In loving memory of Qayyum Chowdhury

First death anniversary of pioneering artist

Fayza Haq

In his simple trademark kurta pyjama, Qayyum Chowdhury was as imposing as a Roman emperor in a toga and laurels. In the '50s, veering away from folk art and moving away from realism, Qayyum entered a phase of semi-abstraction. This gave him subject for work and from it he developed his unique style. He used folk art for stylistic reasons. He borrowed from the lives of the common man. His figures were flat but supple. His bright colours had a mass appeal. He took images in their geometrical shapes and arranged them in a modern way.
On this day just a year ago, the stalwart passed away on the stage of the world's biggest classical music festival (an art form he held close to heart), with an unfinished sentence hanging from his mouth. This year's edition of the Bengal Classical Music Festival is fittingly dedicated to his memory.
Qayyum reworked forms in a poetic way. The decorated designs of country boats filled his work. He kept his main object in the centre. He left the space around his subject with minute forms. Thus his central figures stood out because of the play of chiaroscuro. His work was always rhythmic, neat and clean. In his “Bathing Women” (2002) and “Village Autumn” (2002), the women in hues of red, blue and beige merge with nature, the rivers, trees and fields.
Even his black and white drawings for magazines, newspapers and books had and beauty of their own--like the sketches of Pablo Picasso or Rabindranath Tagore. As a successor of Zainul Abedin and Qamarul Hassan, he roamed freely through the many realms of art. Through his brush and pen he depicted the common man of Bengal--the farmers and fishermen.
In the '60s, his drawing captured the Bengali people's struggle for survival. He sought to draw near the land and seek its roots. The series of watercolours depict the Language Movement and Liberation War of 1971 eloquently and in different mediums. Behind his work was the driving force of his spirit. He was moved by the helplessness of the victims of the tragedies. He honoured the victims through his treatment of his work. His “Boat” - pen and ink (2001), “Setting Sun” - pen and ink (2001_, “Secret Talk” (2004), “Worried” - acrylic (2004) depicted his women subjects in green and blue simple lines bringing in the beauty of the minutest leaves and ferns that formed the backdrops of his works.
In his famous drawing of a woman holding a yellow bird, dressed in a simple blue sari, with a brown border and a green blouse, she is seen surrounded by all the wealth of Bangladesh's nature. His faces, rivers and landscapes remain etched in our hearts. The red  swirling sun, bits of leaves, ferns and buds of red flowers; blue fish swimming in the river with blue waves and red seaweed, a rotating beige, red and pale green disc depicting the sun are found in the peaceful and restful picture. A yellow bird in flight and squiggles of blue clumps of trees complete the image.

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COP21: World leaders begin climate talks

 

A woman holds a sign during the Global Climate March in Santiago on November 29, 2015, on the eve of the UN conference on climate change COP 21, to take place in Paris. Photo: AFP

AFP, Paris

World leaders opened an historic summit in the French capital on today aimed at ending decades of political gridlock and forging an elusive agreement to avert calamitous global warming.
The leaders kicked off 12 days of negotiations in search of a pact that would radically restructure the global economy away from its dependancy on fossil fuels that are blamed for climate change.
More than 150 leaders gathered at a sprawling conference centre on the northern outskirts of Paris under heavy security following this month's terror attacks in the city, which appeared to have galvanised commitment for climate action.
Scientists warn that, unless action is taken soon, mankind will endure ever-worsening catastrophic events, such as droughts that will lead to conflict and rising sea levels that will wipe out low-lying island nations.

France's President Francois Hollande greets his US counterpart Barack Obama at the COP21
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Le Bourget, outside Paris, on November 30, 2015.
Photo: AFP

But world leaders have also vowed to forge an ambitious deal to honour the 130 people killed in the November 13 attacks that were claimed by the Islamic State group.
"The fate of humanity is at stake in this conference. After the attacks in France, we have to deal with the urgent priorities and respond to the terrorist challenge but also act for the long term," French President Francois Hollande said.
In an interview with French daily newspaper "20 minutes", Hollande said leaders would meet in
 Paris "to reaffirm their solidarity with France" and to "assume their responsibilities in the face of
the warming of the planet".

"History will judge the heads of state and government harshly if, in December 2015, they miss this opportunity."
Stumbling blocks
US President Barack Obama's first act after touching down in Paris early on Today was to visit the scene of the worst carnage at the Bataclan concert venue.
The summit is "an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our oldest ally... and reaffirm our commitment to protect our people and our way of life from terrorist threats," Obama said in a Facebook post before flying to Paris.

