Poet Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury (1912-1966) is a name revered by the literary enthusiasts of Sylhet and Cachar in the thirties and forties of the last century. His lyrical compositions, including the evocative poem ‘Tasbih rekhe dure talwar hatey nao/Allah Rahe Jan Kurban Dao Dao’ and the Sylheti dialect song “Ogo sajani goa gachho taxo lagilo ni/Batar ufar failo thata gal bhari fun khaitayani,” resonated deeply with readers and listeners of his time. Despite his immense talent, Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury remains relatively unknown to contemporary audiences. Today, on the occasion of his 112th birth anniversary, publication of selected poems, a music competition for children, a discussion meeting, and cultural programmes have been organised at the Sylhet Zilla Parishad meeting Auditorium to honour his memory.
Poet Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury’s oeuvre included poems, sonnets, and songs. He is credited with composing over six hundred songs, yet it was poetry that truly defined his creative identity. Critics such as Professor Dr. Bhishmadev Choudhury and Dr. Mostak Ahmad Deen noted that ‘Poetry was the centre of his creative joy.’ This joy led Abdul Gaffar to the world of music, and he became known for his literary versatility. His work can be categorised into four pillars of literary talent: poetry, sonnet writing, songwriting, and folk-research. His works often juxtaposed standard Bengali with regional languages, encapsulating both the cosmopolitan and the vernacular essence of his heritage.
Despite his prolific output, including more than fifty unpublished manuscripts, no books of his poetry were published during his lifetime. This lack of recognition in mainstream Bengali literature is puzzling, especially when compared to contemporaries like Sharatchandra Chowdhury of Balaganj, Sylhet. Abdul Gaffar’s creations, though extensive, remained largely unappreciated.
His legacy began to resurface when his son, Ali Mostafa Chowdhury, published a collection of his sonnets over sixty years after his death. The collection, edited by the former Principal of Sylhet Madanmohan College, Professor Dr. Abul Fateh Fattah, was released in February 2023 at the Ekushey Mela. This book, along with earlier collections like ‘Nirbachita Gaan’ (Selected Songs) published in 2018 added charms to the exploration of Abdul Gaffar’s creativity. It was compiled and edited by Bhishmadeb Choudhury, Leena Tapashi Khan and Ali Mostafa Chowdhury. The selected poems published in 2024, marked a significant step in evaluating Abdul Gaffar’s contribution to Bengali literature. This publication, edited and compiled by scholars like Professor Dr. Bhishmadeb Choudhury and Dr. Mostak Ahmad Deen, signify a milestone in recognising his work.
The sonnets of Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury stand in harmony with the tradition of Bengali literature, from Michael Madhusudhan Datta to Rabindranath Tagore. Like his predecessors, he adhered to the statutory requirements of foot and scale in his compositions, and his sonnets covered a vast array of subjects. It is noteworthy that no other poet in any language has written a thousand sonnets in a relatively short lifespan, making his achievement remarkable.
Abdul Gaffar’s efforts in collecting Sylhet’s folk music also deserve recognition. He was a descendant of the same lineage as Gurusaday Datta, who was widely acclaimed for his cultural and literary contributions. Inspired by Gurusaday, Abdul Gaffar meticulously collected folk songs from the remote areas of Sylhet. Although the publication of these collections faced challenges after Gurusaday’s death, Abdul Gaffar’s work eventually saw the light of day, albeit without proper credit to him. This omission, especially in publications like those by Nirmalendu Bhowmik, reflects a disregard for his contributions. Similar instances of uncredited work can be seen in the literary world, even involving prominent figures like Rabindranath Tagore when he extensively edited Pramathnath Sen’s work and in spite giving credit to Sen in the introduction, Tagore had the work titled, ‘Biswaparichay’ published in his name.
Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury’s connections with renowned poets like Nazrul, Jasimuddin, and others indicate his active participation in the literary circles of his time. However, his absence from Rabindranath Tagore’s close circle, despite his cousin Gurusaday Datta’s proximity to Tagore, remains a poignant mystery. The lack of introduction between Rabindranath and Abdul Gaffar is a missed opportunity that could have elevated Bengali sonnets and literature further.
The journey to recognise Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury’s contributions has begun, driven by his family’s efforts and the literary community. The continued evaluation and appreciation of his work will ensure that his legacy endures. Literary lovers must take up the mantle to further this mission.
Abdul Gaffar Datta Chowdhury’s original residence was in Bagarsangan village of Kushiarkul Pargana, which is quite near my maternal uncles’ abode, Maizgram (now Karimganj) across the river, Kushiyara. His contributions to Bengali literature are a source of pride for his descendants and relations in addition to literary enthusiasts in general.
I pay my deepest respects to the memory of Poet Abdul Gaffar Dattachowdhury.
Contributor Mihirkanti Choudhury : Writer, Translator, Executive Head, Tagore Centre, Sylhet and Deputy Registrar, Metropolitan University, Sylhet.
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