Reflecting on the defiant verses of Sikandar Abu Zafar

Poet and the famous lyricist of Liberation War songs, Sikandar Abu Zafar was remembered at a programme held at Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Hall of Bangla Academy on May 15 marking the revolutionary poet's birth centenary.
Habibullah Siraji, director general of Bangla Academy delivered the welcome speech at the event. National Professor Anisuzzaman presided over the meeting while Ekushey Padak recipient poet Asad Chowdhury delivered the keynote paper named 'Kobi Sikandar Abu Zafar O Tar Shomoy'. The programme titled 'Kobi Sikandar Abu Zafar Shorone Ekok Boktrita Anusthan' was organised by Bangla Academy.
Asad Chowdhury said, "Sikandar Abu Zafar preferred being outspoken and strong-tempered. He did not confine himself within any particular class as he wrote against almost all kinds of oppressions. The sufferings in society and the wrongdoings were projected in a peculiarly satiric way in his poetries. But he also wrote short stories, novels, essays, columns, editorials in the same tune. He was at the same time nationalistic and global-minded as he voiced disgust at sufferings of humankind all over the world through his sharp diction."
Sikandar Abu Zafar was not even daunted by powerful targets like the Pakistani regime. In his edited publication Samakal he published literary pieces in favour of Bengali nationalism, which the Pak government sought to stomp down. The poetry collection 'Bangla Chharo,' consisting of verses published during the Liberation War of 1971, bears testimony to this, Poet Asad added.
Poet Habibullah Siraji and National Professor Anisuzzaman reaffirmed Asad's words saying that Sikandar Abu Zafar played a defiant role against Pakistani rule through his edited publication 'Samakal' with rich taste and professionalism. Anisuzzaman also cited 'Amader Sangram', and 'Amar Obhijog' as other works that captured Sikandar Abu Zafar's courageous dreams.
Sikander Abu Zafar---prominent litterateur and journalist, was born in Satkhira on March 19 in 1919 where his grandfather Syed Alam Shah Hashemi had settled after coming from Peshwar in Pakistan.
He passed Intermediate from Ripon College, Kolkata and started his career in the military accounts section (1939) in Kolkata. He also worked with the Globe News Agency of Satyendranath Majumdar for some time.
Abu Zafar came to Dhaka from Kolkata in 1950 and began to work as a journalist for the Daily Nabajug, The Ittefaq, The Sangbad and the Millat. He founded and edited (1959-1970) a monthly magazine called Samakal.
Abu Zafar was one of the activists of the cultural movement that launched the concept of Bengali nationalism in East Bengal in the 1960's. During the war of liberation in 1971, he composed a number of lyrics of patriotic and revolutionary nature to encourage the people of his country. His song 'Amader Sangram Chalbei' (Our struggle must continue) inspired people during the liberation war.
Although Zafar is chiefly remembered as a poet, he was also proficient in prose. Noteworthy among his works are the, novels, Purabi (a certain musical note, 1941), Natun Sakal (New dawn, 1946), the short stories, Matiar Ashru (Soil and tears, 1942), and a collection of songs, Malava Kaushik (1966).