. If you are a former cadet, share your experiences in the comments. And if you know someone considering Cadet College, let them know—they are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
We chase sunsets in Santorini, wander through ancient ruins in Rome, and get lost in the bustling markets of Marrakech. My own travel memories are painted with vibrant strokes of different countries and faces, each encounter a unique thread in the rich tapestry of my life. I’ve met souls from every corner of the globe, some fleeting, like ships passing in the night, others leaving an indelible mark, their memories as vivid as fresh strawberries in summertime.
Yet, amidst all the breathtaking landscapes and cultural immersions, there’s a confession I need to make. My heart, strangely, belongs to… airport terminals.
Yes, you read that right. Airport terminals. Those liminal spaces we often rush through, eager to reach our destinations or desperate to escape after a long flight. For me, though, these transit hubs are not just gateways, but gateways to understanding the world itself.
A World Under One Roof
There is something profoundly fascinating about airport terminals. They are more than just places of transit; they are microcosms of the world itself. Whenever I find myself in an airport, whether for a quick layover or an extended wait, I never feel bored. Instead, I am enthralled by the ceaseless movement of humanity, the silent stories unfolding before my eyes.
Here, people from every corner of the planet converge—men, women, and those in between; believers and non-believers; travelers draped in traditional attire and those dressed in the avant-garde of high fashion. Believers and non-believers, people of all faiths and none, coexisting in this shared, temporary realm. Straight, bisexual, LGBTQ+ individuals, each adding their unique color to the human rainbow. A woman in a niqab sits beside another in a sleeveless dress or fishnets, neither disturbing the other, their presence a quiet testament to coexistence.
I see business travelers immersed in their laptops, students setting off to chase dreams in foreign universities, and families reuniting after years apart. Some board first-class cabins, sipping champagne, while others clutch one-way tickets, leaving behind familiar lands for an uncertain future. There are joyful vacationers setting off to tropical beaches, and then there are those whose eyes are heavy with sorrow, returning home to bury a loved one.
In a corner, someone spends thousands on a Michelin-star meal, while a weary traveler refills a plastic bottle from the free water dispenser, making do with whatever they have. There are those filled with hope, those burdened with loss, those escaping, and those arriving—but in that shared space, they are all simply travelers.
A World Under one RoofThe World in Transit: Why Airport Terminals Fascinate Me
A Universal Language Beyond Words
One of the most beautiful sights I ever witnessed at an airport was my daughter, barely three years old, playing with a little Russian kid. They spoke no known common language—she knew barely any language other than a little bit of Bangla, while the Russian kid of course did not know anything about Bangla—but that didn’t matter. They ran, they laughed, they shared their little games, communicating in a language beyond words, a language perhaps from heaven itself.
That moment made me wonder—what if we all in the world could be like these two children? What if we could see, communicate and value beyond our habitual differences—our skin colors, beliefs, cultures, and fears—and simply coexist, just as they did? What if we could communicate with pure hearts rather than guarded minds?
Why Airports and Not Anywhere Else?
Markets, beaches, stadiums, train stations—many places offer a glimpse of cultural diversity, yet nothing rivals the sheer inclusivity of an airport terminal. It is the only place where people from every walk of life, every background, and every intention cross paths. Unlike cities divided by class and history, or gatherings shaped by shared interests, airports hold no such biases. Everyone, whether rich or poor, lost or found, hopeful or heartbroken, is here for the same reason—to move.
Of course, an airport does not represent a utopia. It is not a place of uninterrupted joy. There are delays, missed flights, immigration interrogations, and sometimes, the pain of saying goodbye forever. But perhaps that is what makes it even more profound. It is a world of mixed emotions—elation and despair, excitement and exhaustion, hope and heartbreak—all existing together under one roof, in a momentary truce.
A Manifestation of the World We Need
The world does not need to be an unblemished paradise; it only needs to be a place where differences do not lead to division. Airport terminals are proof that it is possible. They show us that despite our contrasts, we can exist in the same space, share fleeting moments, and move forward in our own ways without conflict.
And in witnessing this constant human drama, this miniature world in motion, I find a strange kind of peace, a renewed sense of hope, and a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. The next time you find yourself with a layover, resist the urge to bury your head in your phone. Look around. Observe. You might just discover, as I have, that the most fascinating destinations are sometimes found not at the end of a journey, but in the unexpected spaces in between. The airport terminal, my unexpected world, a world reflecting us all.
I wish, just once, the world could function like an airport terminal—where despite our individual paths, we understand that we are all in transit, all heading somewhere, all carrying our own reasons for the journey. Perhaps if we embraced that perspective, we would realize that no matter our departure points or destinations, we are all part of the same story.
And that, to me, is why I will always be in love with airports.
What if I told you that life, in all its complexity, could be summed up in a simple truth? Today is my birthday—a milestone that should be filled with joy and celebration. And while I am grateful for the life I have lived, an unshakable thought lingers: with each passing year, I move closer to the inevitable end. This realization, though unsettling, offers a profound perspective on what truly matters.
Looking Back at the Journey
The thought of death struck me suddenly. When we die, our body disengages from every earthly attachment. We feel no joy, no sadness, no pain, no obligations, no commitments. Everything we once did, every plan we meticulously crafted, every rush-hour haste, and every deep emotional connection—all dissolve into nothingness. For the one who departs, death often arrives as a silent blessing, a final relief from the burdens of suffering, disease, expectations, or the relentless demands of life.
No matter who we were in life—a giver, a taker, or someone in between—death erases all definitions. The relationships that once felt unbreakable begin to fade. The people who mattered most to us, and to whom we once mattered deeply, gradually replace our presence with fresh memories. Love that seemed eternal softens with time, and even the most meaningful connections lose their weight. We become, at best, a framed photograph—a name whispered occasionally in nostalgia.
And yet, those who depended on us the most—those for whom we were a provider, a protector, or a pillar of support—struggle the longest with our absence. Their pain is not just emotional but tangible. Some may lose financial security, a home, or a guiding force. The vacuum we leave behind is felt in ways beyond just memories.
Ironically, while our closest ones learn to live with our absence, there might be strangers—people we met once, perhaps in a distant land like Siberia, Japan, or Istanbul—who will remember us without even realizing we are no longer in this world. A fleeting encounter, a kind conversation, a shared moment at a restaurant, a train station, or a quiet roadside—those moments may live in their minds long after we are gone. In their reflections, our existence remains meaningful, even if just for a passing thought.
So many have sought the meaning of life—philosophers, scientists, thinkers, and seekers. But perhaps the simplest truth is this: Life is life, nothing more, nothing less.
Conclusion
On this special day, I take a moment to express my gratitude—to everyone whose path has crossed mine. To my parents, who gave me life. To my friends, who walked beside me. To my wife and children, who shared their love with me. To my teachers, who shaped my mind. To every soul, in every fleeting moment, who became a part of my journey.
I hold no regrets. Every experience—what I did, what I failed to do, what I dreamed of—has made me who I am today. And for that, I am thankful.
Moving forward, I want to embrace happiness, to spread it where I can. I want to live meaningfully, to be a reason for someone’s joy rather than their sorrow. Because life, above all else, is a gift. And as long as I am here, I want to make it count.
Keywords: meaning of life, reflections on life and death, gratitude, purpose of life, philosophical thoughts, living meaningfully, embracing happiness, deep life insights, finding purpose, self-reflection on birthdays.
Flying from Los Angeles to Istanbul, I found myself captivated by the endless layers of clouds floating beneath me. They stretched across the sky like an artist’s masterpiece—soft, dreamy, and ever-changing. At one moment, they resembled billowing cotton candy; at another, a secret garden woven into the heavens. It was then that a thought took root in my mind: What if there truly could be a garden in the sky? Not one bound by soil and water, but one nurtured by vision, imagination, and the ability to see beyond the ordinary.
