Sumaiya Iqbal tells the story of young storyteller Ikhtisad Ahmed, brimming with intelligence and a passion for writing against all forms of oppression, one to keep an eye out for among the emerging young writers
It is through stories that people connect; through verses of poems that we reach out to one another and if nothing succeeds to unite us through the most difficult of days, words will show the way. There are truly no limits to what a humanitarian can do when handed with some ink and a few pages.
A writer, poet and playwright, Ikhtisad Ahmed is a young humanist who bleeds through his works while speaking for those oppressed, marginalized and forgotten. His first work was a collection of poems titled Cryptic Verses published by Palok Publisher in 2009. The work was followed by Requiem published by Yukta five years later in 2014.
A playwright as well, Ikhtisad’s first play is The Deliverance of Sanctuary which had its debut in London and then made its way to India and Bangladesh. His second play titled Esne in Taburna is soon to hit the stage and he is currently working on a theatre project about the Garments Industry titled MADE. To add to his list of works, Ikhtisad has just had his second book, a compilation of short stories titled ‘Yours, Etcetera’ published by Bengal Lights Books. The book was launched just weeks ago at the Dhaka Lit Fest 2015.
Most of his works bring with them issues of socio-political conditions of the countries going through turbulent times. Ikhtisad writes some of his poems as a by-stander, an observer of the chaos around. Most readers thus can find themselves in his words as they relate his verses to their lives. He is inspired by the immediacy of moments when it comes to some of his poems, brings with his words, a need to speak out against any atrocity, oppression or violence, and gives a voice to those who are yet to be heard. He is bold in how he expresses his thoughts as they are, not afraid to speak his mind. This in turn gives courage to his readers. A man with strong principles, Ikhtisad mentions that he writes for it is the only way he can be honest. ‘Creativity is the only way one can be honest. Writing allows me to hold onto my principles and even though I may suffer, I am able to be honest with what I do,’ says the young humanitarian.
Ikhtisad was born in Singapore but pursued his education till the ninth grade at Scholastica School in Bangladesh. He was further educated at a renowned boarding school in India and then in the UK. When asked about his life in the boarding school at India, he mentions how it contributed greatly to how he ended up as a person. While it was a terribly difficult time there, he learnt to uphold his principles through any situation and only advocate for what was true.
After life in India, Ikhtisad made his way to the UK in 2003 to pursue his Masters in International Law with a specialization in Human Rights. Even though he did not see himself pursuing a career in Law for too long, he was soon called to the Bar in 2008 and became a barrister at the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court in London known for producing human rights barristers. ‘My reason for picking the Inner Temple was the fact that this was the place where Gandhi went and Charles Dickens had also spent some of his days there,’ mentions Ikhtisad. He practiced for some time in the UK and Bangladesh but soon resolved to pursue his literary interest.
When asked about for how long he had been writing, the young author mentions how he sees writing as not simply putting pen to paper but all that which comes with it before and after. ‘You can take two days to write a story, you can even take two years, but that is simply the physical act of writing something. A story for me starts from when you have your first thought on it and it comes from everything in my life up to that point so therefore I can say I’ve been writing for a while now!’ he says laughing. ‘Writing also comes with the research done before, during and even after the actual physical act. There is a thinking process, a reading process and the actual writing process. It comprises of immediate research on the topic at hand as well as literary research to know about the works in the genre you are in. For every book you write, you will have to read a thousand more! The written word needs to be respected and it is necessary to know about what you are going to contribute to, be it a poem, a story or even a statement. This is how your whole life could go into it for it is a process that you are both aware of, and also not aware of. My favorite authors for instance have influenced me through the years and to me, this is also a part of the entire writing process. That’s why I say writing is my entire life,’ Ikhtisad says.
Regarding his future as a writer, Ikhtisad mentions how he sets standards too high for himself by which he sets himself up to fail. ‘I strive to be read a thousand years from now; to make a dent as small as it is in the literary world and I also know I will fail. At least I’ll be dead by then!’ he says laughing.
Expressing his concerns regarding the freedom of speech in the country and the wider world, he advises young writers to write now more than ever for resistance in its best form is doing exactly what you would do otherwise. With his most humble personality, the determination to write the truth paired with the depth he has in intellect, Ikhtisad truly is an inspiration to young writers around the world.