As
the Palestinian authority seeks recognition of its statehood in the UN, the
global community commemorates the eighth anniversary of the passing of Edward
Said, who Robert Fisk characterized as Palestine's most influential
political figure. Said was a staunch advocate of the 'one-state solution'.
In 1979, he authored 'The Question of Palestine'. Said's political
trajectory transitioned from that of a disinterested observer to an active
participant, culminating with the Israeli-Arab War of 1967. From 1977 to 1991,
he served as an autonomous member of the Palestine National Council. In 1991,
he resigned from the council and continued his advocacy for Palestine
as an independent critic. His most powerful tool was his ability to articulate
his thoughts and ideas. Dialogue is a crucial and unavoidable component of
Palestine's pursuit and endeavour for statehood. On this momentous day of the
Palestinian bid, we are commemorating Said.
Edward
W. Said, a Palestinian-American, was born in Jerusalem on November 1, 1935, and
passed away on September 25, at the age of 67, in New York. In the year of
Said's death, I encountered my initial encounter with him through an
article penned by Prof. Dr. Sirajul Islam Chowdhury in the literary supplement
of a Bengali newspaper. Only then did I discover Said's identity as an
English literary character rather than being associated with any one
language or nation? One year after his demise, I became acquainted with his
revolutionary publication 'Orientalism' (1978) for the first time during
my first year at the University of Dhaka. Unexpectedly, my pals, including
Mujibor Rahman, who is pursuing an M. Phil degree at Delhi
University, stumbled into a discreet admirer of Said-Foej Alom, a poet and
postcolonial intellectual in Bengali literature.
Poet
Alom demonstrated his determination to translate Said's highly influential
work, 'Orientalism', into Bengali to communicate Said's ideas to audiences
in Bangladesh. Following this release, the practices and studies of Said's
literature established a strong foundation in this country.
Allow
me to explain the significance of Said, regardless of any specific language or
nation. Said is regarded as a trailblazer in postcolonial thought. Postcolonial
philosophy encompasses more than just literature. This philosophical
perspective is relevant to various fields of study, such as language,
sociology, physics, history, painting, architecture, agriculture, and more.
Postcolonial ideology motivates us to thrive based on our cultural
heritage. It encourages individuals to overcome the long-standing effects of
colonialism. It enables you to ascertain the authenticity of your tradition,
literature, culture, and prevailing mindset throughout the pre-colonial era. It
reveals how the colonialists caused significant distortions in these areas
during colonial control. Postcolonial philosophy emphasizes the need to reclaim
and preserve one's traditions from the influence of colonial distortions.
Post-colonialism emerged after the publication of Said's 'Orientalism'.
This movement delivered another significant impact following the disruption
caused by Postmodernism in Western epistemology. However, numerous postcolonial
philosophers argue that Said's work 'Orientalism' initiated the initial
epistemic rupture in Western discourse.
Ngugi
wa Thiong'o and Chinua Achebe, both hailing from Africa, as well as Ashis
Nandy, Ranajit Guha, and Partha Chatterjee from India, along with Benedict
Anderson, Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin from Europe, made
significant contributions to the field of post-colonialism based on
their perspectives and expertise. In Bangladesh, Foej Alom, Saymon
Jakaria, Selim Al Deen, and S M Sultan were highly conscious in their use of
post-colonialism in poetry, play, and painting, respectively.
Said's
second significant publication is 'Covering Islam' (1981). This book examines
the deliberate portrayal of Islam as a religion associated with terrorism by
Western media. This is how Western media portrays Islam. This book also
highlights the prevailing friction between the Eastern and Western regions
about Islam, fundamental terrorism, and related matters.
Said's
initial publication, Joseph Conrad and the Fiction of Autobiography (Harvard
University Press, 1966), focused on an author with whom he perceived a sense of
affinity. Originally from Poland, Conrad embarked on global travels
and acquired proficiency in English later in life. In the subsequent year,
Israel emerged victorious over the collective military of many Arab nations in
the Six-Day War, which catalyzed Said's burgeoning political awareness.
His literary works comprise 'The World, the Text, and the Critic' (1983)
and 'Culture and Imperialism' (1992). He was said to have expressed
strong support for the independence of Palestinians. He has authored several
subsequent works on the topic of Palestinians' right to self-determination,
including 'The Question of Palestine' (1979), 'The Politics of Dispossession:
The Struggle for Palestinian Self-Determination' (1994), and 'End of the Peace
Process: Oslo and After' (2000). He expressed strong disapproval of the former
US foreign policy towards the Middle East, particularly the policy of 'war on
terror'. He was referred to as the 'professor of terror' by a US-based magazine
for assuming this role. Explosive devices were deliberately aimed at his office
at the institution. Fortunately, Said was able to avoid the situation by being
absent. Said exemplifies the archetype of a public intellectual. He authored a
book and actively engaged in numerous civic endeavours. On the occasion of
the eighth anniversary of his passing, I offer my sincerest homage.