In that instant, I understood something profound—we see only what we see, but imagination has the power to transform reality.
The Art of Seeing: Beyond What Meets the Eye
Most travelers look out from an airplane window and see only clouds. But what if we trained our minds to see more? What if, instead of misty white formations, we saw vast celestial landscapes—gardens blooming with colors unseen, trees swaying in the invisible wind, birds flying not through air but through our thoughts?
This is the essence of imagination: the ability to perceive beyond reality, to find meaning in the abstract, and to create beauty where others see only the mundane. The sky is not just sky; it is an endless canvas, waiting for the mind to paint its wonders.
When we embrace this way of seeing, the world transforms. A street is no longer just a street—it’s a path leading to countless untold stories. A sunset is not merely a fading light—it’s the closing of a chapter in a book written by time itself. And a journey is never just a movement from one place to another—it’s an evolution of thought, a chance to witness the unseen.
The Sky’s Hidden Garden: A Metaphor for Life
Thinking of a garden in the sky is not about physically planting flowers among the clouds. It’s about cultivating beauty in our minds, tending to the landscapes of our thoughts, and nurturing the seeds of wonder that bloom into dreams. Life, after all, is not merely about what exists—it’s about what we choose to see and believe.
Like gardeners, we can plant ideas, water them with hope, and watch them grow into realities that once seemed impossible. Just as a single traveler can look out at the sky and see a garden where others see only mist, we can look at life’s uncertainties and see possibilities rather than limitations.
Conclusion: The Freedom of Imagination
We live in a world that often teaches us to accept things as they are, to conform to the boundaries of sight and reason. But what if we refused? What if we insisted on seeing beyond? The greatest adventures are not just about the places we visit but about the worlds we create within ourselves.
Never Reach Conclusion and (re)act without Understanding the context
Everyday meeting new and different people from all over the world is the most rewarding and interesting thing for me. While meeting different people, I come across new experiences, understanding, different perspectives, and unique perceptions. Some complains about something, which is very silly to some other people. Some appreciate something immensely, while others think that is silly. Some react to a situation to a great extent and become happy or sad, while others even do not notice that. Some are sensitive, some are emotional, some are hyper, some are numb, some are careless, some are fearless, and most importantly everyone is unique and nearly impossible to predict.
I am not a behavioral scientist who can study when and why individuals engage in specific behaviors examining the impact of factors such as conscious thoughts, motivation, social influences, contextual effects, and habits. Nor a psychologist who can help people learn to cope with stressful situations, overcome addictions, manage their chronic illnesses, and tests and assessments that can help diagnose a condition or talk more about the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. My expertise and knowledge have never crossed either of these specialists’ paths. But gracefully I can claim that I am a good listener as well as an observer. People come to me and talk both sense and non-sense and I carefully listen to them. If I have something to give, I give. If I have nothing to give, at least I listen to them and try to fit myself in their shoes to understand what they are going through, which is an impossible thing to try. But I try hoping that someday I will master the art of listening and understanding people.
In all these failed attempts, one thing very evidently, I notice in people that nearly everyone of us reach to a conclusion without understanding the context. Not sure why! But people do love to put a full-stop with whatever understanding they have (even without any understanding) blended with highest level of exaggerated imagination they can imagine. Off course, there are a good number of people around, who walks the path less traveled and do not carry any prejudice. Certainly, the number of such people is less, but they do exist.
But mostly those who reach to a conclusion and (re)act are more in number than those who usually follow the rule of Stop-Look-Go. Sadly, for most of the peoples’ grievances, unwellness, sadness, disputes, and many other disputing/ conflicting consequences the reason(s) are from within. Maybe for deducing some conclusion without understanding the context, maybe for reacting without foreseeing the consequences, maybe for thinking something which has no relevance with what happened, maybe for a perceived failure, which is not at all a failure, maybe for failing to apprehend/ understand a situation, or maybe for overthinking. Evidently, all these situations/ outcomes are the result of being short-sighted, lack of emotional intelligence, and lack of patience.
Unfortunately, the most wondering thing is that people do suffer for their own failure of dealing/ facing a situation diligently and this happens mostly for drawing the conclusion too early. It’s understandable that at the start of the tunnel it’s going to be dark but certainly there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Well, the tunnel can be long, and not everyone is willing to walk that distance or maybe does not have the capacity.
Once someone reaches to a conclusion and embraces sadness, unfortunately starts transcending sadness because it’s contagious. Not only sadness, but both happiness and sadness are contagious. As such, we should always wait for a while, stop wherever we are, look around and try to understand the context, and decide our response, or let things go. Certainly, letting things go is probably the best virtue you can have to be happy. With that having the patience and capacity of understanding the context would make the best combination to be happy and continue living as the happiest one on earth.
At the end, I would humbly request all to not to judge anyone/ anything too quickly and to not to reach a conclusion too early. A momentary pause in reacting can be invaluable in protecting one’s wellbeing and happiness. Let’s try to understand the context and let things go if there’s possibility that it might be a reason for your sadness or for a situation beyond your control. Let’s try to understand the context and offer your hand to those who needs help. In every situation let’s STOP, LOOK AROUND, and DO whatever needed to be done. If what you do, does not add any value, do not do that. Sometime not doing anything is the best thing you can do.
We never had the power to alter the past. Till date we don’t have any hope that we will ever be capable of changing the past. We can always prepare for the future with the best of our ability but there’s no certainty. Because uncertainty is the only certain thing in the world. All our strength, capacity, energy, power, potential, and whatever you name are capable of altering the present only! As such it is imperative that we value ‘present’ as a true gift, without being chained with the burden of past and future. Well, needless to say that in life where we stand now is the result of where we have invested our resources like time, money, and energy. As such, evidently our past influences present and present influences future.
So, where to stand! Living the moment like a dream! Or to consciously invest resources! Well, balance is the key certainly. But my stance is fairly inclined to the living the moment because there’s no certainty that I will have the ability to benefit from my investment in this fragile world!
So, with all my heart and soul I want to give one and only one lesson to my children (all the children of the world) that live the moment. This is the only gift you ever had and this is the only gift will ever have. And while living the moment, never cause any harm to any living creature. Never leave your present for the past. Do not be afraid and over concerned about your future. If you do justice to the present you have, present will do the rest.
I remember that I was a kid and something very unusual happened in Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) which caught everyone’s attention. A man was begging at a very busy point in the city till the day a noble man wanted to help him by taking him to a doctor for treatment. The man (beggar) resisted but the noble man insisted, and at the end the noble man succeeded only to discover that the poor helpless man was begging in disguise despite being physically an able man.
I do not remember all the details and findings of the incident so many years later except remembering he had kids, he had apartments in the capital, and a few more information, which reasonably prove that he was not begging because he was poor. He was begging because he chose to live his life and afloat his home through begging. He was a loving father, the best one in the world to his kids, probably the best man as husband to his wife, surely a good son to his parents who decided to beg but not robbing people or stealing, certainly a very good friend to his friends, and probably a very good brother to his siblings. But the world since then valued and labeled him with one identity only and that is a beggar in disguise.
Almost 25 years later that memory has resurfaced again in me, and I am thinking; like that man begging for living everyone of us around has so many lives to live. We all carefully make choices along with compartments to fit our choices in and live our lives. Some time we let our choices to spill over from one compartment to another thinking there will be a coexistence and it will be congenial just to find out we have made a wrong choice of spill-over/ crossing the boundaries. Certainly, it affects us because our choices are proved wrong and human minds are not designed to accept rejection and disregard. He who can manage all his compartments well, are mostly regarded as the happiest around living all his lives simultaneously.
