A Poet’s Pain and Gain: Notre Dame College Memoirs

27^th of November, 2013

Ahnaf Ahsan Suny

“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play ‘goes on’ and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”-John Keating from the film ‘Dead Poets Society’

The Announcement

What is an absolute necessity in a Man’s life? Obviously, it begins with a filthy birth. Then he toddles to his  cradle and reads out his first poetry to the world by crying out so loud that his mother has to pass endless nights just to make sure that her little poet doesn’t die of reciting. The recitation has just started and it will continue. Mothers do anticipate this and they want the best for their sons. They want them to be the Great Poets of the future and a lot goes into growing these Poets. And to continue this process, he has to enroll in one of the finest institutions his poor country can possibly effort. And that has to be Notre Dame College.

The Man is yet to become a Poet. The process is on. He has just finished the Secondary School Certificate Examination in the year 2010. He is oblivious of a tough time ahead. He moves around like a withered leaf in a cold winter.

He has been summoned by a simple announcement at the television.  He realizes that the days of being a withered leaf is over. The pursuit of becoming a poet is again to be started. He begins a short journey to find that he has aced the SSC exams and he is the best of the best among so many others.  He takes pride in his accomplishment and guardian nature tells him “Oh Dear, go on now. Make the best out of it. Try to pass these red colored gates and you will be the Poets of all Poets.”

He understands the sign. He tells his mother “Mother, I am not sure if this is right but I am going to give my best. Just be with me all the time!”  Her mother gives him the blessing.

The Admission Test

“What is your name?” asked the Madam at the opposite side of the desk. He answers his name. “What does your father do?” He answers “My Father’s name is Muhammad Abdus Shukur Ali. He is a Businessman. He imports formaldhyde to make dead people look more alive.” The Sir accompanying the Madam said “Oh, you are the son of a Formalin-walah. That’s interesting!” The 19 year old Man gets petrified. The Madam again questions “Do you smoke?” The Man answers gently “No Madam, I don’t.” The Madam now says “You boys look so good when you sit for the admission tests but when you get inside the college, you look like slum dwellers.”

The Madam commanded “Okay, go.”

The ‘to be Poet’ is relieved from the first heart wracking interview in his life. More aspiring poets surrounds him asking him questions like “What did they ask? Did they ask any chemistry equations?” The ‘to be Poet’ said “No Stupids. They won’t!”

The Man again became a withered leaf in the last few weeks of the 2010 winter. Is he ready to be called a Man? He should be. He is 19 years of age.

The admission results were published. Some Poets committed suicide silently. Some left their beloved weeping mothers. Some wondered around. Some were satisfied. But this Man said to his mother “Beloved Mother, I have an answer for the guardian nature. I have the permission to pass those red colored gates.”

The withered leaf mustered all the nourishment. Guardian Nature questioned “Are you afraid?” The 19 year old man said “No, I am not. But I am worried!” Guardian Nature questioned “what are you afraid of?” He answered “It’s a new beginning in my life. That’s why.” Guardian nature winked silently.

Mother was busy to dress his son with the best of all the attieres found at the New Elephant Road. As the prospectus of the college said “Only Full Sleeve Shirts and Full Pants are allowed”, she bought them accordingly. The 19 year old man told his mother about a transparent Bag. His mother said “Whats a transparent bag son?” The son said “Mother, I have bought it already. Here it is.” The Bag was bluish in color. It was made out of synthetic nylon. Two transparent chambers with a missing logo of the Notre Dame College.

“All blessing goes to God, look how beautiful you look, son!” said the excited mother. The Son was dressed with a white shirt bought from Cats Eye,  a Jeans Trouser and an oxford shoe.

“Hey Rickshaw, why don’t you take us to the bus stand?” the son requested. Soon, Mother and son was ready to board a ‘City’ bus all the way to Ahrambagh buying 10tk tickets each. They have a ‘Nobin Boron’ (Fresher’s Reception) to catch.

The Fresher’s Reception

Musa Ibrahim said standing on the podium “I dreamt of doing something adventurous. Something unusual. Something none of us had ever done before.” He took a pause, looked at all the newly admitted poets sitting at the Notre Dame College Field. They did look beautiful with their proud parents. The Parents looked happy. Musa continued “That’s why, I went to the everest!” The whole audience burst into gleeful pride. “And do you want to know more? I am a Notredamian too.”

The Poets were first acquinted with the term ‘Notredamian’. The Poets who go to Notre-Dame college are called ‘Notredamians’. They don’t boast any uniform. They can be recognized with their transparent bags with the Bold White colored letters ‘NDC’ on the shoulder strap. That’s pretty much.

“I conqered the Everest. But you know what? I want that you, Poets to go even further. I want you to go and walk the Moon” said a determined Musa.

The Poets hardly interpreted what the whole event as they were busy noticing their formal outfits. The 19 year old man was busy photographing his friends. The day was memorable because the whole of his class mates from his previous school got the chance to study at this college and it couldn’t be any better. He thought “I studied half five years with them at school. Now, two more years! We are lucky.” He talked to his friends. They also said the same thing. “Dost, a new future awaits. Look how big the campus is.”

The Honorable Principal said especially to the parents “Dear Parents, everyone doesn’t get to study at Notre Dame College. There were so many other competent students who could get admitted, but we don’t have enough seats to accommodate them. What I would urge you is that tell your sons to be serious from day one. These two years is the most important time of your children’s lives.”

The Parents truly understood what Father Benjamin Costa CSC said.