Reading as a writer
August 31, 2008
MANY of us dream of becoming a well-known writer with dozens of books published, recognized by the reading public and honored by thousands of fans. But only for a very few lucky ones this dream can take the form of reality. So what are the things that make someone a famous writer?
It’s a truth universally acknowledged, that no one becomes a famous writer or a writer instantly. This absorbing and inspiring creative activity requires a lot of time, patience, hard work, dedication, talent etc. Another important factor, which helps a writer immensely, is reading. The first and foremost way to become a good writer is to read. There is no denying of the fact that more you will read, the more you will learn and the better your writing will be. So if you want to be a writer, read as a writer, which might eventually help you to become a well-known writer one day.
What to read:
The foremost question here arrives is what to read? The answer is simple- Read to your heart’s content. Let one book lead to another. They nearly always do. Take up a great author and read everything he or she has written. Read about places you have never been. Read books that changed history. Read anything and everything from cartoons to journals, from romance to horror, mystery, fantasy, comics and science fiction.
According to novelist John Gardner, “How you write is always an expression-a consequence-of what you have learned from reading. You learn from them, correct in your own work what you dislike in the work of others, pay tribute to work you admire, establish yourself in the tradition.”
How to read:
Another important question is how to read? Once Jawaharlal Nehru in one of his letters to his daughter Indira Gandhi advised her about the right way of reading books: “One should read books slowly. If it is read too fast, one is often liable to miss much in a book. Some light books of course have to be read fast; there is little in them. But a great book deserves a little more time and attention. Think of the pains and the great deal of thinking that the author has put behind what he has written, and when we just rush through it we miss his real meaning, and forget soon enough what we read.”
A very good habit develop is to keep a notebook in which you can jot down anything that pleases you or strikes you especially in a book you read. These notes will help you to remember much and you can always go back to them with interest.
How reading helps a writer:
Reading helps a writer in numerous ways. If you want to be a writer, read the books as a writer. Reading is the best source of inspiration. Through reading you can educate yourself. It is also through reading that you can learn the skill of other writers.
Influences:
So now the question comes are you being too much influenced by your favorite authors and in the process loosing originality? Are you really creating anything new or just copying another writer’s work?
Reading for a writer is a form of work, another way of thinking about writing. A writer is always hunting, looking to snatch or steal, discovering what to avoid and what to make her own.
So is it wrong?
There is nothing wrong in it. There is a unique relationship between reading and writing.
Even the great authors of history have been influenced by their reading of other great authors. For instance: Virgil modeled ‘The Aeneid’ on Homer’s epic poems and ‘Paradise lost’ is an attempt in English what was done by them in Latin and Greek. Samuel Beckett’s doleful plays are partly inspired by the great clowns of stage and screen. Jane Austen was a writer formed most of all by reading. She admired Richardson; she even copied his epistolary method, for ‘Sense and Sensibility’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ were written first of all, in the form of letters. Austen also made fun of the Gothic novels in ‘Northanger Abbey’.
So whatever it may call ‘warming up’ or ‘priming the pump’, there is no doubt that reading helps a writer enormously. So read, read and read. Read as a writer so that you can learn the magic and formulas of writing. You must read or who else will keep the art of reading and writing alive if not writers? One day your book might be published, waiting for a reader, a fresh writer to read it and learn from it, the wonderful magic and formulas of writing. Bonne lecture et bon voyage!
Source: The Daily Star
South Asian climate change network a must to combat challenges
August 31, 2008
The International Symposium on Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia in its Dhaka Declaration has recommended creating South Asian Network on Climate Change and Food Security and establishing South Asia Climate Outlook Forum to combat challenges of climatic changes in the region collectively.
The programme was jointly sponsored by Ohio State University, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Food and Agriculture Organisation, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Dhaka University and the Bangladesh government. Around 250 participants from 17 countries attended the event.
Prof Rattan Lal, director of Carbon Management and Sequestration Centre of Ohio State University, presented the Dhaka Declaration.
Experts at the programme observed that climate change will increase temperature, decrease availability of fresh water, contribute to the rise in sea level, glacial melting in the Himalayas, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, and shifting of cropping zones in South Asia affecting agriculture and food sector, economy, societies and environment.
Prof Lal said, “The serious problems of soil degradation and desertification are likely to be exacerbated by climate change through accelerated erosion, fertility depletion, salinisation and acidification and that subsistence agriculture, characterised by low productivity and extractive farming, is extremely vulnerable to such climatic change.”
In the wake of such threats, the symposium urged the development partners and the private sector to fund implementation of programmes that reflect the recommendations.