Being here in a multinational environment, I find more affirmation of this idea of human’s compartmentalized lives or many lives we live. I assure you that the walls, streets, trees, leaves, security lights of this place have witness and know more stories of humans than any good sizeable public library. People coming and going frequently matching their one-year (or less or more) tour of duty from more than sixty countries makes really a very good number over a span of fifteen/ twenty years.
Often, I think I am a good listener though on the contrary I think I talk too much. It’s bizarre but its true that I prefer both to be correct. I listen when I need to and when I see sharing gives comfort to another person. I prefer talking when someone needs to hear something. Off-course often I fail to balance and that comes with a price. But that’s not the discussion here. The discussion is about our many lives. Should they be in compartments, or they should mingle with each other! I am neither certain about the fact nor your belief except knowing that in most of the cases relieving the boundaries of the compartments did not yield expected outcome like that man who was begging.
Though apparently it seems that a beggar lives a miserable life, which he was not. On top of everything it’s assumed that he had a fantastic life fooling everyone around till some noble man (a villain to him for sure) has shattered everything with a noble intention. The disguised poor man everyday used to walk out of his door leaving his wife and family with the idea that he is heading to the office, while he used to go to his secret cabin to prepare himself in disguise for begging. After earning throughout the day, he used to change his disguise and return to his family like a successful happy man. He must have had a happy family till someone relieved the boundaries of his compartments against his will. Everything he has built over the years just shattered like a sandcastle in an unwanted noble effort.
The world we live in is mostly an illusion. Off course there’s something call reality. The moments we live in, moments we share, thing we eat, time we pass, air we breathe are real. But everything which is subjective is an illusion. As our facts mostly overarched by our feelings, I would like to label everything as illusion. What we see (facts) are mostly depends on what our eyes are seeing and not everyone has the same intellect or insight. So, even what we see (facts) varies from one to another. But what we conceive, feel, and realize are mostly based on the perception we behold and the perspective we chose to look at. The man in disguise was a happy man living happily with all his stories carefully knitted in individual compartments till the time everything fell apart. The man who has forced everything to fall apart never wanted to cause any harm to the happy man in disguise. He only wanted to be a nice man and help a helpless man not knowing that he is just destroying a man’s whole life’s investment.
Most of the times we say ‘truth will prevail’ but what if the truth is not wanted. Why a truth should prevail if that harms peoples’ lives so bad! Well, we say that we must not live a life of lie but what if someone chose to live a life of a million lie but not harming anyone and be happy. Isn’t he a better human being than someone who keeps on surfacing the truths and keeps destroying peoples’ lives!
There’s no end to this discussion. My realization is that before offering someone help, we all should carefully ask whether he/ she needs that help or not! More importantly, we must be careful in rendering help because the price of the cure can be more than the pain someone is capable of bearing and living with.
The stories in the compartments are preserved better than allowing them to spill over or trying to put two lives in one compartment and likewise. The human being is an eternity away from being so noble with limitless acceptance of accepting everything. Sometimes, we are so driven by our possessiveness and ownership of relationship that we minds are clouded and we do not respect the person’s need rather we try to impose our choices, which always ends up in a toxic outcome. Accepting and letting things go to maintain the harmony are two virtue which people rarely have.
After all these years of my life, all I do care is people around me must be happy. I do not care what’s going on around, near, or beyond. I rarely care what happened, what is likely to happen, and what will happen. In doing so, only thing I care or consider is, if you have not caused any harm to anyone and you respect people for just being people, you are welcome. The most important thing for me is to transcend happiness to people around me and not letting anyone down.
গাছের সাথে মানুষের তুলনা করলে কি মানুষকে অপমান বা হেয় করা হয়? আমার সঠিক ধারনা নাই। তবে মনে হচ্ছে সমস্যা হবার কথা না, কারণ আমরাতো কথাবার্তার ছলে কতজনকেই কতভাবে গাছগাছালির সাথে তুলনা করি। যদিও কাউকে হেয় করার ইচ্ছা আমার নাই, এবং সেই চেষ্টাও আমি করব না। বরঞ্চ আমি ছোট্ট একটা মানুষের কথা বলবো যে কিনা গাছের থেকেও নির্লিপ্ত, অনুভূতি, এবং ভাবলেশহীন। ছেলেটার নাম ‘চান মিয়া’। গাছ এবং চান মিয়া এই দুই নিয়ে ভাবতে ভাবতে হটাৎই মনে পড়ল আহমদ ছফার ‘পুষ্প, বৃক্ষ, ও বিহঙ্গপুরাণ’ এর কথা। আহমদ ছফা পুষ্প এবং বৃক্ষের যেই বর্ণনা করেছেন, সেই পুষ্প বা বৃক্ষ কারো সাথে চান মিয়ার ভাবলেশহীনতার বিষয়টা তুলনা করলে অবশ্য ব্যাপারটা একেবারে বেশি গড়বড় হয়ে যাবে। যদিও আলমগিরের নির্লিপ্ততার সাথে ছেলেটার একটা মিল আছে।
আজকে বৃহস্পতিবার। পরিবারের কাছে যাওয়ার কোন পরিকল্পনা ছিল না। কিন্তু একটা সুযোগ পেয়ে আর হাতছাড়া করলাম না। মা এবং তাহসিনরা আমাদের একজন ফুফাতো ভাইয়ের বাসায় বেড়াতে এসেছে, এবং জায়গাটা চর বাটা হতে কাছেই। সময়ের হিসেব করে তাহসিনরা মেঘনার অপর প্রান্তে আসলো, আর আমি নদী পার হয়ে কাঁটাখাল গেলাম। যদিও এক ঘণ্টা সময় কাটানোর সুযোগ ছিল, কিন্তু পরিস্থিতির কল্যাণে সময়টা দুই ঘণ্টা হয়ে গিয়েছিল।
দুই ঘণ্টা সময় কাটানোর পরও মনে হচ্ছিল আরেকটু থাকা গেলেতো ভালোই হত। যাই হোক, নৌকাতে উঠতে উঠতে সন্ধ্যে হয়ে গিয়েছিল। আমাদেরকে বিদায় দিয়ে তাহসিনরা নদীর পার থেকে দৃষ্টিসীমার বাইরে যাওয়ার আগেই অন্ধকারে মিলিয়ে গেলো। আমরা মেঘনা নদীর পানি আর কুয়াশা মিশ্রিত অন্ধকারকে হুহু করে কেটে ইঞ্জিনচালিত নৌকায় করে গন্তব্যে ছুটে যাচ্ছিলাম। নৌকায় আমি, সোহেল এবং হাবিব সাহেব। আর আমাদের নৌকা চালাচ্ছে রুবেলের ভাই আরেক সোহেল, এবং সোহেলের সহযোগী হচ্ছে চান মিয়া। এক সাক্ষাত বিস্ময় চান মিয়া। আবেগ, অনুভূতি, এবং কথাবার্তাহীন এক আশ্চর্য মানুষ এই চান মিয়া।
ঐ শীতের অন্ধকারে ঠাণ্ডা বাতাসের মাঝে জ্যাকেট পরেও আমরা যখন বাতাস এবং ঠাণ্ডায় কাঁপছিলাম, তখন চান মিয়া কিভাবে যেন শুধু একটা লুঙ্গি কাছা মেরে খালি গায়ে অবলীলায় নৌকায় বসে ছিল এবং একটু পর পর পানি সেচে নৌকার বাইরে ফেলছিল তা আমার চিন্তার বাইরে (নীচের ছবিগুলো আজকের নয়, অন্যদিনের)। গত চার সপ্তাহ যাবত প্রতি বৃহস্পতিবারেই আমাদের দেখা হয়, লুঙ্গি ব্যাতিত মাঝে মাঝে একটা ছেড়া জামা ছাড়া আমি ওর গায়ে আর কোন জামা দেখিনি, যদিও বেশির ভাগ সময়েই সে শুধু লুঙ্গি পরেই কাজে বেরিয়ে পড়ে। যতবারই আমাদের দেখা হয়েছে ওকে কোন না কোন ভাবে সহযোগিতা করার চেষ্টা করেছি। একবার জামা দিয়েছি, একবার একটা নতুন কম্বল দিয়েছি, মাঝে মাঝে টাকা দিয়েছি যেন কিছু কিনে নেয়। কিন্তু ওর খালি গায়ের উপর সে কিছুই জড়াতে চায় না। হয়ত ওর আরও বড় কোন প্রয়োজন আছে, কিংবা জামা না পরে থাকতে থাকতে হয়ত জামা পরতেই ওর অসহ্য লাগে!
