Though it is not as great as discovery of ‘Sri Krishnakirtan’, but its finding is the outcome of an incidence. During 1954-55, Prof. Mohammad Enamul Haque was the principal of Chittagong College; he was working in unearthing forgotten treasure of literature. Retired professor Sirajul Haque of Daulatpur, Chittagong collected on his own initiative one manuscript of ‘Padmabati’ punthi and handed it over to Principal Enamul Haque, thinking that he is the right person.
While, he started to read this punthi he found out that it is transliterated by a lady named Rahimunnesa (Srimati Rahimnnicha). With this poetical presentation of an autobiography, Bhratribilap (Ode to brother) and Dordana Bilap (Ode to Dordana) were also added. From this writing we can make out the time of her birth and poetical potency.
Date of Birth
None of Rahimunnisa’s poem bears date of writing, no birth date is also mentioned. Among most of the writings of the middle age it was customary to include date of birth in the opening poem. But in Rahimunnesa’s writing, there is no mention of birth date. However, when we read the description of herself, we could guess the probable date of her birth.
Naam gotro bicharia korimu bornon
Korno gote shuno mon dia kobigon
Jongli Shaha nam kori gune anupom
Ahale koresh bongshey utpotti tahan
Jokhone Imam shongge dashir nondon
Dhormo chhari sojjo hoilo koribare ron
Hochener senapoti mili koto loke
Ishwar smaria mone jani kormo bhoge
Koto kato bohitra je purna shaj kori
Baghdade ashila Imam Aggha dhori
Totha hote aar kato Mungyere ashilo
Shey muluk nripo shongey bohu juddhyo hoylo
Agrogami hoyya Ingraje Juddho dilo
Doibodosha Firingir bijoy hoylo
Mukhyio mukhyioShober bohul rotno dhon
Lutia korilo khoy joto papigon
Aunek laghobe nij janmobhumi chhari
Chattograme ashia rohila bas kori.
I hereby describe my name and family
Dear poets, listen to my words
Jali Shah is a renowned person
He belongs to the family of Ahale Koresh
When he followed Imam
He followed him to a battle
Men were attached to Commander of Hussain
Remembering God they advanced
Their dresses varied a lot
Imam reached Baghdad as ordered
Some of the forces went to Mungyer
Then they fought with many-a-king
They also had battle with the English
Its God’s will, that the English won
All the wealth of the leading personalities
Were robbed by the sinners.
After much ado, they left his own land
Started to reside in Chittagong.
When we go through the underlined stanzas, we presume that Jali Shah, forefather of the poetess, came to Chittagong from Mungyer. We can earmark the contemporary date. When Nawab Mir Quashim (1760-64) had severe battle with the British and serious political crisis followed, the inhabitants of Mungyer faced great loss of life and property. After assuming Nawabship Mir Quasim tried to overturn the conspiracy of the English. He shifted the capital from Murshidabad to Mungyuer and after loosing the battles of Gheria, Katwa and Udaynala he became infuriated and killed Jagathseth, Rajballav and others, including the English prisoners. For this and problems arising of trade taxes, he had to fight another battle at Baxur. Nawab was totally defeated and had to take refuge to the Nawab of Ayudh. But the winner English mercilessly killed and robbed the Muslim inhabitants of Mungyer. May be, for this atrocity Jali Shah migrated to Chittagong. Comparing Rahimunnisa’s autobiography and contemporary history Dr. Enamul Haque came to a conclusion that ‘Rahimunnisa was born during 1763 to 1800. Because, time difference between Jali Shah and Rahimunnisa is not less than 50 years.
Personal biography of Rahimunnisa
Grandfather of Rahimunnisa was a religious person. He was a preacher and religious leader (pir/mursid). May be to avoid kingly wrath he used to stay in disguise. His real name could not be known. According to Rahimunnisa, he was ‘Ahle Koresh’ or descendents of Koresh clan. May be his descendants went to Baghdad to assist Hussain at the battle of Karbala.
From Baghdad some of their descendants came to Mungyer. Before the fall of freedom of Bengal to the hands of the British, during the conflict of English with Mir Quasim, Jali Shah also faced atrocity.
Poetess Rahimunnisa was born of Alimunnesa wife Shah Abdul Quadir, who is the son of Jali Shah. Father’s house of Rahimunnisa was Shulukbahar village of Chittagong. Rahimunnisa had three brothers, Abdul Jabbar, Abdul Sattar and Abdul Gafur.
