Nine is just not a number, but years of losses and achievements!

Syed Rumman

•=====•=====•=====•=====•

Years flow on and we are indulged going through storms, rains, shadow, lights, sun and the dark; in a simple phrase we can call it "ups and downs".

There are lots of achievements, lots of losses. I witnessed—a hand is departing from the family-bond, and this was the biggest malady in my life. Though I could not shed a single drop of water.

Then again, I learnt to survive, and the path of struggle I took one day, still remains with me; this is yet to draw a conclusion. Sometimes I think, the tumultuousness never wants to escape from some people's life; though this is the strength of our survival.

This seeds a feeling in us, that is—you have got to live and inspire others and also edify them so that your followers do not go through the same.

In this journey of my short life, there was a time when I had the opportunity to help to transform so many people's lives through my limited recourses.

Now, I see some of them are doing good in their lives, some got actively involved in politics, some have become trainees in big legal establishments, some have attained big positions in national or international organisations.

And I consider these are my achievements; though comparing them, I may not have materially gone that far! However, still aspire to reach the path of the height.

I know, if you have the honesty, integrity, dedication and laboriousness, then they will triumph, even if it's delayed. I also believe, attainment of this will inspire others.

Therefore, to me, life is all about—transforming others lives by transferring and inculcating your knowledge and experience to others.

Though, in reality, life is sometimes fuddy-duddy; however, it's about living a life without hurting or causing harm to others.

I must say, I'm surrounded by people with good hearts; though I could do too little for them. But they will remain in my heart, forever. I'm grateful to them. I cannot return them their contribution and love, but I must say—I can't thank you enough.

Today is the day when I left the land and I saw tears were dribbling down the veranda of my father's eyes for the first time in my life and hugged him for the last time! Today is the day when one of the happiest and vibrant family in my small town said a temporary goodbye to their only son and only brother of a lone sister.

This is a story of sacrifices, but on the other hand, this is a story of a boy becoming a man and a journey to purify himself every day.

But, we know, as a human being we make mistakes, sometimes due to enormous limitations, sometimes out of lack of concentration or sometimes, owing to our anger. But whatever it is— it is rectifiable, and I am always happy to do that due to my nature and education of tolerance.

However, if anyone ask me— what are the biggest things I have learnt so far from my life in the UK? Then, I would say, there are four things—1. tolerance; 2. being apologetic for rectification; 3. Respecting others, and 4. adjustment.

The above four may not give us wealth, may not make us materialistic, but these will certainly make us " A good human being".

Therefore, my today's resolution is to uphold the above rest of my life.

Thank you for reading this and staying with me!

‪#‎LiveandInspire‬

‪#‎SyedRumman‬

Why can’t you or I be PM?

Syed Rumman

                       

                                   ( First published in Dhaka Tribune on 7 February 2015)

There is a difference between power and responsibility. In the name of politics, two major political parties in Bangladesh are running after power, but not in order to take responsibility for the people or to serve them.

Politics is a very broad term, and it has widespread significance. Politics governs a system where people choose their representatives considering their policies and their ability to lead people of a particular constituency or territory through a democratic process. This democracy enables these leaders to be lawmakers, so that they may enact laws for the territory or the state that ensures people’s rights and the security of their lives.

Conversely, what is happening in Bangladesh? Can we actually call it politics or democracy? This is clearly a fight between two “Rahman” families to take ownership of Bangladesh. None of these two parties are willing to compromise.

Their intolerance and stubbornness are jeopardising the lives of the general people of Bangladesh, leading the country to socioeconomic instability. In the middle of their political blame game, general people are suffering.

There is no one to wipe the tears of these vulnerable people. They cannot escape from this power-grabbing game. Deprived poor and middle class people try their best to move forward, but in return they are the ones who get killed, burnt, and lose family members and loved ones through no fault of their own.

The question can be raised: How many so-called political activists have actually understood what they are doing? Do these political thugs, in the name of the political activism, know what they are doing? Do they realise that this savagery may come back to them and make them suffer some day? Alas! They don’t know that their own people harbour disdain for them.

Many politicians have children living or studying abroad, safe from petrol bombs or other atrocities. A majority of the people of Bangladesh would still like to see a tolerant political system, and exercise their democratic voting rights.

On the streets, tea-stalls, shopping centres, buses, bus counters, trains, rail stations, and in ferries – people are always going on with conversations about the politics of Bangladesh and its future.

We talk about the spirit of the Liberation War. With great dismay, we forget to recall the spirit of social and economic independence for people. It has not been achieved yet, long after the Liberation War. Is this what people wanted in 1971?

Yes, disregarding the political differences, the time has come to ask ourselves: Do we really want to be slaves of the two families? I sincerely thank the two leaders for running and leading the country all these years.

But a question still remains: Can’t I have the dream to be the prime minister of Bangladesh in order to serve the people? Can’t you have that dream too? Why does this so-called democracy only allow two families to run this country? Why can’t we have a system that would allow a person to be the prime minister of Bangladesh for no more than two terms?