আশ্চর্য এই ছেলেটার ব্যাপারগুলো। ওকে ডেকে নাম জিজ্ঞেস করলে ও দৌড়ে পালায়। নৌকার উপড়ে কিছু জিজ্ঞেশ করলে আরেক দিকে মুখ লুকায়। ডেকে কিছু দিতে চাইলে ভয় পায়। যতবার যা কিছু দিয়েছি, জোরজবরদস্তি করেই দিতে হয়েছে। আমার অবাক লাগে, পৃথিবীর পথে এই পথচলায় কত অল্প সময়েই সে কতবড় একজন যোদ্ধা হয়ে উঠেছে। সবচেয়ে অবাক লেগেছে স্নেহ, আদর, ভালবাসার প্রতিও ওর উদাসীনতা। হয়ত ও এই বৃত্তি গুলোর সাথে পরিচিত নয়, কিংবা হয়ত এই বৃত্তিগুলোর সাথে জড়িয়ে আছে কোন তীব্র তিক্ত স্মৃতি।
অন্ধকারের পথগলে কিভাবে যে আমাদের মাঝি সোহেল নৌকা চালাচ্ছিল আমি জানি না। আমার মনে হচ্ছিল গুগলও হয়ত এই অন্ধকারে দিক্বিদিক জ্ঞানশূন্য হয়ে যেত। সত্যি খুবই অবাক লাগে নদীপাড়ের এই মানুষদেরকে জীবন কত অসীম শিক্ষায় শিক্ষিত করে দিয়েছে এবং দিয়ে যাচ্ছে। প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষার কোন বিকল্প নাই। কিন্তু জীবন থেকে নেওয়া সোহেল আর চান মিয়াদের শিক্ষা কোন প্রতিষ্ঠান, গুগল, কিংবা ইউটিউব কেউই দিতে পারবে না। নীরবে ভাবছিলাম যে আমরা তো কত ফিউশন নিয়েই কাজ করি! কেমন হত যদি প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষার সাথে এই মানুষগুলোর জীবন থেকে নেওয়া শিক্ষার একটা ফিউশন করা যেত! এতসত ভাবতে ভাবতে হটাতই খেয়াল করলাম যে আমরা একেবারে মাঝ নদিতে অনেক ঢেউয়ের মাঝে। নৌকাটা দুলছে, আর নৌকার দলুনিতে আমরাও দুলছি। আমি নিজেকে একটু ঠেলে দিয়ে আকাশের পানে চেয়ে নিজেকে তারার মাঝে সমর্পণ করলাম। মনে হচ্ছিল অন্ধকার ছিঁড়ে তারাগুলো টুপটাপ আমার উপর পরবে। খুব ইচ্ছে হচ্ছিল, ইঞ্জিনটা বন্ধ করে কিছুক্ষণ ভাসতে থাকি। কিন্তু হাবিব সাহেব যেভাবে দোয়া ইউনুস পড়ছিল, আমি ভেবে দেখলাম এমন একটা কাজ করে আমার খায়েশ যতটুকুই মিটুক, হাবিব সাহেবের কিছু একটা হয়ে যেতে পারে। অগত্যা, কান ঝালাপালা করা ইঞ্জিন এর শব্দের মাঝেই প্রকিতিটাকে গিলে গিলে খাচ্ছিলাম।
প্রকৃতি গিলে খেতে খেতেই টিপ টিপ কিছু কিছু ছড়ানো ছিটানো মাছ ধরার নৌকার আলো দেখে বুঝলাম আমরা তীরের কাছাকাছি চলে এসেছি। এবং একটু পরেই এক চুলও ভুল না করে সোহেল যেখানে দিনের আলোতে আমাদেরকে নৌকায় তোলে এবং নামায় ঠিক সেখানেই আমাদেরকে নামানোর জন্য নৌকা ভেড়াল। সত্যি বিস্ময়কর। কিভাবে যে জীবন যুদ্ধের এই সৈনিকরা নিজেদের মধ্যে গুগল ম্যাপটা ইন্সটল করে নিয়েছে, সেটা নিয়ে বিশদ গবেষণা করা যেতে পারে।
অবশেষে আমরা নামলাম, এবং সোহেলের পাওনা টাকা বুঝিয়ে দিলাম। চান মিয়াকে ডাকলাম ওর বকশিশ দেওয়ার জন্য। কিন্তু চান মিয়াতো সহজ মানুষ না। অগত্যা জোর করেই যা দেবার দিতে হল। সব মিটমাট করে আমরা আমাদের গন্তব্যস্থানে ফিরার জন্য প্রস্তুত হলাম আর চান মিয়ারাও আবার নৌকায় উঠে পরল। ভাবতেই অবাক লাগছে আবার সেই গুট-গুটে অন্ধকারের মাঝে নৌকা চালিয়ে ওরা ওদের বাড়িতে ফিরবে। অন্ধকারকে ভয় পায়না এমন কোন মানুষ নাই, কিন্তু জীবন যুদ্ধে হার না মানা এই সৈনিকরা ভয়কে জয় করেছে অনেক অনেকদিন আগেই। মনে মনে ওদের জন্য দোয়া করলাম যেন ওরা নিরাপদে ফিরে যেতে পারে ওদের গন্তব্যস্থলে। নিশ্চয় ওদের প্রিয়জনরা ওদের পথচেয়ে বসে থাকবে। দোয়ার পাশাপাশি আরেকটা বিষয়ে মনস্থির করলাম যে এরপর যখনই ঐ পাড়ে যাব রুবেল-সোহেল এবং চান মিয়ার বাড়ি যাব। ওদের জীবন যুদ্ধের বিদ্যাপীঠের প্রথম শ্রেণীর শ্রেণীকক্ষটা দেখতে চাই।
একজন অনুভূতিহীন গাছমানব – সুবর্ণচরের বিস্ময় ‘চান মিয়া’
The journey from the island to our home is not an easy one. Still every weekday I pass with a hope that on Thursday a miracle will happen though it will last for a few hours. I am enjoying these repeated miracles for the last few weeks.
On this Thursday (17 February 2022) we have crossed the river by Rubel’s boat. Like almost all other instances Rubel’s brother did not maintain the time, and we had to wait almost for an hour at the bank of the river. Losing an hour standing at the bank of the river is not an easy thing because for me every minute is precious during the miracle session. Every time he misses time, part of me wants to become angry with him, but after seeing him and his associate I cannot.
