হঠাৎ নীরার জন্য
Suddenly, for Neera
Hothat Neerar Jonno
বাসস্টপে দেখা হল তিন মিনিট, অথচ তোমায় কাল স্বপ্নে বহুক্ষণ দেখেছি ছুরির মতো বিঁধে থাকতে সিন্ধুপারে-দিকচিহ্নহীন- বাহান্ন তীর্থের মতো এক শরীর, হাওয়ার ভিতরে তোমাকে দেখেছি কাল স্বপ্নে, নীরা, ওষধি স্বপ্নের নীল দুঃসময়ে।
Three minutes at the bus-stop, yet for hours in my dream last night I saw you embedded like a knife across the ocean – compass-less – One body like the fifty-two holy places, in the wind I saw you last night in my dream, Neera, in the dire blue times Of dreams that ripen once and die.
দক্ষিণ সমুদ্রদ্বারে গিয়েছিলে কবে, কার সঙ্গে? তুমি আজই কি ফিরেছো? স্বপ্নের সমুদ্রে সে কি ভয়ংকর, ঢেউহীন, শব্দহীন, যেন তিনদিন পরেই আত্মঘাতী হবে, হারানো আঙটির মতো দূরে তোমার দিগন্ত, দুই উরু ডুবে গেছে নীল জলে তোমাকে হঠাৎ মনে হলো কোনো জুয়াড়ীর সঙ্গিনীর মতো, অথচ একলা ছিলে, ঘোরতর স্বপ্নের ভিতরে তুমি একা।
When did you visit the southern sea-door, with whom? Have you only just returned? How terrible, how silent the ocean was in the dream, without a wave, As though it would kill itself three days later, your horizon in the distance Like a lost ring, your knees immersed in the blue water Suddenly you seemed to be a gambler’s moll And yet you were alone, alone in the intense dream.
এক বছর ঘুমোবো না, স্বপ্নে দেখে কপালের ঘাম ভোরে মুছে নিতে বড় মূর্খের মতন মনে হয় বরং বিস্মৃতি ভালো, পোশাকের মধ্যে ঢেকে রাখা নগ্ন শরীরের মতো লজ্জাহীন, আমি এক বছর ঘুমোবো না, এক বছর স্বপ্নহীন জেগে বাহান্ন তীর্থের মতো তোমার ও-শরীর ভ্রমণে পুণ্যবান হবো।
I shan’t sleep for a year, wiping the sweat off the brow At dawn after a dream seems so very foolish I prefer forgetfulness, as free of shame as The naked body hidden in clothes, I Shan’t sleep for a year, for a year I’ll be awake, dreamless And roam your body, like the fifty-two holy places, To earn my piety.
বাসের জানালার পাশে তোমার সহাস্য মুখ, ‘আজ যাই, বাড়িতে আসবেন!’ রৌদ্রের চিৎকারে সব শব্দ ডুবে গেল। ‘একটু দাঁড়াও’, কিংবা ‘চলো লাইব্রেরির মাঠে’, বুকের ভিতরে কেউ এই কথা বলেছিল, আমি মনে পড়া চোখে সহসা হাতঘড়ি দেখে লাফিয়ে উঠেছি, রাস্তা, বাস, ট্রাম, রিকশা, লোকজন ডিগবাজির মতো পার হয়ে, যেন ওরাং উটাং, চার হাত-পায়ে ছুটে পৌঁছে গেছি আফিসের লিফ্টের দরজায়।
Your smiling face in the bus window, ‘I have to go, Come home sometime!’ The shriek of the sunlight drowns all sounds. ‘Stay a little longer,’ or ‘Let’s go to the library garden.’ Someone In my heart said these things, glancing at my watch with Remembering eyes I jump up, leapfrogging over the road, buses, trams, Carts and people Loping on all four limbs like an orang-utan I reach the door to the office lift.
বাস স্টপে তিন মিনিট, অথচ তোমায় কাল স্বপ্নে বহুক্ষণ।।
Three minutes at the bus-stop, yet for hours in my dream last night.
