Redemption of Ocean of Sorrow Karbla Battle Now in English
Utpal Dutta: ‘Bishad Sindhu’, by Mir Mosharraf Hossain an epic narrative retrieved. Entitled ‘Ocean of Melancholy’ is a work of historical fiction translated by Alo Shome was released on 20, September 2018.
Placed on the events that led to the battle of Karbala an epic historical novel by Bangladeshi literary colossal Mlr Musharraf Hossain has been translated Into English.
The narrative conceptualize and characterizes all those essential attributes an epic is expected to be featuring, asserts literary critics. And here is the revival of this book with its grand style and now wearing a grand look by a reputed publisher.
Mir Musharraf Hossain was predominant novelist among others of the era that started to be gleaming with the evolution of literary exertion of Muslim cult following the colonial regime in this subcontinent.
Based on the tragic story of Hassan and Hussein, grandsons of Prophet Muhammad, who were expelled unkindly by their aggressive enemy Yazd, the son of the king of Damascus.
The plot in author’s ‘Bishad Sandhu’ while explored. dramatic setting, and with a mythical trace is found exclusively. In addition heroism and supernatural occurrences are there. All those essential attributes thus contribute to the narrative to rendering it an epic.
The narrative explores the sufferings and agonies of life, greed and hatred of men. This apart the narrative imparts a historical background, blood shedding and killings that took place in Karbala, Iraq in 680 AD.
From the Muslim society of Bengal, Mir Mosharraf Hossain is considered to be the first and foremost author. He emerge to be the best prose writers in the Bengali language. His masterpiece, epic historic novel Bishad Sindhu is a popular classic among the Bengali Muslims.
The effort latter initiates a new age generating a literary cult in Banladesh and eventually bring forth a successive practice in Bengali literature with distinctive aspects in terms of lives, culture and soco-economic ingredients of Bangladesh, quite eloquent in nature, prose style and aesthetic appeal.
Among other creative writings the Ocean of Sorrow, a master piece by the author breeds huge appeal and passion among the booklovers regardless of religion although the plot is based on a religious fact and historical event. Karbala battle with its pathos, hostility, conflicts and tragic consequences goes well with the story while the author weave it with his master stroke and style.
‘Ocean of Melancholy’ is a work of historical fiction in which there is no distortion of facts, yet multiple imaginary characters and fictional situations have been textured not only to enhance the interests of the reader, but also to give a geopolitical picture of the time, says the publisher Trisha Niyogi.
‘Ocean of Melancholy’, translated by Alo Shome can get an insight into the events that led to the battle of Karbala and its outcome.
‘I am not a religious person myself. But am only objectively curious about religion as it is a part of human culture. Thankfully, ‘Blshad Slndhu’ gave me an opportunity to gain much knowledge about Islam. Through its translation I could express my respect and love for another faith other than the one inherited’, says Alo Shome.
As a pioneer among 19th century Bengali Muslim writers, Mir Mosharraf Hossain was born in1847 and died in 1911. Mir authored 35 books of whlc:h Blshad SlndhuIs considered his best and now in English as Ocean of Sorrow.
Out of 35 books Mir authored, ‘Bishad Slndhu’ is distinguished as the best and now appeared in English titled ‘Ocean of Sorrow’, a redemption indeed.
Writer: Editorial Assistant, The New York Times, Bangladesh National Section