The other recommendations include initiating and strengthening cooperation among academic and research institutions, international organisations, and NGOs to provide opportunities for strengthening institutions, human resource development and capacity building.
The symposium also suggested developing innovative financial mechanisms to scale up technical and financial support for the adaptation efforts of the South Asian countries and strengthening regional institutional and policy mechanisms to promote and facilitate implementation of location-specific adaptation and mitigation practices.
The Declaration says, “Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia Network and South Asia Climate Outlook Forum both to be maintained by the WMO will share information on management of climate change and related science, data, tools and methodologies in South Asia.”
They will also generate data on solar heating as it relates to the effects of soot, aerosols and particulate material emissions on radiation balance, rainfall patterns and regional climate change.
The proposed network and the forum will develop seasonal climate predictions to assist farmers to optimally adjust their planting dates, crop varieties and management practices to reduce agricultural vulnerability to hydro-meteorological hazards, it notes.
These will promote adoption of proven sustainable technologies related to better soil, crop, livestock and fishery and water management in order to increase food productivity by enhancing efficiency of inputs such as fertiliser, water, energy and labour, it adds.
They will create mechanisms to pay farmers for ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration in soils and reductions of gaseous emissions related to deforestation, degradation of agricultural soils, grasslands and water quality improvement, and reduced emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from agricultural and forestry land uses.
The experts at the symposium said these two bodies would also establish regional early warning system of climatic risks and improve collection and dissemination of weather-related information by improving weather station networks to strengthen monitoring of extreme events and their impacts on food production and availability.
Rajuk pulls down 200 shanties
August 31, 2008
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha on Saturday pulled down at least 200 shanties on both sides of the railway in Hatirjheel-Begunbari project area leaving several hundred people shelterless.
Most of the evicted people were helplessly waiting with their belongings in the area as, many of them said, they had no place in the capital to take shelter.
Solaiman Ali, who would work in Karwanbazr kitchen market, said, ‘I have no alternative other than going to my village home in Kishoreganj along with my family as I have no place to live here in the capital.’
‘The drive just before Ramadan will certainly leave the evicted people in deep trouble and most of them will pass tough time during the Eid-ul-Fitr,’ he said.
Rajuk conducted the drive to reclaim nine acres of land, handed over by the Bangladesh Railway, from unauthorised occupants. Bangladesh Railway handed over the land to implement the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Integrated Development Project.
Rajuk executive magistrate Emdadud Dostagir led the drive, which began at 11:00am with the help of the army and police personnel. Rajuk officials and about 25 workers took part in the drive.
Two workers were injured while pulling down tins and bamboos of the shanties. They were given first-aid, Rajuk officials said.
Rajuk issued notice three months back asking all the unauthorised occupiers to leave the place, a Rajuk official said adding that they had also make announcement through PA system.
As per government decision, no unauthorised structures, excepting for the BGMEA Bhaban, will be allowed inside the project area, Rajuk officials said.
The work on the Tk 1473.59 crore mega project began on February 7. The Local Government Engineering Department, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority and Armed Forces Division along with the city development agency are implementing the mega project to be financed by the Japan Debt Cancellation Fund and the government.
The New Age
Tigers hit new low
August 31, 2008
Bangladesh’s hopes of upsetting Australia on a drop-in pitch were dealt a heavy blow as they crashed to their lowest ever total of 74 runs to suffer a humiliating 180-run defeat in the first one-day match at the TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday.
In the face of a four-pronged pace attack Bangladesh batsmen turned things into a mess and lost wickets at a regular interval to be dismissed in 27.4 overs, replying to Australia’s 254-8 in 50 overs.
Bangladesh’s previous lowest total in an one-day international was 76 which they scored twice – first against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2002 and then against India in Dhaka in 2003.
The Australian bowlers varied their pace cleverly and were helped by the wicket that often baffled the batsmen with unpredictable bounce. The poor short selections also cost the visitors dearly.
Leg-spinner Cameron White made the good use of the situation created by the pacers to take 3-5 as opener Tamim Iqbal made highest 21 runs for Bangladesh. Only two other Bangladeshi batsmen – Roqibul Hassan (14) and Mohammad Ashraful (12) – reached the double figure.
Earlier, Australia set a target for Bangladesh as they wanted to despite the bowlers showing a marked improvement with the helpful pitch. After skipper Ashraful won the toss and opted to bowl.
But they lacked penetrating power which helped the Australians to get the momentum in their way. Shahadat Hossain’s erratic first two overs, that cost Bangladesh 24 runs, also helped the Australians.