But, it is evident that, time and again, we have to let our dream slip through our fingers, we have to let people die, and we have to be tolerant of this intolerant, so-called democracy in Bangladesh. In the name of democracy, people are being fooled, they are being robbed, and they are being enslaved.

However, we have to come out of this. We need a complete independence that ensures our freedom to move across the country and to run businesses without fear.

It is my strong conviction that the general people of Bangladesh still hope for a country where there will not be any atrocity or intolerance. Instead, there will be a politics upholding its ethos.

In that Bangladesh, you or I can
also be the prime minister, so that we may serve the people, not be their master.

Syed Rumman: Poet and Former Governor and Vice-President of London Metropolitan University

Moderate Islam, practicing Muslim

In accordance with the following verse in the Qur'an, “Keep to the right course as you have been commanded, and also those who turn with you to Allah, and do not exceed the bounds. He sees what you do.” (Surah Hood, 11:112), Islam is itself a moderate religion and those who are following it are moderate anyway. "The above verse is self-explanatory as it means, be steadfast in following the truth, to the best of your ability, without overstepping the limits through exaggeration and extremism."

"Once, while teaching his companions, one of the rites of pilgrimage, the Prophet (PBH) warned them against going to extremes, pointing out that doing so was the reason behind the destruction of past nations: “Beware of extremism in religion, for the only thing that destroyed those before you was extremism in religion.” (Sunan Ibn Maajah: 3029)."

Therefore, there is no need to label a follower of Islam as a "moderate" Muslim. Islam is moderate and modern, and unchangeable since it has emerged during the time of the Prophet (PBH). We just contradict ourselves by labelling it.

This is also surprising that some people take reference of the Qur'an and Hadith out of context; whereas every aspect of Quran and Hadith relate with a background. We, also, sometimes, say, I am practicing Muslim, but as a Muslim you are meant to be practicing anyway. We should rather say, (if you are not practicing) I am not a practicing Muslim.

#SyedRumman

Olive Branch

Olive Branch by Syed Rumman

You were mistaken since the day you thought it was my weakness,
Rather I gave you the chance to rethink,
Rethink to return me the shadow of my olive tree—
But, you showered me with the inglorious century!

You thought you owned my olive branch;
Oh dear! You forgot—the garden still says my name; belongs to me! 
I am the life of all the lifeless!

You are repeatedly mistaken—I have just shown you what you only could visualise;

The sun I gave you still rises from here, 
The days you see are gifts of my wishes;

Remember—oh forgotten boys—you had never had the name until I gave it!

You are immersed in lies; your pathways are anchored in falsehood. 
Your endless enmity named you as a vampire bat.

The lives you are taking are given away by us—in the name of truth; 
They will revive in strength—
Our numbers are countless in sands! 

Our one becomes the millions going beyond the land!

Today, listen to the whisper until I scream—
Olive colour lies in my every drop of blood; 
My one earthquake will be your last breath.

Therefore, I say —
"Today
I come to you bearing an olive branch in one hand,
And
A freedom fighter's gun in another. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. 
I repeat! Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

Olive Branch 

Syed Rumman

21 July 2014
London

(Late Yasser Arafat, the leader of PLO, addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time on 13 November 1974. His speech is known as " The Olive Branch Speech of Arafat" in the pages of history regardless of any controversies.

"Today I come to you bearing an olive branch in one hand and a freedom fighter's gun in another. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

Heal the world and its human being

I remember, when I was very little my mom said, " Someday you may become a very big and influential person, but remember, there is no alternative of being a good human being..." Likewise, one of my great mentor in my life Shahbaz Riad also said, " In your life, you can show your existence to the world either being a good or bad person but this is you who have to decide which one you want to choose..." Above all, it was is religious education that always teaches me to be a good human being. I have never been taught to be cruel or in the name of anything to harm a human being. But when I see people are misusing or misinterpreting religion or politics to harm others or kill another human being, then it really hurts me as a human being. I have no other choice but to despise them. Events like in Paris, Sydney, Gaza and Pakistan all are a symbol of the activities of aberration. No human being will live forever in this world and you have to taste the reality of death, but only our good works can inspire others and will last longer than our physical existence in this universe. So why can't we love others instead of hatred, jealousy and bloodshed?  Heal and heal the world and its human being!

Resolution of the Victory day

Syed Rumman

Resolution of the Victory day: Syed Rumman

                               (First published on GBNEWS24.COM on 16 December 2014)

16 December, victory day of Bangladesh. It is the most glorious day for a country like Bangladesh whose independence was under attack centuries after centuries. Finally on 16 December 1971, after 9 months of bloodshed she earned her victory as an independent and sovereign nation. Yet the question remains here, after 43 years of victory, did we manage to enshrine our independence, if so then how much or how far? I guess, as a nation we are moving forward, we can see lights are dazzling at the edge of the long tunnel; we will be enlightened and showered by its splendour. Since independence in 1971 we have around 25 TV Channels, around 20 Radio stations, around 30 national newspapers, 6 major mobile phone operators consist of around 120 million subscribers whereas her total population is around 159 million. In 2005 birth rate in Bangladesh was 31.01 whereas in 2014 it has been reduced to 21.61; however, majority of its population is young.