However, at last, he showed up with one more man, two full-size cows (maybe sick), and a calf. After showing up one hour late from the time he gave, they have spent more than thirty minutes struggling to get the cows, calf, and a van on the boat. Once everyone was on board I have boarded on the boat with Sohel though there was hardly any space for us to sit. I managed to sit on the opposite end of the boatman.
After almost a hectic hour we have reached the other side of the river where our car was waiting. Without wasting any time we have started our journey home and reached safely at around 7 PM. As usual, Arwaa was waiting at the door with all her excitement getting outright from her eyes. Aliyah was excited too, and she expressed her excitement by calling me ‘Abbu’ loudly. I was not feeling well as I was suffering from fever and headache. But in minutes I was relieved from all fever and headache, and soon Arwaa started impressing me with her accumulated stories and complaints of the past week.
The night passed too quickly so as the morning, and at around 12 PM our car arrived. Arwaa has started understanding. She now knows that her father needs to leave, and she must not be unhappy. Aliyah is yet to understand anything, but probably she also feels that her father needs to go. And unlike Arwaa at the age of 2/3, Aliyah does not cry. I am not sure, what she thinks or what she feels!
Well, despite all our feelings either revealed or not revealed we respect and follow rules. And therefore I had to return to my place after an eventful and joyous seventeen hours long miracle. Since our first miracle, every time I had returned to my workplace, I felt the same as the mouse. However, happy to know that our days are going to be over soon in this rugged place. Soon we all will return to our home and these miracles will not be required anymore.
জন্মদিন নিয়ে আমার কখনোই খুব একটা উচ্ছ্বাস ছিল না। সেজন্য ঘটা করে জন্মদিন পালন কখনোই করা হয়নি। তথাপি পরিবার, প্রিয়জন, বন্ধুবান্ধবদের কল্যাণে টুকটাক কেক-টেক কাটাকাটি প্রায়ই হয়েছে। অবশ্য বিয়ের পর থেকে ব্যাপার গুলো অন্যরকম। বিশেষ বিশেষ দিনের ব্যাপারে আমি একেবারে উদাসীন হলেও তাহসিন কখনো ভুল করেও কোন কিছু ভুলে না। অগত্যা আমিও এখন অল্পস্বল্প তাহসিন এবং পরিবারের সকলের উচ্ছ্বাসে উচ্ছ্বসিত হই, এবং এই উচ্ছ্বাস ভালই লাগে।
আমাদের প্রাত্যহিক ব্যাস্ততা ছাপিয়ে জীবনকে উপভোগ করবার মত আর এমন কিইবা উপলক্ষ আমরা পাই! তাহসিন এর যুক্তি হল সেই উপলক্ষগুলোও যদি আমরা সুযোগমত ব্যাবহার করতে না পারি তাহলে জীবনটা একেবারে ম্যারমারা এবং বিষাদ হয়ে যাবে। কথা সত্য। তাহসিনের দিবস উদযাপনের পক্ষের শক্তির শক্তি এখন অনেক বেশি। কারণ আরওয়া তার সাথে যুক্ত হয়েছে, এবং তাহসিন যা যা পারেনি সে ক্রমান্বয়ে সেগুলো করবার/ আদায় করে নেবার জন্য প্রস্তুত হচ্ছে। মেয়েটা আমার বড় হচ্ছে।
তাহসিন বরাবরই অঘটনঘটনপটীয়সী। পেশাগত প্রয়োজনে পৃথিবী থেকে মোটামুটি বিচ্ছিন একটা দ্বীপে পরিবার ছাড়া আমাদের আবস্থান প্রায় দুই মাস যাবত। এই বিচ্ছিন জায়গাতে কিভাবে যেন সে ঠিক রাত ১২টা বাজার আগেই অত্যন্ত সুন্দর একটা কেক পৌঁছে দিল। যদিও সুস্বাদু এই কেকটা আরওয়া এর পছন্দ হয়নি, কারণ কেকের রং গোলাপি ছিল না। তথাপি তাহসিন কে অনেক ধন্যবাদ। আমি নিশ্চিত আমি তাহসিনের জায়গায় থাকলে দুর্গম জায়গার অজুহাত দিয়ে নাক ডেকে ঘুমাতাম।
আমার কর্মক্ষেত্রের সহকর্মীদেরকে আগেই বলে দিয়েছিলাম যে আমার জন্মদিন অমুকদিন। দয়া করে কেউ অযথা কোন হাঙ্গামা যেন না করে। অনুরোধ করেছি, আমার বিশেষ দিনে আমাকে আমার মত থাকতে দেবার জন্য। তাদেরকে ধন্যবাদ যে তারা আমার অনুরোধ রেখেছেন। কিন্তু তাহসিনের পাঠানো কেকতো খেতে হবে। তায় ঠিক করলাম সবাই মিলে কাটবো, এবং অবশেষে আমরা সবাই মিলেই কাটলাম নদীর ধারে যেয়ে। ভালোই লেগেছিল বিকেলটা। (পুনশ্চঃ যখন এই লেখাটি লিখছি, ততক্ষণে বাংলাদেশ ক্রিকেট দল একটি অতিমানবীয় খেলা খেলে ফেলেছে। ৪৫ রানে ৬ উইকেট পড়ে যাওয়ার পরও বাংলাদেশ ক্রিকেট দল আফগানিস্তানকে ৪ উইকেটে হারিয়েছে। অভিনন্দন আফিফ এবং মেহেদি কে। (খেলার বিস্তারিত এইখানে)
মুঠোফোনে অনেক বার্তা এসেছে, ফেসবুকে অনেকে শুভেচ্ছা পাঠিয়েছেন দেশ বিদেশ থেকে। অনেকে ফোন করে, অনেকে সামনা সামনি জন্মদিনের শুভেচ্ছা জানিয়েছেন। আরেকটা বলবার মত ব্যাপার হয়েছে; আমাদের কর্মক্ষেত্রে আমরা সবাইকে জন্মদিনের শুভেচ্ছা জানানর একটা রীতি চালু করেছি। আজ আমার সহকর্মীরা সেই রীতি অনুসরণ করে আমাকেও শুভেচ্ছা জানাল। এতসব কিছুর পরও আমার মনটা আজকে অনেক বিষণ্ণ। কারণ তাহসিন, আরওয়া এর মন ভাল নেই। আমি জানি আলিয়াহরও মন ভাল নেই। আরওয়া বুঝতে শুরু করেছে। ও এখন ভাবাবেগে অনেক কিছু বোঝায়। জন্মদিনের সবচেয়ে বড় উপহারটা আজ আরওয়া আমাকে দিয়েছে। সে আমাকে শুভেচ্ছা জানিয়ে ছবি এঁকেছে, এবং সেই ছবি হাতে নিয়ে ছবি তুলে আমাকে পাঠিয়েছে। কিন্তু তার চোখে মুখে কোন উচ্ছ্বাস নেই, বড় বড় চোখের দৃষ্টি যেন দূরে কোথাও মিলিয়ে যাচ্ছে! আমাকে একটা ভয়েছ ম্যাসেজ পাঠিয়েছে। আমার সাথে আজকের দিনটা কাটানোর জন্য তার সেকি ব্যাকুলতা!
