"Writing, to me, is far more exhilarating and personal than falling in love, ambitious and soaring. Hints and history of this special love of mine can be found in this book."
—Syed Shamsul Haq
Book Details:
- Book Title: Margin-e Montabya (Comments in the Margin)
- Author’s Name: Syed Shamsul Haq
- Genre: Analytical
- Cover Artist’s Name: Qayyum Chowdhury
- Publisher’s Name: Annyaprokash
- First Published: 2005
- Page Count: 311 pages
- Price: 4 USD
Author Introduction
Born on December 27, 1935, in Kurigram district, Syed Shamsul Haq was one of Bangladesh’s most accomplished fiction writers and a versatile literary figure. Proficient in crafting stories, novels, poetry, and various other literary forms, he authored nearly two hundred works. During his lifetime, he received numerous prestigious awards, including the Adamjee Literary Award and the Bangla Academy Award, alongside others such as the Nasiruddin Gold Medal, Alaol Literary Award, and Padabali Award. On September 27, 2016, this great writer passed away, leaving behind a lasting legacy. Before his departure, he penned the widely celebrated book Margin-e Montabya (Comments in the Margin) to inspire future generations and elucidate the techniques of literary creation.
About the Book
The flap of Margin-e Montabya states, “This is by no means a book to teach writing. Rather, it can be called a book that turns our attention toward the techniques of writing.” True to this, the author masterfully highlights literary techniques in each chapter. Intriguingly, he begins with the art of writing love letters and then, in the chapter “Artist and Artisan,” delineates their differences. He remarks, “An artisan is not an artist, but every artist is a skilled artisan.” Quoting his friend, the painter Qayyum Chowdhury, he adds, “My painter friend Qayyum Chowdhury once said, ‘We are artisan people. If we don’t fit in one house, we pack our tools—saw, hammer, chisel—into a sack and move to another.’ What beautiful words.
The first part of the book explores the division between prose and poetry and the various flavors of storytelling. In the second part, “The Mechanics of Storytelling,” the author examines the thoughts, contexts, perspectives, and relevance in the works of accomplished writers. This section includes a remarkable analysis of Rabindranath Tagore’s stories Postmaster and Nishithe, alongside discussions of Premendra Mitra’s Telenapota Abishkar, Jagadish Gupta’s Dibosher Seshe, and Manik Bandyopadhyay’s Bhokor.
The final section, “The Alchemy of Poetry,” delves into poetry as the harvest of human emotions, asserting that poetry without emotion is incomplete. But does every emotion produce poetry? This part explores the multifaceted aspects of writing poetry, addressing questions like: Why do people write poetry? What is poetic rhythm? How is poetry created? What is prose-rhythm? What are visual poems? It even touches on the role of computers in poetry composition and unveils the ancient mystery of the sonnet. The section also discusses word usage in poetry, referencing Pablo Neruda’s cautionary words and posing the question: Are poets sculptors of images? Filled with fascinating techniques and guidance, “The Alchemy of Poetry” has been widely acclaimed among contemporary literary circles for unraveling the intricacies of poetry.
Language Analysis
Rich with vivid examples and case studies, this book is truly a guide to the art of writing. Its chapters flow with remarkable grace, making it simply extraordinary. Written with fluency and meaningful word choices, the book carries profound significance. The author himself notes, “… writing, to me, is far more exhilarating and personal than falling in love, ambitious and soaring. Hints and history of this special love of mine can be found in this book.” Indeed, the book is crafted with captivating presentation, truly heart-touching.
Reading Response
In the introduction, the author writes, “Writing is a craft learned from a master, hands-on. The master may not always be a tangible person—that’s often the norm. Writing is learned by reading others’ works, through continuous reading and writing.” These words resonate deeply with me. I am inspired by Samarendra Majumdar’s style and strive to emulate it, though I hadn’t realized this until I read this book. In a way, Margin-e Montabya opened my eyes to new knowledge and profoundly stirred my writerly soul. There is much to learn from this book. While I may not have had the fortune of having Syed Shamsul Haq as a direct mentor, after reading this work, I consider him my guide indirectly. I hope you, too, will find this book inspiring.