Despite all negativity in everyday life Bangladesh as a country is moving forward; it has numerous achievements. We just need to perceive and feel those. A rickshaw-polar is happier than a person who lives on debt; credit cards, loans, and mortgages even though he (rickshaw-polar) lives on hand to mouth. Gas and electricity price have gone up, but still people cannot stop having their dream—someday we will have a better Bangladesh, better than where we are now!

We are in a better position, we have a country, we have a territory, we have a constitution, we have thousands and thousands of years of histories; we have our own language and we fought for it.

Yes, I do not disagree with the fact that we have intolerant political environment; nonetheless, we have a political system. Having controversies, distrust, disrespect and non-resilience, still majority of the people in Bangladesh like to exercise their voting rights. On the street, tea-stall, in the shopping centre, in the bus, bus counters, in the train, rail station and in the ferry—people are always going on with the conversation about politics of Bangladesh and its future.

Bangladesh as an independent country started with hope in 1971, the hope of having a country with full of socio-economic independence. Now, it is the time to make it real with all of our positive achievements. Going beyond all the controversies, emotion-driven political engagement, we have to thank all of our national leaders, we have to acknowledge their commitment and scarifies for the country. We ought to do it in order to take the country forward from where we are now. And like thousands of other young people, I am also sure, we can. We can have a Bangladesh where we will live for us and others. We’ll make it a better place—this is the resolution of the Victory day!

Syed Rumman: Poet and Former Governor and Vice-President of London Metropolitan University

Long Long Time

Syed Rumman

Long Long Time: Syed Rumman

The more you go far away

The more I remember the day

When you came to me showing

The caravan of joy-blowing

On my alleyway of life...

Since then a young breeze’s taken me away,

It’s been a long long time...

Slowly very slowly you opened the door

Entered into my little earth and its core,

Taking a deep breath stretched a glimpse

Of days afar when I touched those lips...

It’s been a long long time though, I feel

A drunken ray is sparkling right here still,

Time goes by holding tears in the rain

I am being taken away again and again...

Red Button

Syed Rumman

Red Button: Syed Rumman

When I woke up,  I noticed the red button was missing from my shirt;
I asked my neighbour, reported to the police,
All the TV channels were broadcasting the news,
Yet they ain't got any clue!
Now I am packing my stuff to go to Egypt, climbing the Pyramid
I will look for it, or to the Mars.
Can't help but mumbling— where is my red button!!

My friend says, the missing red button is in Dubai
But one sheikh sold it to an Iranian girl who went missing last night;

(After we met)
The Iranian girl replied to my email again
And she asked me " Would you wait for me till I return?"
Closing my eyes, I see how the red button was falling apart from my shirt;
That resembles the magical moment,
The electric red lips possess the whole horse-power of the eternity,
How they made me loss against the shameless night;
While a baby boy is being born in your next door then
An angelic fairy is wiping out my those sob-stories, and
Adorning me with the invincible magnetism.

All I can see— 
The boundless desires are being drawn in her magical eyes.

All over the tunnel—fire burns

Syed Rumman

All over the tunnel—fire burns: Syed Rumman

All over the tunnel—fire burns!

I tightened my tongue to save
And utter the last few words.

My indigent prayer never reaches the Height; 
I still crawl against the destined faith, 
Lest I see you saying the last few words!

I have been walking with my hammered heart,
And get dissolute seeing my previous abandonment.

But I was beckoned and, entered into the tunnel;
You make me crayon the face of my shattered dream, 
Again and again!

Every time I try—before I say the last few words—
All over the tunnel—fire burns!

Oishi: Debacle of morals in Bangladesh

Syed Rumman

Regarding the unpleasant incident made(?) by Oishi in Bangladesh some questions need to be answered:

1. Don't you think it is an early stage to conclude by saying Oishi is a murderer of her parents?

2. Do you think what media is saying is justified, authentic and reliable? (As nowadays BD media likes negative publicity)

3. Was not it ideally wrong to publish Oishi's photo on the newspaper.

4. Why the police is not giving any hints of her friends' identity. Is not it raising a question whether they are the one who actually killed her parents and Oishi confessed under duress? 

5. It may be the case that Oishi brought her friends home for burglary, but they did not have any intention to kill. 

6. Most important question is to ask whether Government had any responsibility here. I am very well aware that it is very easy for them to say " how can we look after individual cases?" But they forget that this every individual vote for them. What was the inadequacy in the society that led this unpleasant and horrific incident to take place? What the government and the society could have provided to Oishi and her family to avoid such situation. If the question is how come her father managed to send her to an expensive english medium school then the next question should be asked why was it necessary to send her to an english medium school, what was missing from the state-funded school? 

7. On what basis the english medium education is being blamed? Ain't the english medium education produce any good citizen? If does then why do they still under criticism? Why was there not any action taken by the government or society to improve this? Don't you think it is a consequential event?

8.As a nation what shall we take from this unpleasant incident, Where are we standing as a nation with values, culture and respect? Are we taking the right step to cope up with the modernisation to uphold civilisation or is it simply a race to grasp the idea of narcissism which is at a large extent full of nudity and debacle of morals.