আমরা অনেক সময়ই বলি যে ‘You always have a choice’। কথাটা সত্যি। কিন্তু বেশির ভাগ মানুষরা বেশির ভাগ সময় সেই ‘choice’ টাকে অবদমিত করে রাখি। জগত, সংসার এর অনেক কিছু আমাদেরকে ভাবতে হয়, ভাবতে ভাল না লাগলেও। এবং এই ভাবতে ভাবতেই নির্লিপ্ত আমরা একদিন জীবন সায়াহ্নে পৌঁছে যাই। আমাদের কমলমোতি নিষ্পাপ শিশুরাও ক্রমান্বয়ে আমাদের দ্বারা আবিষ্ট হয়ে আমাদের মতই নির্লিপ্ততা শিখে ফেলে।
আরওয়াদেরকে আমরা কোন ভাবেই এই নির্লিপ্ততা শেখাতে চাই না। ওরা বড় হোক, কিন্তু ভিতরের শিশুরা শিশুই থাকুক। আগামী জন্মদিনে আমরা গোলাপি কেক কাটবো, এবং ইনশা-আল্লাহ একসাথে থাকব।
রাজ্জাক সাহেব আহমদ ছফা কে জিজ্ঞাসা করলেন, ‘পড়ার সময় দরকারি অংশ টুইক্যা রাখার অভ্যাসটা করছেন কি না?’ আহমদ ছফা চুপ করে বুঝালেন যে তিনি টুইক্যা রাখেন নাই। রাজ্জাক সাহেব বললেন, ‘তাইলে ত কোনো কামে আইব না। ক্ষেত চষবার সময় জমির আইল বাইন্ধা রাখতে অয়’। যেহেতু আমি গল্প, উপন্যাস, যাই পড়িনা কেন, পড়ার সময় বরাবরই গুরুত্বপূর্ণ/ চুম্বক অংশগুলো নির্দয়ের মত টুকে রাখি, তাই এক মুহূর্তের জন্য মনে হল রাজ্জাক সাহেবের ছাত্র হলে আমার শুরুটা খারাপ হতোনা।
‘যদ্যপি আমার গুরু’ বইটা সংগ্রহ করেছিলাম ২০০২/২০০৩ সালের দিকে। আর পড়লাম ২০২২ সালে। সে হিসেবে বইটা পড়তে সময় লেগেছে মাত্র ২০ বছর। মহাজাগতিক ঘটনাবলির হিসেব নিকেশে ২০ বছর অত্যন্ত নগণ্য হলেও মানব জীবনে ২০ বছর অনেক বড় একটা সময়। তারপরও, বইটা পড়তে ২০ দিন লাগুক আর ২০ বছর লাগুক, অবশেষে বইটা পড়া হয়েছে সেটাই বড় কথা, এবং আমি অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত। কিন্তু আমার খারাপ লাগছে এটা ভেবে যে, এই সমাজে কি একজন মানুষও ছিলনা, যার উচিত ছিল এই বইটা পড়বার জন্য আমাকে, বা আমাদেরকে কিংবা আমাদের সময় এর তরুণদেরকে বলা, একটু তাগিদ দেয়া? কত মানুষইতো কত কত বই পড়তে বলেছে। কিন্তু কেউ কখনও ‘যদ্যপি আমার গুরু’ পড়তে বলেনি কেন? আমার গুরুজন, মান্য গণ্যদের মন খারাপ করার দরকার নাই। কারণ আমি জানি এবং মানি যে একটি আঙ্গুল দিয়ে অন্যকে দোষারোপ করতে গেলে তিনটি আঙ্গুল নিজের দিকেই থাকে।
আমাদের তারুণ্যে আমরা অনেকটা সময় বই পড়ে কাটিয়েছি। রবীন্দ্রনাথ, নজরুল, জীবনানন্দ, শরৎচন্দ্র, সমরেশ, শীর্ষেন্দু থেকে শুরু করে কত লেখক/লেখিকারইতো বই পড়েছি। এমনকি শেক্সপিয়ার, ভিক্টর হুগো, নিকলাই অস্ত্রভস্কির লেখাও পড়েছি। সেবা প্রকাশনীর বই পড়েনি এমন মনে হয় একটি মানুষও পাওয়া যাবেনা। আর হুমায়ুন আহমেদ এর বইয়ের ভিতর বুঁদ হয়ে আমাদের অনেকেরই রাত গড়িয়ে সকাল হয়ে যেত। যদিও সেই বুঁদ হয়ে যাওয়ার আমার নেশাটা কিছুদিনের মধ্যেই মিলিয়ে যায়, উনার লেখার প্রখরতা মিলিয়ে যাওয়ার সাথে সাথে। কিন্তু কিভাবে যেন আহমদ ছফা বাদ পড়ে গিয়েছিলেন। হয়ত তাকে ধারণ করার যোগ্যতা তখনও আমাদের হয়নি।
অধ্যাপক আব্দুর রাজ্জাক কিংবা মৌলবি আহমদ ছফা দুজনের কাউকে নিয়েই লেখার যোগ্যতা বা জ্ঞান কোনটাই আমার নাই। আর সে জন্য আমিও অহেতুক ভুল চেষ্টাও করব না। আমার লেখাটা মূলত হচ্ছে ‘যদ্যপি আমার গুরু’ আমার কেমন লাগল এবং আমাকে কতটুকু প্রভাবিত করল, সেই ব্যাপার গুলো নিয়ে।
বইটা পড়তে পড়তে আমি হটাৎ খেয়াল করলাম যে আমি অর্ধেকের বেশি পড়ে ফেলেছি। ভাবলাম, বইটা শেষ হলেইতো রাজ্জাক সাহেব, আহমদ ছফা, এবং আমার আড্ডাটা শেষ হয়ে যাবে। যেই ভাবনা সেই কাজ, সাথে সাথেই পড়া বন্ধ করলাম। ছোটবেলায় যখন গল্পগুচ্ছ পড়তাম, আমি কখনওই একদিনে দুই গল্প পড়তাম না। গরু যেমন যাবর কাটে, আমিও একটা গল্প পড়ে কয়েকদিন সেই গল্পের আনন্দ/ ভালোলাগা কিংবা কষ্ট/ বেদনা নিয়ে যাবর কাটতাম। মনে আছে, কিছু কিছু সময় পড়তে গেলে দিনরাত সব ভুলে সমাপ্তিটা জানার ব্যাকুল আগ্রহে, পড়া শেষ করতাম। সেই হিসেবে পড়া বন্ধ করে বসে থাকাটা আপাতদৃষ্টিতে পাঠককে ধরে রাখতে লেখকের অপারগতা মনে হলেও, পাঠক হিসেবে আমি মনে করি এখানে লেখকের সার্থকতা বহুগুণ বেশী। আমরা মাঝে মাঝে যখন স্বপ্ন দেখি, আবার স্বপ্নের মাঝেই চিন্তা করি, ঈশ এই স্বপ্নটা যেন শেষ না হয়। ঠিক তেমনই মাঝে মাঝে কারো লেখা পড়তে গেলে এমনটা বোধ হওয়া নিঃসন্দেহে লেখকের অলৌকিক ক্ষমতারই বহিঃপ্রকাশ।
Professor Abdur Razzak and Ahmed Sofa (Photo Copied from Wikipedia. Approved for free cultural works)
অবশেষে কয়েকদিন যাবর কাঁটার পর, এবং বেশ কিছুদিন লাস্কি, বদরুদ্বীন উমর, মোহিত লাল, ডঃ রওনক জাহান, জওহরলাল নেহেরু, কিসিঙ্গার সাহেবসহ অনেক প্রথিতযশা ব্যক্তিবর্গদের নিয়ে গবেষণার পর আবার পড়া শুরু করলাম। বলে নেয়া ভাল মাঝখান দিয়ে স্ত্রতস্কি এর ‘থিওরি অফ পার্মানেন্ট রেভুলিশন’ আর তার সাথে স্তালিনের ঝামেলাটা কি হয়েছিল, এবং তিনি কেন মেক্সিকোতে পলায়ন করেছেন, আর স্তালিন তাকে কিভাবে হত্যা করেছিল সেসব বিষয়েও বিস্তর গবেষণা হয়েছে। তবে ভাগ্য ভাল যে রাজ্জাক সাহেব এবং মৌলবি আহমদ ছফা দুইজনের কারোই গবেষণার মত আমার বইটা পড়া একেবারে বন্ধ হয়ে যায়নি। যদিও ভয় ছিল দিক হারানোর। আমি অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত যে দিক হারাইনি। শুধু একটাই আফসোস, কেন আমি আমার ১৮/২০এ বইটা না পড়ে ২০ বছর পর আমার ৩৮এ পড়লাম!