Recitals
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Bidisha Dutta Biswas ↗
Description: This is the poem of Sunil Gangopadhyay taken from his famous anthology 'Ami Kirokomvabe Benche Achi'. এই কবিতাটি সুনীল গঙ্গোপাধ্যায় এর 'আমি কী রকম ভাবে বেঁচে আছি ' কাব্যগ্রন্থ এর অন্তর্গত। Background music:Nocturne op.9 No.2 of Frédéric Chopin. Edited and performed by Bidisha Dutta Biswas. Personal notes: - Expressive performance
Glossary
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আঙটির
aangtirnoun of the ringNotes
Inflected noun in the genitive/possessive case (-র). Base noun: আঙটি / আংটি ("ring", specifically a finger ring). Formed by adding the possessive suffix -র to the base noun.
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আসবেন
aashbenverb will come; will arriveNotes
Finite verb form in the simple future tense, second person honorific (আপনি) or third person honorific (তিনি/তারা). Root verb: আসা ("to come"). Formed with the future tense honorific suffix -বেন. Can be used for 2nd person honorific (আপনি - "You will come / Please come") or 3rd person honorific (তিনি/তারা - "He/She/They will come").
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বিঁধে
bindheverb piercing; pricking; stinging; penetratingNotes
Conjunctive participle form of the verb বিঁধা (bindha - "to pierce/prick", derived from Sanskrit व्यध् / विंधति). Formed by adding the non-finite verbal suffix -এ (-e) to the stem. Used in contexts like (e.g., বুকে বিঁধে থাকা - "piercing in the chest", কাঁটা বিঁধে যাওয়া - "to get pricked by a thorn").
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বাহান্ন
bahannoadjective fifty-two (52)Notes
Cardinal number representing 52 (৫২ in Bengali numerals). Holds significant cultural and historical importance in Bengali identity, frequently referencing the 1952 Language Movement (বায়ান্ন / বাহান্নর ভাষা আন্দোলন).
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বছর
bochhornoun yearNotes
Common noun derived from Sanskrit (वत्सर).
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বাড়িতে
baditenoun at home; in the houseNotes
Inflected noun in the locative case (-তে). Base noun: বাড়ি ("house", "home"), derived from Sanskrit वाटिका (vāṭikā). Formed by adding the locative suffix -তে to the base noun.
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বুকের
bukernoun of the chest; of the heart/breastNotes
Inflected noun in the genitive/possessive case (-এর). Base noun: বুক ("chest", "heart", "breast"), derived from Sanskrit वक्षस् (vakṣas) / বুক্ক (bukka). Formed by adding the possessive suffix -এর to the base noun.
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চিৎকারে
chitkarenoun in a shout; with a scream; at the outcryNotes
Inflected noun in the locative/instrumental case (-এ). Base noun: চিৎকার ("shout", "scream", "outcry"), derived from Sanskrit चित्कार (citkāra) / चीत्कार (cītkāra). Formed by adding the locative suffix -এ to the base noun.
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চোখে
chokhenoun in the eye(s); with the eye(s); in one's sightNotes
Inflected noun in the locative case (-এ). Base noun: চোখ ("eye"), derived from Sanskrit चक्षुस् (cakṣus). Formed by adding the locative suffix -এ to the base noun.
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ছুটে
chhuteverb having run; rushing; runningNotes
Conjunctive participle (non-finite verb) of the root verb ছোটা (choṭa - "to run", "to rush"). Formed by adding the non-finite participle suffix -এ to the verb stem, with stem vowel change (ো → ু). Frequently forms compound verbs like ছুটে যাওয়া ("to run towards/away") or ছুটে আসা ("to rush over").
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ঢেউহীন
Dheuheenadjective waveless; calm; unruffledNotes
Compound word formed from the noun ঢেউ ("wave") and the suffix -হীন ("-less", "devoid of"). Used to describe tranquil or motionless bodies of water (or metaphorically, a peaceful state).
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দিগন্ত
digontunoun horizonNotes
Tatsama (Sanskrit loanword) compound word formed from দিক্ ("direction/cardinal point") + অন্ত ("end/boundary"). Literally translates to "the end of directions" or the visible line where the earth meets the sky.
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দাঁড়াও
daraauverb wait; stop; stand upNotes
Imperative verb form, second person familiar (তুমি). Root verb: দাঁড়ানো ("to stand", "to wait"), derived from Sanskrit दण्डायते (daṇḍāyate) / दण्ड (daṇḍa). Formed with the familiar imperative suffix -ও. Frequently used as a conversational command meaning "Wait!" or "Hold on!"
