The Man behind the Brush….
The Man behind the Brush.,..
Look, I’m like a snail. A soft heart inside, with a strong outer covering! this is how he used to describe himself. Murtaja Baseer, the prolific figure of the age was even tried to live beyond his life till the end,and his ultimate desire has been fulfilled. He lead the news even after his death, just because of his versatile nature, and just because of his contribution for all art form.
But how Baseer was in his lifetime? We all know, that may be he is the only child of such a legendary figure, refused to take the favour of his father,whose entire life, could have been shaped and controlled by that “Living Dictionary “.
Murtaja, by curtailing his name, started the revolt. His full big name, seemed unbearable for him in his boyhood, and so he took the decision.
Though, Dr. Md. Shahidullah gave all the freedom, it was not possible for him to do anything whimsically which Murtaja possibly had always great tendency. When, his father knew that Baseer had been arrested for attending language movement, he felt proud for the boy.
Earlier, the story of his birth was also a miraculous one. My mother awaited long 48 hours with the stand of the cot just because of some complication related to my birth, Baseer remembered. She even could not sit, but had to bear such tremendous labour pain only for me.
Murtaja, even as a person showed his distinctive quality from the very childhood. When I was a student of eight grade, I drew a sketch of Jawharlal Neheru, the then prime minister of India. I sent it to him with a letter.Surprisingly, I got the reply within a few days. If you mix with the great figures around the globe, you will definitely be enlightened with their glow, he said.
Unlike others, Basser, an activist of language movement, considered it as a demand of the time. He joined the procession, saw Shaheed Barkat struggling for life, brought him to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and then for all these connection arrested by the police. But, he didn’t see all these as heroic task, rather for him, it was the demand of the time.
He never followed anyone, in painting, though he saw the works of all great painters of his age.
My wife, who almost knew nothing about painting had a good sense of color.Often, I used to seek her opinion, and could realize that. I told my student, he said once, feel the thing first , and you must have a close and very good power of observation, otherwise the picture would be just an image.
A man of such high statures, the painter himself was very simple and warm hearted. He used to speak softly, though he was straight forward and very bold in his way of expression. I told my daughters, he said, if they tried to honour me by giving Swadhinata Dibosh Purosker after my death you will just flatly refuse it. I don’t want that award. Fortunately, the government awarded the artist during his life time. And he expressed the gratitude with a smiling face, Well, I am glad to see the behaviour of our Prime minister. She showed such a great honour to me.
A loveable father, Baseer was always tensed about his children. When they were kids, the father Murtaja took great care, which sometimes even seemed impossible for a girl to accomplish so nicely, his wife said once. His daughters took great care of him though because of some age old complications, he was a bit ashamed of taking favour from them. You, see, now at this age, I sometime long for my death.
But why? you have still a lot to contribute.
I know. But sometimes it seems that I am the living problem for my daughters. Jui, cancelled his Singapore trip just for me. I asked her to go, but she said, I don’t want to go anywhere leaving you at this stage.
I guess she could live a carefree life if I am not alive. Surprisingly, with a Corona positive he succumbed to death just two days before his 88th birthday.
Murtaja, a versatile genius thus lived a life larger than life.
Rifat Munir Eti
House no#41/5, Road #01, Chandmia Housing
Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