Rahimunnisa lost her father at her childhood. Mother Alimunnesa was very beautiful at the same time she was very learned lady. She taught her daughter primary education- under the guidance of an able teacher named Abul Hussain. At the secondary level her literary intelligence grew up. She paid her homage to her teacher in her poem.
Father of the poetess was a dedicated religious person. He also practiced ‘Pir/murshid’, like his father. He was very soft-spoken, learned and pious. He died at a tender age of Rahimunnisa. She became very sad at her father’s death, before she could recover the sorrow, her brother Abdus Sattar died. Even, her only support, her husband left her, which led her to deep grief.
Her mother arranged educated Rahiman’s marriage with a wealthy, respectable family of Meghla village under Hathajari police station of Chittagong. In-law’s house seemed very attractive in natural beauty and wealth, as was described by the poetess.
Meghla dibyosthan Oti shovman
Mohanto guni boshoti
Nityo shukh rosh Nohe pap bos
Soda shu achar oti
Mohanto prodhan Rupe ponchaban
Golam Hochan dhir
Sorbo gundhari mohadankari
Dhyorjey jinni Judhusthir
In Meghla’s pious place Very beautiful
Abode of cultured persons
Ever happiness remains No crime enters
Aristocratic culture performed
Head is the Father-in-law Very sophisticated
Golam Hochain (Hossain) is sober
He is the store of all virtue Giver of ample alms
He is as temperate as Judhisthir
The description of poet’s father-in-law’s family is beautiful. She was in all praise describing the traditional wealth and knowledge. As described she was married to Ahmad Ali (Amod Ali), son of learned pundit Jan Ali (Chhiirijukta Jan Ali), who is the son of ‘Head of the family’ Golam Hossain (Golam Hoton). Ahmad Ali himself was engaged in religious service and he is known in the society as ‘Rosoraj (King of poetic genre). Therefore, the union of Ahmad Ali and Rahimunnisa was full of happiness and poetical. Poetess describes her husband as-
Amod Ali bor
More poti rosoraj
Roshik somaj, broto dhormo kaj
Upekkha na kore chit.
Husband is Ahmad Ali
My husband is king of sweetness
Cultured society, religious act,
Never avoids his soul.
Literary activities of Rahimunnisa
So long two punthi’s were found, written by Rahimunnisa. Beside the manuscript of Padmabati discovered by Dr. Enamul Haque, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah introduced Rahimunnisa transliterated ‘Laili-Majnu’. As per her autobiography, it may be inferred that she completed ‘Laili-Majnu’ before her marriage. Because, while writing ‘Padmabati’ she took permission of her husband, but in the opening lines of Laili-Majnu she wrote-
Shuno ebey nibedon kori anupam
Heriya lekhilam poustak monurom.
Listen, now I describe
I do write this memorable book
May be with the urge of her nature-loving heart, she was inspired to write this beautiful book. Poetess’ husband was a lover of poetics- he could fathom the poetic urge of his wife. With his inspiration she was motivated to transliterate the ‘Padmabati’ written be Alaol.:
]
Puthi Shoti Padmabati
Alaol mani Buddhibole mani
Birochilo e bharoti
Poder thokti Bujhi ki shokti
Mui heen tiri jati
Swamir adesh Mania bishesh
Sahosh korilu ganthi.
Padmabati is a pious lady
I honour Alaol He is honorous by his acumen
Wrote this memorable volume
Melodious stanzas Are very powerful
How could I fathom, poor lady
Husband’s request I do accept
I braved to sew the lines.
At first sight, we can consider Rahimunnisa as transliterator; but while rewriting the punthi she ventured to add her autobiography, not less strength poetiveness.- We, therefore can rest assure that she was gifted with the acumen of nature-poet. In those many–a-writer used to add their names in the write in anticipation to becoming a poet., but Rahimunnisa didn’t do that. Long self-descriptions of these two rewritten books were very poetical. Varieties of metre, language and deapthness of feelings are all pervading. ‘Desire and aspiration of woman heart, her soft-devotion, prettiness and splendor are majestic (Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haque).
