Mosaic of a Lost Era

“Mosaic of a Lost Era” Some Information of this book This volume brings together for the first time the best examples of English writing by Najmuddin Hashim (1925-1999) journalist,diplomat,and “man of letters”. The eclectic collection includes reminiscences about friends such as the author Syed Waliullah,economist and Political activist Akhlaqur Rahman,and the first female diplomat of Bangladesh Hosnara Karim; tales of growing up in Old Dhaka during the l930s; reflections on Bangladeshi and foreign literature art,and music. including praise of folk art forms; English translations of poems by Shamsur Rahman and Abu Zafar Obaidullah. and even pieces on Bangladesh’s historical connections with Buddhism and the 1989 death of Russian Nobel Peace Laureate Andrei Dmitreyevich Sakharov .He witnessed the Quit India Movement,the Bhasha Andolon (Language Movement),our war of independence,the decay of the Soviet Union. among other things. These diverse essays are united by the author’s clarity and warmth of expression,and his obvious affection for his subjects. This collection is a marvelous example of the best of English writing from Bangladesh. Contents* Preface * Author’s Note * PART 1: REMINISCENCES * 1. Memories of Old Dhaka * 2. Down Memory Lane * 3. Postscript: Last Mail from Meudon * 4. Posthumous Letter to Waliullah * 5. My Friend Akhlaq: A Tribute * 6. She has Kept her Rendezvous with Death PART 2: ART AND CULTURE * 1. The Cultural Heritage of Bangladesh * 2. Quamrul Hassan and the Folk Tradition * 3. Hamidur Rahman: Painter of Inner Reality * 4. The Upside Down Portrait * 5. Jiras Art Gallerie Presents Anwar Jahan with his Twenty Sculptures at the Bangladesh College of Arts and Crafts * 6. Ustad Ayet Ali Khan and Some Thoughts on Music * 7. Land of Magic * 8. Traditional Jewellery and Dress of Bangladesh * 9. Tinsel Dreams of the Silver Screen * 10. Age cannot Wither nor Custom Stale * 11. Today’s Motion Pictures PART 3: LITERATURE * 1. The Conscience of the People: Shamsur Rahman * 2. The Poet of River and Man: Sanaul Huq * 3. Two Significant Poets * 4. Poetry and the Turkish Scene * 5. Poetry and the Japanese * 6. Poetry in Malaysia * 7. Poetry in India and Pakistan * 8. Speech Delivered as Ambassador of Bangladesh on Ghalib Day Organised by the Ghalib Academy * 9. One Man’s Agony * 10. Two Poems of Shamsur Rahman * 11. Legend is What I Speak About: Abu Zafar Obaidullah * 12. Once Upon a Time PART 4: MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS AND SPEECHES * 1. The Language Movement: The First Step towards Independent Bangladesh * 2. Buddhist Calendar * 3. Address on the Occasion of Laying the Foundation Stone of a Monument at Vojrojogini the Birthplace of Saint Atish Dipankar Srijnana * 4. The Nobel Peace Laureate: Sakharov * 5. Address as Information Minister at the Soviet Film Festival * 6. Cinema for Peace and Progress: Speech at a Round Table Conference at Tashkent on the Role of the Cinema in the Struggle for Peace,Social Progress and Freedom of People * 7. Speech as the Information Minister at the Centenary Celebrations of St. Gregory’s High School