Gultekin Khan cries for Humayun, still! Does Shaon?

Update: February 5, 2016

গুলতেকিন খানের প্রথম বইয়ের প্রকাশনা উৎসব শুক্রবার

‘আজো, কেউ হাঁটে অবিরাম’ শিরোনামের এই কাব্যগ্রন্থটি তিনি উৎসর্গ করেছেন দাদা প্রিন্সিপাল ইব্রাহীম খানকে, লিখেছেন- ‘প্রথম পাঠক, পথ প্রদর্শক, আমার দাদা প্রিন্সিপ্যাল ইব্রাহীম খানকে’। প্রচ্ছদশিল্পী ধ্রুব এষের আঁকা প্রচ্ছদে গুলতেকিনের বইটির মূল্য নির্ধারণ করা হয়েছে ১৩৫ টাকা।

এটা গুলতেকিন খানের প্রথম বই হলেও হুমায়ূন আহমেদের অনেকগুলো বইয়ের উতসর্গপত্রে আগে ছিল গুলতেকিনের নাম, যখন তিনি তাঁর স্ত্রী ছিলেন। জনপ্রিয় এই লেখকের মৃত্যুর চার বছর পর কাব্য প্রতিভার প্রকাশ ঘটালেন তার প্রাক্তন এই স্ত্রী। ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের তরুণ শিক্ষক হুমায়ূন যখন উপন্যাস লিখে নাম কুড়াতে শুরু করেছিলেন, তখন তাকে বিয়ে করেন গুলতেকিন। ২৮ বছরের দাম্পত্যে চার সন্তানের বাবা-মা তারা।

ছয়টি বিভাগে সাজানো ‘আজো, কেউ হাঁটে অবিরাম’ বইটিতে গুলতেকিনের ৩৫টি কবিতা স্থান পেয়েছে। বিভাগগুলো হল- ‘ভরে যাক সবার খামার’, ‘রাত্রিকে বাঁধো আজ’, ‘বাজুক স্কুলের ঘণ্টা’, ‘আস্তিনজুড়ে মাখিয়েছি কাদা ধুলো’, ‘ফ্রেমে বাঁধলেই শিল্প’ এবং ‘জানতো না, জানতো না’।

বইয়ের ভূমিকায় লেখা হয়েছে- সামান্যকে খুব সাধারণ করে তোলা কবি গুলতেকিন খান-এর সহজাত প্রবৃত্তি। পার্সিয়ুস থেকে লালন আর কাহলিল জিবরান থেকে বব ডিলান পর্যন্ত তার স্বচ্ছন্দ যাতায়াত। এদেশের গরিষ্ঠ জনগোষ্ঠীর মতোই ছন্দময়তার দিকে তার ঝোঁকটির সঙ্গে অনেকেই একাত্ম হয়ে উঠবেন অনায়াসে। এতে আরও লেখা হয়েছে- “এটি তার প্রথম কবিতার বই এ কথা জেনে অনেকেই বিস্মিত হতে পারেন, তবে কিছুক্ষণের মধ্যেই তাঁর মৃদু কিন্তু সুঠাম উচ্চারণ সবাইকে আচ্ছন্ন করে তুলবে।”

গুলতেকিন খানের সাক্ষাৎকার: কবিতার প্রতি আমার বিশেষ অাগ্রহ ছিল

She is someone who I respect, though I don’t know anything about her activities in the society since she is not a celebrity and loves to be behind the scene. Yes, I respect her for this reason — her simplicity. This is what she maintains.

I didn’t see her bursting into fire against her ex-husband — probably the most-prominent figure in the country — when Humayun Ahmed left her and their children — Nuhash, Nova, Shila and Bipasha — to go with a fantasy involving Meher Afroz Shaon. Gultekin even did not file any case against Humayun, and rather consoled her children — all grown-up — so that they don’t get vindictive against their father. She has the spirit, of being silent and tolerating at a much higher degree.

Gultekin Khan, family at Nuhash Palli 

A letter from Nuhash Humayun for his father

Photos of Humayun-Gultekin-Shaon, their children

নিউ ইয়র্কে হুমায়ূন আহমেদের একটি এক্সক্লুসিভ ভিডিও

Gultekin’s love for Humayun

It is embarrassing for anyone in Bangladesh, except for those upper-class fantasy-lover minority,  when an elderly leaves his/her life partner and children for a second marriage, especially a much young person. And Humayun — the man who has millions of fans in Bangladesh and other parts of the world for his elegant writing that attracts people in masses — did it.

There developed a close relation between Humayun and Shaon — friend of the writer’s own daughter — since they worked together. Shaon was an actress in his dramas and later in films. Once she became a part and parcel in Humayun’s productions.