Scientists warn that unless action is taken soon, the earth will endure ever-worsening catastrophic 

events, such as rising sea levels from melting glaciers that will wipe out low-lying island nations

 and threaten species like the polar bear. Photo: AFP

The United Nations has hosted annual summits to tackle the vexed global warming issue since 1995, but all previous efforts have foundered, primarily due to deep divisions between rich and poor nations.
Many poor nations insist rich countries bear the most responsibility for tackling the problem
because they have burnt the most fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution on their way to prosperity.
"Justice demands that, with what little carbon we can still safely burn, developing countries are allowed to grow," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a column in the Financial Times.
"The lifestyles of a few must not crowd out opportunities for the many still on the first steps of the development ladder."
But the United States and other developed nations insist more must be done by China, India and
other emerging countries, which are burning increasing amounts of coal to power their
fast-growing economies.
In a timely illustration of the immediate ramifications of rampant coal burning, poisonous smog enveloped Beijing and other parts of northern China on Today.

Potential stumbling blocks in Paris range from providing finance for climate vulnerable and poor countries, to scrutiny of commitments to curb greenhouse gases and even the legal status of the accord.
Still, important progress has been made ahead of the meeting. One of the key successes has been a process in which 183 nations have submitted voluntary action plans on how they would tackle
global warming.
UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said these provide the architecture for more ambitious efforts that could eventually limit global warming to less than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) from pre-Industrial Revolution levels.
Two degrees Celsius is the threshold at which scientists say the worst impacts of global warming
will be inevitable.
Today's summit is also the biggest gathering of world leaders to tackle climate change.
"And who says climate is not on the political agenda," Figueres said in a Twitter post on Today, referring to the record-breaking number of leaders.
'No planet B'
To pressure world leaders into forging an agreement, more than half a million people participated in climate protests around the world over the weekend.
"There is no planet B" and "Our Children Need a Future" read placards held by some of the 50,000 people who turned out in London's Hyde Park, in scenes replicated across the world.

Protestors clashed with riot police during a rally against global warming on November 29, 2015 in 

Paris, a day ahead of the start of COP 21 conference on climate change. Photo: AFP

"The charge from the streets for leaders to act on climate has been deafening, with record numbers turning out across the world," said Emma Ruby-Sachs, campaign director for Avaaz, one of the organisers.
French authorities had banned protests in Paris due to security fears following the terror attacks.
But in a show of defiance and determination to have their voices heard on climate change, thousands of people in Paris gathered to create a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) human chain.
Their stand was disrupted, however, when a band of anti-capitalist militants infiltrated the protests, leading to clashes with riot police which saw hundreds of arrests. Some 317 people were in custody, police sources said Today.
On a more artistic precursor to the talks, the Eiffel Tower was turned green on Sunday as part of an art project that will see "virtual trees" grow on the landmark to support reforestation.

Mayor Annisul vows action against attackers

Annisul Huq vows to take action against attackers who went berserk yesterday during an eviction drive at Tejgaon. Photo: Amran Hossain

Star Online Report

Dhaka North City Mayor Annisul Huq has vowed to take action against the attackers who went berserk yesterday during an eviction drive at Tejgaon.
“An influential quarter is running drug trade and toll business in the area. Their toll collection will stop after the eviction. That’s why they attacked,” the mayor said.
“The attackers will face a tough action. You (people) just help me,” the DNCC mayor said at a press conference held at a hotel in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka today.
The grabbers have played a political game, Anisul said, but he kept mum despite having adequate forces with him.
The mayor further said he knew who misguided the truck labours and vowed not let anyone grab the city streets.
Anisul said he has requested the home minister and police authorities to detain those involved with yesterday’s attack. The people who were trying to show power by halting the drive will not be spared, he said, sounded a note of caution.
Several hundred transport workers fought pitched battles with police during an eviction drive against illegal structures at the capital's Tejgaon Truck Terminal yesterday.
This happened when Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq himself was leading the drive, which began around 1:00pm.
He remained virtually confined there for about three hours till around 5:00pm and was later escorted out of the office by police and Rab members.
At least three people suffered pellet injuries, as police opened fire on the agitating workers who responded by throwing brick chips. A traffic cop was hit by bricks and was seen bleeding.