I came to Bangladesh a little earlier this time than usual. You could say it was for a longer period. The first question is, why do I rush to Bangladesh every year? The answer is simple—I love Bangladesh. I love this country. I grew up in its air and light. My life has been filled with struggles. At every step, I had to count every penny. During my university days, I often had to go without food for a meal. There were times when I had only one or two sets of clothes and a pair of sandals, which I wore for days on end. But thinking about those days does not make me sad. I have no regrets. Rather, when I remember those times, a stream of joy flows through my heart.
Everything that has happened in my life, everything I have achieved, has been beyond my expectations—almost unbelievable. The fact that I can travel so much, enjoy such freedom—both personal and financial—is something I am truly grateful for. And for all of this, I owe my deepest gratitude to my family. They are my source of strength. My children always say, “Dad, enjoy your life.” My wife takes care of all the responsibilities of the household, which allows me to remain worry-free and set out on my journeys. That, in itself, is a great blessing in life.
However, this trip to Bangladesh was not entirely joyful. That is life. Allah has designed everything according to His will. My primary reason for coming to Bangladesh is always the book fair. Writing has always been my source of joy. Because of writing, I can fill the emptiness of solitude. Because of writing, I can build closeness with people. Since I never ask for too much from anyone, I also do not feel much pain over not receiving anything. That is how I have grown up. Whatever I have achieved, I had to earn it on my own.
I always try to do as much as I can for people without expecting anything in return. The reason I come to my country is not just the book fair—I also have some incredible friends, some amazing relatives, and devoted readers who pull me back here. I always mention them in my writings because they have stood by me during my difficult days, both in my homeland and abroad. No matter where I have gone—Toronto, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Sydney, Singapore, or Kolkata—I have found my friends beside me. They are my source of joy and strength. Not many people in this world are fortunate enough to have such friendships.
This trip to Bangladesh was not as pleasant because my brother, whom I love dearly, went through a critical health crisis. I could not bear his suffering. I, too, fell ill multiple times. I had come with some personal and financial tasks in mind, but I could not accomplish most of them. I could not visit the book fair as much as I wanted, could not spend time with my readers, and could not enjoy long conversations with fellow writers. Not all hopes and desires are always fulfilled. It is good to have some unfulfilled wishes in life—otherwise, life loses its challenges. One does not have to achieve everything. However, despite all this, I have had my share of achievements too.
For a long time, I had wished to visit Japan. That dream has finally come true. In Tokyo, I found some wonderful friends who took care of me at all times. That is a huge blessing in life. I will end this writing with the happiest news—I just received confirmation that my autobiography, Smritir Alponay Aka (Painted in the Colors of Memory), is being published in English by a prestigious publishing house in Kolkata. The publisher informed me yesterday that the translation work is complete, and the book will be released this year. It will be available at the next Kolkata Book Fair.
Finally, preparations for my return journey have begun.
Toronto, Canada
