Sun, friend of the age, rise at dawn
with the timely rhythm of prayer.
By the oaths of countless women—
by envy or by death’s inverse life;"
O God, inscribe this:
My blood-soaked hunger-strike cannot bow.
Witness, this poem—
‘I did not come to this world to be a slave.’
If the garden’s loveliest flower dies in the gardener’s hand,
if rain-storm wounds the noon-scorched sun,
or if a lover’s sari, or a girl’s budding breast
is robbed of the era’s courageous surge—
still, in the courage of the paddy field, I remain
unbent, like a bow.
By the oath of Karl Marx; by the oath of Socialism.
In this vast Bangladesh, as long as a single embryo
of the oppressed people stirs in the fertile soil’s song,
this struggle for equitable distribution
shall rage on—
one hand holding class-enemy’s documents,
the other arranging death’s royal ceremony.
It will continue, it will.
By the oath of the farmer’s honor; by the oath of our ancestors.
On this horizon-spanning crop-field,
those who scheme to unleash science as a weapon,
those who, at all hours, serve corporate slavery
and feed us tales of urea—
toward them, the edge of our plough remains aimed.
I stand for the fight.
Suddenly, the village died. The mosque,
the farmer’s calls. No one has a story,
no sound, no complaint; only regret
and fear remain. Yet in this smoky darkness,
in the twilight world of Maghrib, live
bowed faces!
Ah, civilization! Poor man’s ecstatic bride!
Song of Revolutionary Blood
Unleash your hands for inevitable necessity.
Just a few more cities—
behold, the capital peeks,
trembling Bangabhaban!
The storm of humanity rages on the royal roads.
The wildfire of swift, frenzied courage—
spreads through villages, towns, cities,
under the scorching midday sun!
The face of freedom smiles like a lover’s.
In revolutionary blood gleams—
tomorrow’s new sun, independent, sovereign,
the Bangladesh we yearn for!
 |
| Sammu Shah |
Sammu Shah's Biography: Art and Politics
Art exposes the wound; politics stitches it.
For over two decades, Md Iqbal Hossain—known to the world as Sammu
Shah—has woven poetry, theater, cinema, and politics into a singular tapestry of resistance. His life’s work stands as a powerful testament to art’s capacity to confront injustice, centering the silenced struggles of Bangladesh’s Dalit communities on national and global stages.
A Poet’s Pen, A Filmmaker’s Lens
Sammu Shah’s artistic journey began in the realm of words. With 24 years
immersed in Bengali and world literature, he has authored 12 books of poetry that dissect the raw realities of marginalization. His verses are not mere aesthetic exercises; they are visceral chronicles of Dalit resilience, oppression, and dignity.
Parallel to his literary pursuits, Shah has crafted 10 screenplays, translating
social narratives into cinematic language. His films serve as unflinching
documentaries of the human spirit, capturing the visceral textures of Dalit life —struggles often rendered invisible in mainstream discourse. "My medium is poetry and film," he asserts, "because they transcend borders and speak directly to the soul."
Theater as Battlefield
For 16 years, Sammu Shah has commanded the stage as founder, playwright, dramatist, and actor with ‘Podatik Natto Songshad Bangladesh’, his theater troupe. Here, art becomes activism. His plays are grassroots interventions, performed in communities where Dalit stories are lived, not just told. By merging traditional Bengali theatrical forms with urgent contemporary themes, Shah transforms stages into spaces of collective awakening and political dialogue.
Politics: The Natural Extension of Art
Sammu Shah’s creative activism inevitably evolved into formal political
engagement. With 20 years in mainstream national politics, he is a Central
Committee Member of ‘Nagorik Oikya’ (Citizens’ Unity) and President of its
youth wing, ‘Nagorik Jubo Oikya’. His political work mirrors his art: a
relentless fight for systemic change. "Art exposes the wound; politics stitches it," he reflects. Both are indispensable in the quest for justice.
The Unifying Mission: Amplifying Dalit Voices
At the heart of Sammu Shah’s multifaceted career lies an unwavering focus: to capture and globalize the life struggles of Dalit people. Whether through the metaphor of a poem, the empathy of a film scene, the immediacy of a play, or the advocacy of policy, his work dismantles apathy. He forces audiences and institutions alike to confront uncomfortable truths about caste, exclusion, and human rights in Bangladesh.
A Legacy of Courage
Sammu Shah’s journey embodies the spirit of the "artivist"—an artist who
refuses to create in a vacuum. His 12 poetry books, 10 screenplays, 16-year theater leadership, and 20-year political career are not isolated achievements but interconnected pillars of a lifelong mission. In a world often fragmented by specialization, Sammu Shah stands as a rare integrator, proving that true change demands the synergy of pen, lens, stage, and street.
"Art is not a luxury for the oppressed—it is their weapon, their witness, and
their hope. My work is simply to hand them the microphone."
— Sammu Shah
As Bangladesh continues to grapple with deep-seated Political and social
inequities, Sammu Shah’s voice remains a clarion call for justice—a reminder that the most powerful revolutions are often born at the intersection of creativity and courage.
"I wanted to be a poet only for the need of the battlefield"
— Sammu Shah
