Popular novelist, fiction writer, and editor of Khaborer Kagoj, Mostofa Kamal has said that for a writer, creating better literature is the greatest achievement, rather than receiving awards.
He made this remark at the '12th Samadhara Poetry Festival and Samadhara Literary Awards' event at the Chhayanaut Auditorium in the capital on Saturday (April 25).
He was awarded the Samadhara Literary Award at the event.
Expressing his feelings about receiving the award, Mostofa Kamal said, "I didn't write for awards. I consider the biggest reward to be writing a good novel or story and having it reach the reader. When Ananda Publishers or Olympia Publishers publish my book in London, that is a big inspiration for me."
Criticizing the country's award distribution system, he said, awards are often given for political motives in Bangladesh. Many genuine writers do not even come close to awards. It is also seen that many are being awarded state or institutional awards despite not writing according to standards.
Citing the examples of classic writers, he further said, "We have been able to evaluate Jibanananda Das after 100 years. Kazi Nazrul Islam or Rabindranath Tagor were also criticized and humiliated in various ways during their time. But their work has immortalized them. This is how true evaluation is done."
Emeritus Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the event.
Poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, journalist and researcher Harun Habib, poet Farid Ahmed Dulal and other prominent poets and writers were also present at the event.
Jayanta Saha/MSH
