The Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) has held a five-day training workshop at Rajshahi University (RU) for new students interested in journalism. At its close, 28 students were awarded journalism fellowships and certificates.
The closing and certificate-giving ceremony, organised by RUCSU’s media and publications department, was held on Saturday in the conference room of the university’s Deans’ Complex.
RUCSU vice-president Mostakur Rahman Zahid told the ceremony that the importance of journalism is immense. Besides many great journalists, countless writers and literary figures were involved in journalism, and that experience played an important part in their writing and thinking.
Citing Socrates’s saying “Know thyself”, he said: “We had a writer who said just two words: ‘Know thyself’. Do you know who he was? Socrates. By the usual measure of beauty his looks were not attractive. It is said his wife often treated him badly. But young people from all over the country waited to hear him speak. He spoke so well that those two words were enough. From ancient times to this day they have stayed fixed in people’s minds.”
Turning to one of the best-known lines in Bengali literature, “Traveller, have you lost your way?”, he said: “It was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. We know him as a literary figure. But we should also know that he was editor of the journal Bangadarshan. Behind such a timeless line was not only the writer in him but the journalist too.”
Of Rabindranath Tagore he said: “We know him as a great poet and writer. We often say to journalists, ‘Why do you not write simply?’ Yet Tagore himself said that to say a simple thing simply is not easy. He was not only a poet; he was also editor of the journal Sadhana. We often forget that. His experience of journalism also played an important part in his growth as a writer.”
He said many great poets and writers were involved in journalism, and through them important contributions were made to the development of Bengali literature and language.
Of Kazi Nazrul Islam he said: “He was involved in editing the papers Nabajug, Langal and Dhumketu. To understand how he wrote such extraordinary poems, the journalist in him has to be considered alongside the writer. His experience of journalism lies behind the rebel spirit, courage and powerful language of his writing.”
On Pramatha Chaudhuri’s contribution to the language, he said that when the formal sadhu style was dominant in Bengali literature, many found it hard to read. At that time Pramatha Chaudhuri played an important part in introducing and developing the colloquial style. “He was also editor of the journal Sabuj Patra. The journalist in him too had an important part in the development of the Bengali language,” he said.
On world literature he said: “You will find that many Nobel-winning writers were involved in journalism. In their writing they exposed the wrongs of society and state and criticised those in power. Take Ernest Hemingway. His experience of journalism played an important part behind his literary work.”
Addressing the new students, he said: “That is why I say you should take up journalism as a passion. In the days ahead you too will play an important part in the development of Bengali language and literature through the profession of journalism.”
Former public relations administrator encouraged by women students
Akhtar Hossain Majumdar, former administrator of the university’s public relations office, expressed satisfaction at the new students’ interest in journalism, and especially at the participation of women.
“I am very encouraged to see the women students in particular among those starting out in journalism here,” he said. “When I was in journalism I saw only one woman student among those I spent time with. Later two more started. Now six can be seen among the newcomers. That is very encouraging. I hope they all do well.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report