Yes, this might have pushed them towards an extra-marital and irrational relation which sustained, and probably the aim of Shaon — to me she is a crazy girl — was materialised. A regular communication might drive people — especially those love music, literature and movies — towards love, doesn’t matter if that’s an odd match.

Gultekin must have sensed something when the affair was being developed. Don’t know how was the atmosphere of Humayun-Gultekin’s bed room when this was taking place, what and how they talked with each other. But it was for sure came up in Gultekin’s mind as an usual matter since Humayun had to work with many people including girls his drama and films, until one day Shaon forced Humayun to marry her.

Let’s leave what we didn’t witness or hear first hand.

What I realise from the chronology of the incidents, it was unbearable for Gultekin, who I assume was stunned the day Humayun had spoke to divorce her or vice varsa.

And the tragic part comes later on, as Humayun left Gultekin, and the happy life with their children. He left all, for a girl’s love.

Well, love is not bad, ever, and particularly when there’s a established saying that “everything is fair in love and war”. May be this is what Humayun and Shaon had been thinking after getting engaged socially.

But, excuse me, I can’t bear this, I couldn’t.

Comments

  1. Sosamo Mozadded Avatar
    Sosamo Mozadded

    She is Gultekin , I still respect her ,she is the lady of patience who certainly have contributed a lot to the work of writer Humayun Ahamed. I don’t know exactly how many nights she stayed up to support the writer, how many days she forgot to take care of herself but I can understand the pain that she embraced to make her husband successful. If you consider Mr. Humayun as a great writer , never forget to remember Gultekin with great respect as she is indeed a super woman.

    1. probirbidhan Avatar

      Thanks for ur comment. Exactly! Every success has something behind that inspires…

  2. […] Gultekin Khan cries for Humayun Ahmed, still! […]

  3. probirbidhan Avatar

    Reblogged this on open-blog-bd and commented:

    She deserved happiness…

  4. Aurnab Arc Avatar

    Recent Issue .. But annoyed with public interest in same topic. How long it’s going ?

  5. Dewan Avatar
    Dewan

    Gultekin created the environment for Humayun to bring great works into light. She is a Nurse. Shaon wicketly took the Humayun that Gultekin used to nurse. Shoan should be ashemd of what what she did. People will respoect Gultekin same as long as they respect Humayun. Stay blessed Gultekin.

  6. Saleha Barlasker Avatar

    Please read my poem about great lady Gultekin in my face book page . Thanks . Saleha Barlasker

  7. […] Gultekin Khan cries for Humayun, still! Does Shaon? […]

  8. […] Gultekin Khan cries for Humayun, still! Does Shaon? […]

  9. Shahid ahamed Avatar
    Shahid ahamed

    I respect gulketin very much. Gulketin had all the quality to make a Humayan Ahmed. She måde him. The achievements of Humayan Ahmed is influenced by Gulketin. She not only created a Humayan Ahmed, She måde a family highly profile even such a horrible condition. She in uncomparable.

  10. Rodela Rahman Avatar
    Rodela Rahman

    Meher Afroz Shaon did her SSC in 1996 and HSC in 1998 from Viqarunnisa Noon College (where as Sheila Ahmed did her SSC in 1998 and HSC in 2000 from Holy Cross). Shaon’s family were neighbor of Doly Zahoor’s family and Shaon’s mom always requested Doly Zahoor whether there will be any chance for Shaon to act in Humayun Ahmed’s TV drama when Humayun Ahmed were becoming more popular day by day.

    At that time for a TV drama most probably AAAJ ROBBAR he needed a girl suitable for a character studying at class 09 or something like that. Doly Zahoor brought Shaon to Humayun Ahmed which he accepted cordially and since then started to act in his TV drama. But secretly Shaon and Humayun Ahmed started to make sexual relationship when Shaon was 1st year HSC student. She passed SSC with 5/6 letters and were a very good student but during her college years instead of going to college she used to make “secret dating” in various houses in Dhaka with Humayun Ahmed which took quite a long time to be known to Humayun Ahmed’s family. She did not do very good at HSC and could not get admission at any pubic university in Bangladesh. Shaon’s mom, knowingly or unknowingly, encouraged her daughter to visit Humayun Ahmed alone (?).

    However, the problem between Humayun Ahmed and Gultekin (and 3 konnya) had started earlier before even Humayun Ahmed met Shaon as because beside Shaon Humayun Ahmed also had had “relationship” with other teen age girls for quite a long time. Since 2001/2002 Gultekin with 3 Konnya and Nuhash started to live separately from Humayun Ahmed and at this crucial period of time Shaon became a kind of “KEPT” of Humayun Ahmed where they used to even stay together at night at various places including Nuhash Polli under camofalogue of “SHOOTING TV DRAMA OR FILM” which meant almost “LIVING TOGETHER” and in May 12 2004/5 Humayun Ahmed sent ” divorce notice letter” to Gultekin and published a letter to all print media in Banglaesh and Gultekin replied with another letter.

