In an interview on Bangladesh

Let’s discuss your final selection, Sei Somoy or Those Days by Sunil Gangopadhyay.

This story is also set in undivided India and it describes how we came to be separated. After 1947 many Hindus went to India and many Muslims came to Bangladesh. But although the country was divided, the people were not. The people wanted to live together peacefully but the state did just the opposite.

This book is still relevant because our freedom of movement is restricted. There are border hostilities due to the undercurrent of politics. Every day at the border town of Benapole, Indian border guards are killing Bangladeshis when they try to cross the border – or Bangladesh soldiers are firing at Indians. This is the state, the politics – but the people in Bangladesh and West Bengal are like family. After 63 years of separation, you will still find a lot of families going to and fro to find their roots.

Those Days describes how people grow up and raise their families in a new place, but their heart remains in Bangladesh. It is the story of the pains of separation.

Is it fact or fiction?

It’s a combination of both. There are references to public figures, such as Rabindranath Tagore, and the historical facts are there. Gangopadhyay also wrote about his own experiences, though some parts are fictional.

Why did you choose to work on an English language paper rather than one in Bangla?

I am very proud of my language but I wanted to pursue my journalism in English. There is somehow a gap in our society in terms of being able to write in English. When I noticed this gap I felt challenged to pursue it. There are a lot of journalists in Bengali newspapers who have few educational qualifications but they are good at writing Bengali. So I thought, ‘Let’s not crowd in there. Take the challenge of learning English and also take up journalism.’ It’s a two in one.

What do you think explains the popularity of The Daily Star?

It has good editorial policies. The policies of a paper are vital. We are very balanced and have high – if not the highest – ethics. From the day we deviate from this I am sure it will not take long for us to lose popularity. You cannot fool the readers. The Daily Star has many shortcomings and on some occasions we may not live up to expectations. But in one area we never fail. We are sincere and try to do our best, and people like that. We have a very good team.