Feature

Shakespeare Study Circle launched at ULAB

Star Campus Desk

THE Department of English and Humanities (DEH) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has launched a discussion forum called 'Shakespeare Study Circle, Bangladesh” (SSCB) on the occasion of William Shakespeare's 445th Birth Anniversary at the University's Dhanmondi Campus on 25th April. There was also a book exhibition on the bard which was inaugurated by eminent educationist Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, while the other exhibition of photographs on the poet's life and time was inaugurated by the renowned artiste, Aly Zaker. In the evening, the students of ULAB performed Macbeth at the auditorium in front of a receptive crowd. Hasan Nabil played Macbeth and Ainun Nahar Keya played Lady Macbeth.

The launching of the 'Circle' took place in the form of a free-flowing discussion session which was presided over by Prof Rafiqul Islam, VC of ULAB, and participated in by Kazi Shahed Ahmed, President of the ULAB Governing Board, and Profs Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Serajul Islam Chowdhury, Syed Manzoorul Islam, Fakrul Alam, and Dr Muhammad Sirajul Islam, while Dr. Morshed Sahfiul Hasan, Dr Mobashera Khanam. Mr Ranjit Biswas, a popular sports columnist and an additional secretary of the government were also present. ULAB BoG member Kazi Nabil Ahmed and Pro-VC Prof Imran Rahman, and Mr. Milan Kanti Nath of Anupam Prokashoni were among many others present.

The session opened with the presentation of a paper by Prof Mohit Ul Alam, Head of DEH, ULAB entitled, 'Are we writing back to Shakespeare?', in which he discussed the famous black Shakespearean actor, Hugh Quarshie's reactions, stated in his essay, 'Second thoughts About Othello' toward Othello. Quarshie said that he had chosen never to perform in the role of Othello because Shakespeare drew him with a racist bias to which he wouldn't subscribe. The second essay, 'Shakespeare read vs Shakespeare performed' was presented by Aly Zaker, which was a sustained discussion on the issues of translation of Shakespeare on stage performance. His essay has historicized the translation of Shakespeare in Bangladesh.

Professor Siddiqui in his speech said that while he didn't see much point in Quarshie's decision not to act Othello because he is black, he also felt that the best translation of Shakespeare was yet to come. He said that Desdemona fell in love with Othello and the language she uses to reveal Othello's virtues tells us about Othello's inborn nobility.

Professor Chowdhury commented that every age had read Shakespeare wrongly. He has always made critics contentious this way or that way. He said, perhaps, the beauty of Shakespeare's works lies in the fact that they keep us intrigued with the mystery of the unfathomable. He remarked that translation of Shakespeare into Bengali hasn't reached an international standard.

Professor Islam claimed that Othello was written at a time when slavery was just emerging in Europe, and that Shakespeare's plays are informed by the duality of the Renaissancethe dilemma between the infinite and the finite. He also agreed with Prof. Chowdhury that translation had left much for asking, though Prof Selim Sarwar's translation of the Sonnets is praiseworthy.

Professor Alam, quoting Ian Kott, said that Shakespeare is our contemporary. He said he wouldn't accept Quarshie's views about race because then all aspects of his plays will likewise become non-actable.

Ahmed assured the gathering of all kinds of patronization to make the Circle thrive.

At the end of the session some procedural decisions were taken. The Circle will operate periodically and its future activities will be circulated among its members.