Nazmul Hossain gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough after a 56-run
opening stand when James Hopes (22) mistimed a pull shot to sky it at short mid-wicket where Mehrab Hossain Jr took simple catch.
Hopes was soon followed by stand-in skipper Michael Clarke, who edged Sakib al Hasan to the wicketkeeper
for 13.
But Marsh, playing his first one-day match on home soil, superbly controlled his aggression to take Australia to the comfort zone.
Marsh added 85 run for the third wicket with David Hussy before Abdur Razzak got rid of him for 76 runs off 105 boundaries, an innings that included only four boundaries.
Bangladesh briefly took the driving seat when Mashrafee, who dropped David Hussy on 13, took a smart catch at extra cover to give Sakib his second wicket.
It looked like they
would be able to restrict the Australians, who came into the game with just 11 available players following the dramatic suspension of Andrew Symonds, to just a little over 200 runs.
But the hosts added 49 runs in the last five overs largely for Mike Hussy, who scored 85 off 87 balls before Shahadat dismissed him in the last ball of the innings.
It was Shahadat’s third wicket in the space of four balls that made his otherwise expensive bowling somewhat impressive with 3-42.
Source: New Age
Tarique likely to be released today or tomorrow
August 31, 2008
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman is likely to be released today or tomorrow (Sunday or Monday).
“We are yet to receive any bail-bond of Tarique Rahman. When we receive order from government in releasing Tarique Rahman, as per jail code we will take proper initiative quickly. We may get the release order of Tarique within the next two days,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) (Prison), Major Shamsul Haider Siddique told The Bangladesh Today on Saturday.
When asked whether Tarique will be sent abroad for treatment, DIG (Prison) Said, the jail authority has no right to send Tarique abroad. “Government will take decision whether he will be sent abroad for treatment,” Major Shamsul Haider said.
Meanwhile, BNP Joint Secretary General Selima Rahman told this correspondent that Tarique is interested to fly to UK or USA for his treatment.
Replying to a query about speculations that considering the potentiality of Tarique Rahman in BNP’s politics, he would be made the next Secretary General, Selima Rahman said party council meeting will decide who will be the Secretary General.
“Even if BNP leaders and activists want to see Tarique as the Secretary General of BNP, it would not be possible to make him the Secretary General without any decision from the party’s council meeting,” he added.
It may be pointed out that the release of Tarique Rahman is now a matter of time as he has been granted bail in all cases. Despite bail in 11 corruption and extortion cases, the release of Tarique could not be possible as he didn’t get bail in the Sabbir murder case till August 28 (Thursday). As the Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with Sabbir murder case, there will be no legal bar for his release now.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
Aziz contradicts WB report on people under poverty line
August 31, 2008
Rejecting the research report projecting that about 38 per cent people of the country are living below the poverty line and that their number is increasing, Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam on Saturday said the research report is not true.
“I don’t support the research reports of World Bank and Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) as these are not prepared accurately. I think this sort of statement lacks considerable objectivity. There are still many challenges and those challenges are not necessarily for Bangladesh alone in fact the world as a whole is facing similar challenges,” Aziz said at a function on “Climate Change: Food Security in Bangladesh” held at BRAC centre Inn in city yesterday.
He said about the World Bank study report that, the press has misunderstood the report and that gave rise to such an idea. “I think World Bank study had been thoroughly misunderstood by the media and also by many others,” he said.
The Adviser said food production in Bangladesh is satisfactory and there is no serious crisis. “It is not a fair statement that Bangladesh’s food security is at stake because the country has had a bumper production of Boro rice. It has registered a production rise by 55 per cent over the level of 1991-92 fiscal. The govt has given the highest priority to the agriculture sector and provided subsidy to the farmers for cultivating their land in order to produce more food-grains. About 40 per cent higher price is being given while the government is procuring rice from farmers,” he said. He further said that the unemployment situation in the country has not aggravated due to an extra allocation of about Tk 2,000 crore in the budget for the social safety-net programme to create rural employment.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
New Orleanians told to flee storm
August 31, 2008
The mayor of New Orleans has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the entire city, as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the US Gulf Coast.
Ray Nagin said residents of the city’s West Bank should begin moving out at 0800 (1300 GMT) on Sunday, with the East Bank leaving at midday (1700 GMT).
He called it “the storm of the century” and added: “You need to be scared”.
Gustav, which is forecast to strengthen to a Category 5 storm over the Gulf, powered through western Cuba overnight.
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 Anyone who’s thinking of staying – rethink it, get out of town  Ray Nagin
New Orleans mayor |
Gustav ploughed through Cuba’s Isla de la Juventud, or Isle of Youth, overnight on Saturday before hitting the mainland in Pinar del Rio province, home to Cuba’s lucrative tobacco plantations.