    The legal notice had 6 months time of validity for mutual compromise – with in these 6 months there was no compromise between these 2 parties and Gultekin never “claimed” any thing from Humayun Ahmed. So Humayun Ahmed’s divorce notice came into effect in November 6 or 11 in 2004/5 and Humayun Ahmed at the age of 57 years married Shaon, a young woman of only 24 years old and a friend of his second daughter Sheila Ahmed, after 4/5 days at Nuhash Polli – since then all the other family members of Humayun Ahmed such as her 3 sisters and their husbands and children, 2 brothers their wives and children and at the beginning Humayun Ahmed’s MOM all strongly extended their cordial support to Gultekin Khan, 3 konnya and Nuhash.

    Even though Meher Afroz Shaon became the “legal wife” of Humayun Ahmed – GULTEKIN KHAN remained the honorable Bhabi of their family since 1973 till even now due to strong personality, strong family values and a dignified house wife who defended the integrity and honour of the family from a great devastation caused by her husband’s wrong doings to all and Shaon had been perceived as a homewrecker dramabaz witch and a kind of “BAIZEE” not suitable to a prominent nationally known literary figure Humayun Ahmed having an extremely low social acceptance despite of her apparent celebrity outprofile .

    1. Sajid A. Mabud Avatar
      Sajid A. Mabud

      Damn son

  11. shabbir ahmed Avatar
    shabbir ahmed

    Gultekin is good. IS it believable? How can she be when she stayed in America and didn’t go to see her cancer-infected ex-husband for a while in the hospital or in house. Whereas, even the PM Sheikh Hasina went to see Humayun Sir. Moreover, Shaon Madam is the person who took care of the old man without any hesitation at the last age. Why would she take the burden, the residue? She is obviously better than Gultekin- who has always burdened Sir’s life. Gultekin never deserves respect despite her fake and useless and needless teardrops. It is shaon who took care of the man; not Gultekin. I don’t respect Gultekin in anyway. Please consider and evaluate my opinion

    1. probirbidhan Avatar

      Thank you Sir for your opinion, though a bit deep emotion there and a little partiality which is not absurd in the case of enthusiasm for Humayun Ahmed that you feel for him. I respect your deep love for him.

      What caught my eyes is that you wondered why Gultekin did not visit Humayun Ahmed at the hospital despite being in the US. But I think she did not want to create a scene there in front of Shaon who, so far I know, was not cordial towards that lady, at least after marrying Humayun Ahmed. Rather Gultekin tolerated the miseries of not being able to see her former husband of many years during his last days.

      Another point is important: Shaon is a mad lover, no doubt. But does it mean that Humayun Ahmed did not find love in Gultekin or that he was unhappy? I don’t think so.

      I’ve seen several affairs of such odd-age relationship. It is possible when the old man/woman’s desire turns wild towards a young boy/girl, who provokes/seduces. It’s obviously a mutual relation, but not a natural one.

      A man of his height and popularity shouldn’t have done it when he had several children and followed my thousands of countrymen.

    2. probirbidhan Avatar

      Also, while under the same roof, Gultekin had always assisted Humayun Ahmed in his work and their presentations in books, drama and films. Did you know that the father of Gultekin had helped Humayun Ahmed write and give direction to dramas?

    3. Tune Avatar
      Tune

      Dear Mr Sabbir, after divorce, it’s forbidden for a muslim woman to even look at her ex-husband.

  12. Mehdi HASAN Avatar
    Mehdi HASAN

    Predicting a writer can be reborned ..”Gultekin Ahmed”…who knows’ better the fundamentals of HIMULOGY than her…she was the ultimate RUPA..for HUMAYUN !!! she know’s MISSIR ALI better than others, ~ only it is she who can start a new ERA again in Bangladesh…..and BOI MELA once again can be reverbed !!!….can anyone please relay this request..

    1. probirbidhan Avatar

      Thanks for your nice idea. I will certainly try to do something about it.

  13. tanwy Avatar
    tanwy

    She is Gultekin, it is right. But I don’t respect her.

  14. […] Gultekin cries for Humayun, still! […]

  15. probirbidhan Avatar

    জিম্মি হুমায়ূন আহমেদের ছবি, আক্রান্ত তাঁর প্রিয়জনঃ মেহের আফরোজ শাওন
    http://opinion.bdnews24.com/bangla/2013/04/08/%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9B/

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

en_USEnglish
Powered by TranslatePress