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ঘুমোবো
ghumoboverb I will sleepNotes
Finite verb form in the simple future tense, first person (আমি). Derived from the root verb ঘুমোনো / ঘুমানো ("to sleep"). Formed with the future tense first-person suffix -বো.
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হারানো
haranoverb to lose; to misplaceadjective lost; missingNotes
Verbal noun / infinitive form of the verb হারা (root: হার-). Can function as a transitive verb ("to lose something") or as a participle/adjective meaning "lost" or "missing" (e.g., হারানো সুর - "lost melody").
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হঠাৎ
hothatadverb suddenly; unexpectedly; all of a sudden; all at onceNotes
Ends with a husanta/halant consonant sound (ৎ / t).
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যেন
jenoconjunction as if; as though; so thatadverb like; resemblingNotes
Used to express similarity or comparison ("as if"), or to express purpose/wish ("so that", "may it be"). Pronounced with an inherent 'o' sound at the end (jeno).
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জানালার
jaanlaarnoun of the windowNotes
Inflected noun in the genitive/possessive case (-র). Base noun: জানালা ("window"). Formed by adding the possessive suffix -র to the base noun.
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কিংবা
kingbaconjunction or; alternativelyNotes
Disjunctive conjunction used to present an alternative. Derived from Sanskrit किं वा (kiṁ vā - "or", "whether"). Used in formal or literary Bengali to link two options or clauses (equivalent to অথবা / বা).
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মতো
motopostposition like; such as; similar toadjective fit for; suitable; appropriateNotes
Functions primarily as an enclitic postposition following a genitive noun/pronoun (e.g., আমার মতো - "like me"). When used post-verbally or with nouns, it can denote degree, fitness, or sufficiency (e.g., খাবার মতো - "edible / suitable to eat").
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মাঠে
mathenoun in the field; on the ground; in the open meadowNotes
Inflected noun in the locative case (-এ). Base noun: মাঠ ("field", "ground"), derived from Sanskrit मट्ट (maṭṭa) / वाट (vāṭa). Formed by adding the locative suffix -এ to the base noun.
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অথচ
othochoconjunction yet; even so; whereas; and yetNotes
Used as an adversative conjunction to introduce a contrast or unexpected fact given the preceding context.
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ফিরেছো
phirechhoverb you have returned; you came backNotes
Finite verb, present perfect tense. Root verb: ফেরা ("to return"). Formed from the verb stem ফির- + perfect marker -েছো. Second person familiar form (তুমি), indicating a completed action with relevance to the present.
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পড়া
poraverb to fall; to happen; to read/studyNotes
Verbal stem / infinitive form, derived from Sanskrit पतति (patati) / पढ़ति (paḍhati). When combined with locative nouns (like মনে), it functions as an auxiliary verb meaning "to occur" or "to strike" (e.g., মনে পড়া - "to occur to mind / to remember").
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রৌদ্রের
raudrernoun of the sunlight; of the heat of the sunNotes
Inflected noun in the genitive/possessive case (-এর). Base noun: রৌদ্র ("sunlight", "sunshine", "heat of the sun"), derived from Sanskrit रौद्र (raudra). Formed by adding the possessive suffix -এর to the base noun.
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সহাস্য
shohashshoadjective smiling; cheerful; radiant with a smileNotes
Tatsama compound word derived from Sanskrit सहास (sahāsa) / सह (saha - "with") + हास (hāsa - "laughter/smile"). Often used in literary Bengali to describe a smiling face or expression (e.g., সহাস্য বদন / সহাস্য মুখ - "a smiling face").
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সহসা
shohoshaadverb suddenly; unexpectedly; all of a suddenNotes
Adverb of manner used in literary or formal speech. Directly borrowed from Sanskrit सहसा (sahasā - "forcefully", "rashly", "suddenly"). Synonym in common speech: হঠাৎ (hoṭhaṭ).
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থাকতে
thaakteverb while remaining; while staying; to stay/remainpostposition in the presence of; during; while (someone/something) is presentNotes
Non-finite verb form (conditional participle / infinitive) derived from the root verb থাকা ("to stay", "to exist", "to remain"). When used postpositionally with a genitive noun/pronoun, it indicates time or presence (e.g., আলো থাকতে থাকতে - "while there is still light", আমার থাকতে - "while I am still here").
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উরু
urunoun thigh