আমি নিশ্চিত, আপনি যদি এই লেখার এইটুকু পর্যন্ত পড়ে থাকেন তাহলে বুঝতে পারবেন, বইটা আমার কেমন লেগেছে। বইটা আমাকে এতোটাই প্রভাবিত করেছে যে, আমি ইতিমধ্যেই এই বইতে যত লেখক, সাহিত্যিকের ও তাদের সাহিত্য কর্মের নাম এসেছে এবং তাদের যেগুলো বাজারে অনলাইনে পাওয়া যাচ্ছে তার বেশির ভাগই কিনে নিয়েছি। বাকিগুলোও খোঁজা শুরু করেছি। পাশাপাশি রকমারি এবং নানাবিধও অনলাইন কোম্পানি যারা বই বিক্রি করে, তাদের কল্যাণে রাজ্জাক সাহেবের উপর লেখা লভ্য সকল বই সংগ্রহ এর ব্যবস্থা হয়েছে, এবং সেগুলো অচিরেই এসে পৌঁছাবে। ছোট্ট এই বইটা আমার অনেক কিছুই গড়বড় করে দিয়েছে। এমনকি গুগল ও ইউটিউব আমার অতীত খোঁজাখুঁজির প্রবণতা পর্যবেক্ষণ করে যেভাবে পরবর্তী কি খাওয়াবে সেটা ঠিক করত, সেখানেও বিশাল গড়বড় লেগে গিয়েছে। কারণ আমার বর্তমান খোঁজাখুঁজি আর নিকট অতীতের খোঁজাখুঁজির মাঝে বিস্তর ফারাক।
‘যদ্যপি আমার গুরু’ আপনার কেমন লাগবে জানিনা। বইটা পড়ে আপনি বিশেষ পুলকিত নাও হতে পারেন, আবার আমার মত উতালা হয়ে যেতে পারেন। আমি জানি এবং একশত ভাগ মানি যে আমাদের একেকজনের চিন্তা ভাবনা, ভালো লাগা, মন্দ লাগা, জীবন, সমাজ, ইত্যাদির প্রতি দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি একেক রকম। আমার এই লেখা পড়ে আপনি যদি উৎসাহী হয়ে বইটি পড়েন কিন্তু আমার সাথে একমত না হন, দয়া করে আপনার সময় ক্ষেপণের জন্য আমাকে মন্দ বলবেন না। আগেই স্বীকার করে নিচ্ছি, আমি যখন কাউকে/ কোন কিছুকে ভাল বলি, মনের সব কিছু উজাড় করে বলি। আমি বিশ্বাস করি, নিঃস্বার্থভাবে কাউকে ভাল বলতে পারা, কোন কিছুর তারিফ করতে পারা, ৯৯% খারাপের পরও ১% ভাল খুঁজে বের করতে পারার ক্ষমতা চাট্টিখানি কথা না।
It’s shocking that we are receiving news of the demise of the nearest and dearest ones more often than before. Well, it’s certain that we all have to return to the one Who has created us; the Almighty. But sometimes, we wish and pray not to believe what we have heard/learned, and also try to reject the truth by all our means. Because the person who has just begun his eternal journey was too close to us.
One of my childhood heroes; not only mine but heroes of thousands and thousands of students of Ispahani Public School and College Ruhul Amin sir has died. Years back we have lost our teachers Salma madam, and Mizan sir. They all were like priests to us. Their love and affection for us were limitless. Students of Ispahani Public School and College are and will remain forever grateful to these people.
Ruhul Amin sir hypnotized me with his teaching charisma so much that I hooked myself with the ‘Chemistry’. I was so involved with ‘Chemistry’ that I almost did not study any other subject in my college life. And that paid me a lot. Thanks to Allah I have scored 185 out of 200 in Chemistry in my HSC exam. Perhaps that was the highest achieved the mark in Bangladesh in that year.
A few days back during a journey across Cumilla, I stayed a night in Cumilla for a few hours only, and I managed to meet him at his residence. We have recalled so many memories like how he used to motivate us to be good human being, his contribution in managing a fund for one of our friends, who was about the miss the year as he could not manage his registration fee, his guidance for arranging a picnic, his contribution in making a magazine of our batch, etc. He was close not only to me but to our family even as he was a teacher to all four of us. Our meeting was short as we did not have enough time. I had another meeting with my colleagues, and that is why I cut-short the time. I left his house with a promise that I will meet him again while falling back. He walked up to my car and saw me off.
I have promised not only to him but also to bhabi that I will be there. In-sha-Allah, I will be there again, but alas! I will never be able to talk to the legend again. We will not share tea, snacks, stories, noting! Nothing at all. What a truth it is! I am thinking of Bhabi, his three daughters one of whom is sick, and his little boy who has yet to start understanding life. What a truth it is! we have shared stories of retirement plans. Now, who would implement those plans! Well, Man proposes, God, disposes.
Oh Allah! I wish I could be with him for at least a little more time! Years back I have learned from a Ted Talk by Dr Mark Holder something about happiness. Where he gave his golden formula of happiness, which is ‘TELL ME MORE’. Wish I could be there and listened to him for a little more time. Wish I could tell him ‘I have all the time of the world, tell me more sir’!! No, this will not happen; he is not within us anymore!! And I will keep on repenting for that few extra minutes I wish, I could spend with him.
What a harsh reality! We do not have the guarantee of one second, yet we do so many things, run after so many things, make more enemies than friends, shake our hands with evil, and soooo many evil/ unholy things purposefully to make others’ life difficult. It’s sad but true. Wish we all could be more sensible and be responsible. Wish we all could make the world better for everyone.
For years from now on, I will really think of you sir, I will really miss you. We have not talked much between the years, but you were always one of my heroes, a guiding star for me. I sincerely pray for you and your family. We all pray that almighty Allah will forgive you and place you in the best place of heaven. May Allah give enough strength to your family to bear the pain.
We have first posted this article in one of our blogs on 05 September 2020 after one of our second daughter’s arrival to the world. Today both Arwaa and Aliyah are sick. They are suffering from flu maybe, and their mother is alone fighting to her bones to keep them fit. I wish almighty would bless them and they would come round soon. I am missing them.
Every species including human beings seek survival and the existence of their legacy through bringing new lives to earth. Bringing new life is perhaps very easy but raising them as a survivor is challenging. The majority of us want to raise our next generation as good and successful beings, but a significant portion fails in doing so. Despite all the challenges, our children make the world a better place so that our children emerge as better human beings than us. That is our responsibility.
The World is Falling Apart
The world is falling apart and it is more fragile than ever before. ‘Falling apart!’. Despite being at the epitome of science and technology, developments and discoveries, the rise of AI, the latest gadgets, e-services, and everything, how can someone be so audacious to claim this! Because we are becoming less human every day. We are disconnecting ourselves from the precious one and intricating our lives for illusion. With the increased ‘screen time’ we are forgetting the value of ‘people/ human time’. We are investing billions for the weapon of mass destruction but cannot provide basic essentials. We have more refugees than at any other time in history. We inculcate hatred and despise love. As a whole, we have lost humility, mutual respect, trust, belongingness, patience, and almost every virtue we can think of.