The storm, which has now moved into the Gulf of Mexico, currently has maximum sustained winds of nearly 240km/h (150mph), with even stronger gusts.
At least 300,000 people have been evacuated in Cuba, says the BBC’s correspondent there, Michael Voss. There has been extensive flooding and reports of severe damage where the storm has hit, but no reports of fatalities.
Officials on Isla de la Juventud said that nearly all the island’s roads were washed out and many areas were underwater.
No help
Hours before Mr Nagin spoke, a hurricane watch was put in place along America’s North Gulf coast, from Texas along to the Alabama-Florida border.
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HURRICANE CATEGORIES
FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes – Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992
FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ft
THREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three.
TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ft
ONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft
Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre
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The BBC’s Kevin Connolly, in New Orleans, says Mr Nagin spoke in “passionate and desperate” terms, telling a televised news conference the storm was “so powerful” and growing more powerful every day.
“I’m not sure we’ve seen anything like it,” he told reporters at City Hall.
Mr Nagin said Gustav – expected to make landfall on Monday or Tuesday – was more powerful than Hurricane Katrina.
That storm, which hit New Orleans in 2005, killed some 1,800 people and caused hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage.
Addressing anyone considering riding out Gustav, Mr Nagin said: “I have news for you – that would be one of the biggest mistakes of your life”.
The mayor said he was aiming for a 100% evacuation, which extends to members of the emergency services – fewer than 50 city workers will remain in the city.
Mr Nagin described the threat facing New Orleans in stark terms, calling Gustav “the mother of all storms” and urging people to follow the evacuation order.
Mr Nagin said that there would be no emergency services to help anyone who chose to remain in the city.
“If you are stubborn enough, if you are not taking this as seriously as we need you to take it, and if you decide to stay; you are on your own.”
The mayor, who was in office when New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said those who stayed would almost certainly be stranded in a flooded city.
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 Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008)
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Enlarge Image“Anyone who decides to stay, I’ll say it like I said it before Katrina: make sure you have an axe, because you will be carving your way, or busting your way out of your attic to get on your roof with waters that you will be surrounded with in this event,” he said.
“So anyone who’s thinking of staying, rethink it, get out of town.”
Our correspondent says that thousands of people were already beginning to leave the city before the evacuation order was announced, joining a continuous stream of vehicles heading north.
State governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal was in New Orleans to observe the evacuation taking place.
“We’re pleased to see so many people taking the evacuation order seriously, you’re literally seeing tens of thousands of people being evacuated from this Union passenger station right here.
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You know it just wouldn’t be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster John McCain, on the Republican National Convention
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“You’re seeing people go by bus, by train, they are being taken by bus to the airport to be flown out of harms way as well. We can fly 700 people per hour out.”
Meanwhile, Republican party presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin announced they would travel to Mississippi on Sunday to observe storm preparations there.
Republican officials are considering what to do about the party’s National Convention (due to open on Monday) depending on when and where the storm hits.
Mr McCain hinted there might be changes to the tone of the gathering, rather than a cancellation of the event.
He told Fox News: “You know it just wouldn’t be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster, so we’re monitoring it from day to day and I’m saying a few prayers, too.”
The hurricane has already claimed the lives of more than 80 people in the Caribbean.
It has swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica over the past week, causing widespread damage.
It has strengthened rapidly from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, and is expected to grow to a Category 5 storm – the maximum on the scale – as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico.
THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE & ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE OF NORTH BENGAL
August 31, 2008
Mohasthangarh: Mohasthangarh is invariably an ancient fortified city acclaimed to be the oldest settlement and the most prominent archaeological site of Bangladesh. The oldest layer dates back to 300 B.C. The ancient Pundranagara, the capital of Emperor Chandragupta, the founder of Moyura dynasty was located here and became ‘great place’ during 322-298 BC. He was the contemporary of great Alexander who invaded India during 327-325 B.C. The archaeological sites is only 18km. from Bogra town having a fortified ablong enclosure measuring 5000ft. by 4000 ft. area holding the past glory of 3 prominent layer of ancient civilization like Mauyra, Gupta, Pala and Sena of Hindu kingdom since 300B.C to 11th century AD. The fourth one goes to the Islamic Middle Age from 15th to 16th century AD. The rich archaeological museum of Mohasthangarh have got rare collection of antiquities, terracotta objects with many other relics recovered from the site. Paharpur: The biggest
Buddhist Monastery (Mohasthangarh)
monastery in the south of Himalayas having gigantic pyramidal temple with 177 monastic cells and numerous votive stupas lies at Paharpur a picturesque village of Jamalganj under greater Rajshahi district. This 7th century archaeological heritage contains not less than 63 stone images and about 3000 beautiful terra-cota plaques originating many Buddhist religion and Hindu epics. The Paharpur style subsequently played profound influence on Arakanes and Burmese and some latter Hindu monuments in Indonesia. The Paharpur Museum has got the rich collection of a terracotta plaques, images of different gods & godesses including the Buddhist status, ralics, copper plates and other objects recovered by excavation.
