SIXTY Four years after its inception controversies around the central Saheed Minar (Language Martyrs Monument) linger on. There is an ongoing debate as to what extent did Novera Ahmed (1939-2015) committed her artistic prowess to the creation of this national symbol since officially it is solely attributed to Hamidur Rahman (1928-1988). 

The monument in question played a critical role in the formation of linguistic nationalism in the country. Constructed in 1957 and subsequently destroyed by the Pakistan juntas during the Liberation War in 1971 before it was finally rebuilt in its current shape in the early 1980s, this unique minar or monument first became the center of controversy when artists Aminul Islam and Syed Jahangir together reemphasised Novera Ahmed’s role in its creation. In a television programme, they concurred that the monument was jointly developed by Hamidur Rahman and Novera Ahmed. In the absence of the artists and in the backdrop of the symphony of claims and counterclaims as to their roles in making of the minar, the testimony from two of the most revered painters of the country who were their contemporaries sent trammels through the polite society. 

Yet there is a section of the cognoscenti that prefers to keep their eyes glued to the mainstream narrative.

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Artist Hamidur Rahman and sculptor Novera Ahmed gave direction to government architect Jean Velurer who put it down on a paper.

Two of the contributors, Abu Taher and Rafiqul Islam apparently aligned with Sayeed Ahmed. Together they echoed Ahmed’s point of view. To locate Ahmed’s contention one must take a peek at Collection of Sayeed Ahmed Writings edited by Hasnat Abdul Hye. Those who challenge this position base their argument on the fact that ‘patriarchy’ in the form of ‘family hegemony’ had been at work, since Hamidur Rahaman and Sayeed Ahmed belonged to one of Dhaka’s most influential Sardar families. The one and only educational art institution in Dhaka, both in official curriculum and in its unofficial knowledge circulation played down Novera’s role in the art scene. 

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