The world is falling apart and it is more fragile than ever before. ‘Falling apart!’. Despite being at the epitome of science and technology, developments and discoveries, the rise of AI, the latest gadgets, e-services, and everything, how can someone be so audacious to claim this! Because we are becoming less human every day. We are disconnecting ourselves from the precious one and intricating our lives for illusion. With the increased ‘screen time’ we are forgetting the value of ‘people/ human time’. We are investing billions for the weapon of mass destruction but cannot provide basic essentials. We have more refugees than at any other time in history. We inculcate hatred and despise love. As a whole, we have lost humility, mutual respect, trust, belongingness, patience, and almost every virtue we can think of.
Unfortunately, big corporations led by ‘hackable humans’ are profiting from these positive miseries even. Yuval Noah Harari has elaborately described how we’re being hacked every moment by corporations, agencies, and governments.
No doubt, the world will get messier in the days to come. Today, where I am standing now, probably is a better place than what our children will encounter many years from now. I am not sure if Harari’s ’21 Lessons for the 21st Century’ would be of any help for my daughters or not, but I am certain they will have tremendous challenges than what I have faced. On top of all which are mentioned above carbon emission, climate changes, food security, employment crisis, etc are the icing on the cake of impending disaster.
The arrival of Aliyah Binte Saif Rupontee
… And despite all of these, together we have brought new life on Earth. On 06 August 2020, we have been blessed with a baby girl and we named her ‘Aliyah Binte Saif Rupontee’. Arwaa; my elder daughter is super excited to have her sister. We are excited and happy too. Seeing them both growing gives us divine happiness. Despite all the good feelings I carry, often I ask myself; ‘what should I do now for making my daughters’ life better?’ Then I realized, I cannot do anything for our children till we all humans think collectively for all the children selflessly as Kahlil Gibran said:
‘Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.’
Kahlil Gibran
My Promises to Make the World a Better Place
Today, when I look back, I see myself as a taker only. Certainly, being a taker, my realization will not make any impact, unless I turn myself into a giver and give profoundly. I strongly believe, my life has a bigger purpose than just eating, sleeping, going to offices, paying bills, covering others’ messes, etc. Maybe all these years, I was not aware of my purpose but, now I feel like, I know it. I have to make this world a better place for the future of our children, all the children on earth. I am confident about the commitment because I know, Tahsin Reza and we all will be a good team. She is an endless source of inspiration and energy for me in breaking the norms and trying my gut.
I am not sure, if this proclamation is too audacious or not, but I am certain some of us have to do it. We cannot let our children rot in a world we are going to have unless we bring change. Let this change start from anywhere, at any point, at any scale.
Changes Begins from You to Make the World a Better Place
Let the change begin with holding my daughter for the first time wrapped with the National Flag. Let the change begin with sending a tree instead of sweets to celebrate the arrival of Rupontee.
Often we come across small or big events in life that ultimately change us right away. I do have a few events of this sort in my short span of life. Out of all those events, I would always cherish one story, which I have learned from an Indian Army Officer; the then Lieutenant Colonel AP Singh. The story is about the Four Cycles of Life. Well, these cycles are not necessarily to end somewhere to start another. They are more layers/ segments of life that are interwoven and co-exist.
Meet Col AP Singh
I along with my wife were guests to Col AP Singh’s residence during military training in India. Over a cup of tea, we were discussing each other’s future plans and bla bla bla. Since we both undergone the same training together and I have seen how capable he is very close, I knew he is going to make himself someone big in Army. Moreover, he topped the training we had together out of hundreds. Out of nowhere, I asked him ‘Where do you see yourself in the Army ten years from now?’. This whimsical and apparently funny question led us to a discussion that I am going to share now.
Col AP Singh’s Uncle
Col AP Singh had an uncle (I do not remember his name) in the Indian Navy who had one of the brightest careers out of thousands of his contemporary officers. He had all those laurels and jewels someone needs to climb the ladder of higher ranks including being awarded the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ in the academy. As it is perceived he had his roller-coaster life till he rose to the rank of Captain (contemporary to Lieutenant Colonel in Army) and commanded a ship. Sooner he finished his command of the ship he had applied to voluntarily resign from the Navy.
The Captain had a lot of resistance from his family as well as from the Navy, but he had managed to free himself from the 24/7 commitment of the Navy. Col AP Singh was shocked and once he asked his uncle why did he leave his fortune for nothing. Well, uncle unraveled his story/ philosophy for which he had decided to leave the Navy and he revealed his theory of the Four Cycle of Life. I am not sure if this is mentioned in any literature, in any form in the world. However, here I am going to unveil these four cycles.
Four Cycles
Our life span is divided into four cycles. One (1/4) of the cycles is for our own self. One cycle (2/4) is for our parents, another one (3/4) is for our friends and relatives, and one (4/4) cycle is for our family. Well, these cycles are neither meant to be equally divided nor they are the formula of a happy life that one should try one after another subsequently. They are more layers/ segments of life that are interwoven and co-exist.
Cycle One (1/4)
Out of Four Cycles of Life, one is for the Own Self. In this cycle, we dedicate our time, energy, wealth to achieve our goals, to meet our aspirations, to chase our dreams, etc. Everything here is directed towards your own satisfaction. Contrarily someone may find his/ her satisfaction doing something for friends, relatives, and families also. We are here not to debate. Rather, this inclusive attitude is the ultimate efficacy.
Cycle Two (2/4)
A major part of our life is shared with our friends from schools and localities, colleagues from offices, partners from business, relatives, etc. They influence us so much that we become what we are surrounded with. Whether an angel or a devil whatever we become, we truly reflect with whom we have been raised. Therefore, both in our successes and failures they have contributions, and we must utilize every opportunity we get to say Thank You to those who deserve it.
Cycle Three (3/4)
Our parents make innumerable sacrifices in life to raise us, to be better human beings, to be successful, to be knowledgeable, etc. Despite many prejudices of many parents, the ultimate truth is every parent wants their children to be happy in life. All our religions prevailing in the world, all the ethics we learn from society, all the cultures we possess in the world have collectively emphasized taking care of parents whenever they need it. I understand it is an exaggeration to re-emphasize the topic of taking care of parents. However, in our uncle’s understanding, as well as in my understanding, we should at least spare one cycle from our ‘Four Cycles of Life’ for our parents unconditionally despite all the odds. I know how much the uncle has sacrificed and how he sheltered his parents throughout.
Cycle Four (4/4)
A man/ woman should always take care of his/her family which belongs to his/ her. Taking care of their own, friends, and parents do not exempt someone from taking responsibility for the family. We must rise above the dual prevails in many parts of the world like husband/ wife or father/ mother. We are certainly responsible to take care of our parents. Yet we must understand that we are equally responsible (sometimes more) to raise the kids we have and support our husband/ wife. A thin line between these two should exist but the line must not divide parents from families. Grandparents are treasures for the grandchildren.
Final Words
These ‘Four Cycles of Life’ we have discussed are subjective. It is evident that nobody will ever be able to define the cycles, the start of one, and the end of another. Moreover, our life is uncertain. So, the question remains ‘then why did we talk about cycles?’ The answer is ‘to realize that we must not invest all our time, energy, wealth for the gain of just ‘ME’; just like the stock market‘. We must make choices, credible choices; for which we should not repent. Investing whole life for one gain is ‘Gamble’. We must remember all gamblers do not end up winning.
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