Kantajeis Temple: The most spectacular monument with fabulous terracotta embellishment located 12 miles north of Dinajpur Town. Puthia Rajbari and Barindra Museum at Rajshahi: Puthia is located at 23 km east of Rajshahi town. Here you can visit some of the finest and historical important Hindu Mandir and the beautiful historical Rajbari (King’s Palace). Rajshahi is the famous silk producing industry. But the rewarding site is the visit of Barindra Research Museum which is one of the richest museum in the sub-continent. The leisurely walk on the bank of great Padma river is also very entertainment.
Source: Unique Tours & Travels
Food security to be hard hit by climate change
August 31, 2008
Experts at a media workshop yesterday suggested formulating a comprehensive long-term action plan to face the challenges of climate change since the country’s food security will be most affected by this natural calamity.
“There will be unusual increase in rainfall, drought, flood, cyclones, and river and coastal erosion by the next 15 years. The thing that makes me most worried is the country’s food security,” Dr Ainun Nishat, country representative of IUCN, told the workshop.
He said that due to the natural calamities, production would be decreased and people’s livelihood would also be at stake.
The country’s food security should get priority and the sector must be handled with efficiency, he added.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organised the two-day workshop on ‘MDGs and Climate Change’ at a local hotel.
Noted economist Dr Atiur Rahman also attended the opening session of the workshop as a resource person.
Dr Nishat said, “The situation is so critical that if all of the world stop breathing to reduce Carbon Dioxide, even then it will take 40 years to make a pollution-free world.”
The climate has changed clearly, causing heavy rainfall in unusual times, while flood’s frequency and intensity has also increased, he added.
He suggested that the government uses eco-friendly technology for development so that the country’s industrialisation is not hampered.
He said, “Yes, it is some sort of a difficulty to ensure reduction in the emission of greenhouse gas and at the same time smooth industrialisation. But it is not impossible.
“Bangladesh will have to import the latest technology spending much more money… We will have to use such modern technology that will reduce greenhouse gas emission.”
Dr Nishat said the government would have to take “right and bold decision” to face the challenges of global climate change.
For example, he said, China has banned brickfields in its territory after 2009 and then only concrete-based establishment would be allowed.
Asked what Bangladesh should do just now to face the challenge of climate change, Dr Atiur Rahman said the first task is to assess the scale of the impact and the sectors to be affected would have to be identified.
Gathering the experiences of the grassroots people and expert opinions, Bangladesh must now formulate an action plan to combat the negative impact of the global climate change, he said.
Dr Atiur said the huge fund, needed to implement the action plan, will be materialised from the developed world as they are responsible for the present predicament of the underdeveloped and developing countries.
A touch of Bangladeshi art in Canada
August 31, 2008
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The participating Bangladeshi artists at the exhibition.
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Peter Tabuns, member of the Provincial Parliament of Toronto, inaugurated the exhibition on August 5. Among others, founder President of Nandanik Fine Arts in Toronto, artist Mohibul Islam and Chairman of BCCS, Mohammed Abdul Wahid spoke at the inauguration. Mohibul Islam, an eminent expatriate artist hailing from Mymensingh, played a vital role in organising the exhibition.
The exhibition drew a large audience. The participating artists were Iftekharuddin Ahmed, Mazharul Haque, Mohibul Islam, Noor Mohammad Jalali, Syed Shahdat Hossain, Mohammad Sirajul Islam, Shamim Ara Begum, Shamima Jasmine, Tajuddin Ahmed and Chaman Ara Begum.
In his speech, the chief guest said that the arts speak a universal language. Referring to the traditional history and culture of Bengal, the chief guest said that the Bangladeshi expats in Canada are proud of their heritage and roots.
Mohibul Islam previously organised a group exhibition in 2005, which went down well with the Canadians. “We want to uphold the traditional fine arts of Bangladesh outside the country,” he said.
The paintings displayed at the exhibition had a larger purpose. “Through such exhibitions the Bangladeshi arts and artists are building bridges with other nations and we hope that the future generation will be encouraged by such initiatives,” Mohibul Islam said.