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Is poet Farrukh Ahmed a Renaissance one?

Published : Saturday, 14 October, 2017 at 12:00 AM  Count : 551
Mohammad Jashim Uddin
Renaissance is a French word, means "rebirth", but its origin is in Italy and it gradually spread throughout the Europe. The Renaissance was a period in which artists and writers rejected the restrictions of the Middle Ages in order to develop new ideals, enthusiasm, and interests; most notably, there was a Revival of Learning, a new thirst for knowledge and enjoyment in knowledge.  
The results of this "rebirth" were a widespread study of art and literature, as well as a delving into the mysteries of the natural world. Now it is a question for what aspects the term deferred the Medieval activities and in what ground it happened.
The western history says that after the end of the War of the Roses from 1455 to 1487, Tudar Dynasty came into power in England. During this period the king wanted to change the constitution for his own interest, but in 1509, when Henry VIII became the ruler of England, he took some steps against the Church. Though polygamy was prohibited under the rule of Catholic Church, he desired to get married for the second time by amendment the tradition.
Because of his determination and to fulfill the desire, for the first time in the History of England, the rule of Catholic Church was ended. This step of his influenced every aspect of English including life, culture, literature, thoughts etc. from that time onward.  So, for that reformation taken by Henry VIII, the country having gone from being Catholic to becoming Protestant, adherents of the newly formed Church of England.
"Some might claim that the King James Bible and Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer stand as particular examples of English renaissance rhetoric that were to be profoundly influential upon English Literature of the period."  After that, gradually the spirit was attracted in literature.
Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, Shakespeare's Macbethand Hamlet, John Milton's Paradise Lost, Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Thomas More's Utopia, Moliere's The Miser and Other Plays, Philip Sidney's The Old Arcadia are the best English Renaissancetexts.  

*It is a vital question why do we call Farrukh Ahmed as an Islamic Renaissance poet? If we look back we must see that Farrukh Ahmed was attracted by Marxism in his early writing career. Being a follower of Marxism, he wrote five short stories and became famous for those. In that time, as a story writer he was compared to Abu Rushed, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin and some other writers. *

Thus, in Doctor Faustus, is set in the same Wittenberg University in which Martin Luther, the first protestant reformer, nailed his 95 theses to the cathedral door. In a profound satire on the questing spirit of the protestant reform, Marlowe make Faustus an intellectual man who wishes to test his personal relationship with God - one of the underpinning notions of protestant theology - by selling his soul to the devil.
In Macbeth, Macbeth sought to test the bounds of supernatural beliefs via the presence of witches on stage and Macbeth's belief in his self-determination tested by the prophecies of these 'weird sisters' whose prediction of his demise finally transpires to be correct. Moreover, Hamlet, another Wittenberg student and rationalist, is also tested in his belief in the power of the human intellect to explain God's creation when he witnesses his father's ghost early in the play which defies his rationalist belief in 'ocular proof'.
On the other hand, the Islamic Renaissance was introduced to the Muslims in reviving the Islamic cultures, thoughts and practices so that everyone can enjoy their equality and equity now and then. As a result, the Islamic civilization spread in most of the European countries. So, it indicates the European renaissance and the Muslims renaissance are not the same.
Now it is a vital question why do we call Farrukh Ahmed as an Islamic Renaissance poet? If we look back we must see that Farrukh Ahmed (10 June, 1918-19 October, 1974) was attracted by Marxism in his early writing career. Being a follower of Marxism, he wrote five short stories and became famous for those. In that time, as a story writer he was compared to Abu Rushed, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin and some other writers.
According to Khondakar Asraf Hossain, "it is a point to note a few other trends that defined, even at that stage, the nature of Bangladeshi poetry. Of those trends, the Marxist and the Islamic happened to be more pronounced than any other. In Sikandar abu Zafar and sanaul Haq, Marxism was significant; in Golam Mostafa, Shahadat Hossain and Talim Hossain, the poetic imagery was derived from an Islamic past, with necessarily its roots in distant Arabia."
Actually in 1942, Farrukh Ahmed realized that the way he was walking is wrong, and immediately he became a change one. But he gathered his knowledge from different corner of the world. That's why, in his poems we see the influence of western romanticism, feminism, ecocriticism, and so on.
He created Sindbad and Hatim Tai, the two best known parsons in his poem. But interestingly, none of these characters are Muslims. He used them symbolically awaking human being. Sinbad is a fictional sailor and the hero of Eastern origin. During his voyages throughout the seas east of Africa and south of Asia, he has fantastic adventures going to magical places, meeting monsters, and encountering supernatural phenomena.
On the other hand, Hatim Tai estimated between second half of 6th century to the first half of seventh century was a poet. Hatim was a very nice person with the qualities of being generous to poor and hospitality for his guests. He never paid attention to his reserves while giving to the poor. His quality of being generous to poor was incomparable. So, it is clear why Farrukh Ahmed represented these two characters, though none of them is a Muslim.
Moreover, Farrukh Ahmed introduced puthi literature in modern literature such way the world got new test of Bangla literature. Through the new setting of puthi, Bangla literature was enabled to present its origin and revived its own culture, beliefs, and humanitarian appeal to the world.
In conclusion, we can mention that Farrukh Ahmed should not be called a Muslim Renaissance poet, as his intention is to ensure humans rights and equity. He is a humanitarian poet beyond all types' religious identity. He is a revival poet of Bangla culture and history. Even we see his spirit is completely opposite of the European Renaissance which are mention above.

The writer is a senior lecturer at English department of Northern University Bangladesh





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