Beside these writings, Rahimunnisa’s innovative writing is one ode. Written in long tri-metre style had twenty stanzas. Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haque termed this as ‘Bhratribilap’ (Elegy to Brother). At the death of youngest brother, the poetess writes this in the form of ‘Baramashi’. It can be mentioned that it is a part of the main poetical work; but ‘Elegy to Brother’, is a small poetical work engulfed with personal grief.
A painful feeling of a grief-ridden heart is painted in this poem.
Firilo bhaggyer nidhi Bimon hoilo bidhi
Achombite Shre Bajraghat
Purbo jonme Koilu pap Shey doshey folilo tap
Ashabhrastho hoilum aunath.
Jewel of destiny returns, Fate changes mindless
Suddenly lightening struck me on my head
I’ve sinned in earlier life That fault, I reap now
Hopeless, I’m turned orphan.
Description of the poetess touches the heart. By saying, ‘I’ve sinned in earlier life’ the poetess pointed at the ‘rebirth many-a-time’. It is influenced by Hindu culture. However, as the poetess is depressed, she can not uphold the ethics of the critics. The poetess portrays the sadness of her mother. She weeps day and night as she can not hear the sweet voice of her son.
Purile nibondho ayu Bondhon n ahoy bayu
Shei chhidrey Jome dilo kole
Diba nishi ubhorai Kandore Aubhagini mae
Na shunia toma shudha bole.
Fulfilling fixed lifespan The breath is boundless
The life-snatcher closes the hole
Day and night all the times weeps the hapless mother
Not hearing your sweet voice.
Baramashi, generally is the love – separation – miserable feelings of a dejected damsel, told in primary melodious poetical version, but Rahimunnisa’s Baramashi is different in nature. Here, departing feeling of father, brother and husband’s death is painted brightly in pure reverence. Painful emotional feeing towards brother is described in pious beauty.
Ashwinetey khoyamoy Kande tarulatachoy
Bhai boli kandi ubhoray
Amar kandoni shuni Bone kande kurongini
Joley mach kandia lukaye
Aswin is spotted with sand Weeps all the trees and creepers
I weep calling brother
Hearing my crying Animals of woods also cry
Fishes hide crying in water
The pensiveness of her elegy and purity of her heart reminds its readers about the English poet Grey’s Elegy.
Another writing of Rahimunnisa is a small poem. This ballad is called Dordana Bilap (Elegy on Dordana). The manuscript did not have first six pages. After reading out 47 stanzas Dr. Mohammad Enamul Haque elucidated that there is a short story. It says, A beautiful damsel, named Dordana was married at Patenga of Chittagong. The girl had father, mother and brother. For some unknown reason husband killed the girl. This poem narrates the lament of the father, mother, brother and sister. Rahimunnisa wrote this poem as instructed by her husband.
Chhiri Ahmad Ali Ghanbonto dhir
Mane mohamonto oti dane korno-bir
Swami-Aghhya shire pali lekhi e bharati
Rahimonnicha nam jano Adye chhirimoti
Gentle Ahmed Ali, is full of knowledge
Is rightly honoured, generous in giving alms
I write this piece of literature on his guidance
I, Rahimunnicha, is my name, Gentle-lady is my prefix
Her short poem reveals so exquisite pain that its chillness is easily felt by the readers. Wailing of the daughter-less mother is the voice of all childless mothers.
Noya son noya mash fire bare bar
More jadu gelo firi na ashilo aar.
New Year, new month turns again and again
My beloved left, not to return any more.
Each and every stanza portrays the painful picture of separation – dejected and tired heart. In places emotion is mingled with mental feelings. Dordana’s husband is a rogue. He could not fathom his wife’s love. This wretched person turned sub-human by showing extreme brutality. Poetess describes the nature of this wretched personality.
Johuriey jane subarner mul
Hira mukta nahi chine loharer kul
Bonantore thaki oli pushpo modhu khae
Brikkhomule thaki bheke porich nap aye.
Jeweler knows well the value of gold
Black smith can not evaluate price of precious stones
Honey bee gathers honey from the flowers in the wood
Toads, residing in the wood, never value flowers.
. . . . . . . .
Kujoner songe prem matia koloshi
Bhangiley na loy jorha hoy biddyanashi
Affinity with horrific person is like earthen ware
When broken can never be mended
Whereas poetess comments on the value and nature of true love with her own feelings and experience-
Shujoner songey prem megh brishti prae
Bhangiley shohag puni achin jorae
Affection between admirable persons is like cloud and rain
Though broken is mended with unknown care and liking.