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Let all flowers bloom
by Dr Abdun Noor
Among his admirers and friends, Azizul Jalil is well known for his wit. Those are cherished, preserved and repeated many times over the years amidst the social circles in Dhaka and Washington DC.
One of his famous oft-repeated and oft-cited quotes concerning flourishing of human talents buried deep in mind is - ‘don't worry, some flowers bloom late.’ That's a hope that has created aspiration among many minds for harnessing their unfulfilled dreams.
Azizul Jalil, true to his words, bloomed late in his life as a writer. He first grasped his powerful pen after the age of seventy. And with a resolute determination took us to a journey of reminiscences, history, life accounts of eminent personalities, friendship, familial and collegial relationships, all denoting complex but beautiful interplay of human mind. He became prolific. Over a short period of four years, he presented to his readers three books successively, each blooming and shining with its own distinct colours.
Is Azizul Jalil writing an autobiography of his life’s images and monumental historical events? When his first book, ‘Turbulence and Tranquility’ came out, I thought this was the beginning of an autobiography, and looked forward for sequels to it. But the second book, ‘Where Angels Fear to Tread and Other Essays’ affirmed that his works are mostly free writings of a creative mind, written to appeal to the next generation and in particular to the generation of his grand children.
The third book, ‘Dancing in the Rain’, again dispels my earlier notion. The theme of his third book denote the canvas of his wide span of readings, the depth of his admiration for our esteemed but forgotten teachers such as MN Huda, and other eminent persons like Tamizuddin Khan, Ras Behari Bose, and unknown facts of our Mughal heritage. He even brings the controversial figures of modern times such as Adolf Hitler, Krishna Menon, to a new light.
I have often wondered how Azizul Jalil chooses his topics for writings! What thread he is using to bring the pearls of truth of his life into a colourful garland of many types of flowers! How he transcends his topics from Alexander the Great to the joyful lunch meeting of old friends, one must marvel! One week, Jalil is writing on the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah and the next week, wow, his writing vividly captures a visit to Buenos Aires. The third week, Jalil is presenting to his readers the tale of a Bangladeshi taxi driver in New York and his extraordinary honesty.
Azizul Jalil deals creatively with the themes of his writings like a skilful playwright.
He always brings his characters to a new life, portraying a new image. This is enchanting, and certainly the chamaak of his essays.
Let the flowers of Azizul Jail's garden bloom; and bloom profusely round the year! His flowers will never disappoint any of his readers, either of my generation or the generation of my grandchildren. We love and cherish his writings.
The author is a playwright and novelist writing from Potomac, Maryland, USA.
Dancing in the Rain and Other Essays
by Azizul Jalil
Publisher: The University Press Ltd.
Pp. 102; Price Tk. 300.
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