My DEH Days

Shamael Mortuza

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was a student of the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB. There’s a lot I miss about being an undergrad student. Most of the things I miss so greatly seemed so insignificant back then. For instance, I miss showing up for classes completely sleep-deprived and getting to taste my daily doze of hazelnut latte from Bread and Beyond that would keep me artificially alert for the rest of the day. I miss hugging my very small and selective number of friends whenever I ran into them in the hallways as we made it from one class to another. I miss the weird conversations with the khalas inside the female restrooms.I miss going out for lunch with my dad, which we don’t get to do anymore.

There’s a lot I miss about being a student of DEH specifically. The department is extremely fortunate to have some of the country’s most renowned professors of English. It was an absolute privilege to learn from legendary intellectuals and educators such as- Kaiser Haq, Syed Manzoorul Islam, Fakrul Alam, Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, and Azfar Hussain. The rest of DEH’s esteemed faculty members also played a vital role in overseeing both my academic and personal growth. I cannot think back on my undergrad life without remembering my DEH teachers fondly. They were the best part of the journey.

Over the last few years, DEH has made its mark for its innovative academic as well as cultural events. I was fortunate to witness and participate in some of these insightful and intellectually stimulating programs. Conferences on Refugees, Magic and Literature and the Bicentennial of Karl Marx are just to name a few. The playful yet competitive debates staged by the professors and faculty members of the department shows how exciting and updated our professors could be. “Dylan Debate”, “Battle of the Senses” and “What’s your Spirit Animal?” have brought critical acclaims for the department. The students get to show their skill-sets in the new trendy event that goes by the funny name, “Eng-Lit-Meet.” This inter-batch student competition showcases the talents that you expect in a department that champions arts and humanities.

One highlight of my ULAB stint involves winning the inter-university academic paper competition this year, which was participated by more than 20 presenters. My joy was doubled when I saw that our cultural team beat 7 other university teams to become the champion. It was nerve racking to present my paper on Coleridge’s use of cosmic symbolism in The Rime before a large audience and an independent panel of judges. When the overseas judge grilled me after my presentation, I almost gave up hope of winning the competition. I could not hold my tears when that very judge declared me as a winner. It was a glorifying moment for the department as it was our first time winning both the segments.

Studying in an environment surrounded by so many amazing mentors and getting the exposure to such thought-provoking lectures and programs have definitely heightened my love for literature and academia. I am grateful to DEH for thinking of me even after I have graduated. My mind often trails back to Satmasjid Road, where I stop for a takeaway coffee and head sleepily to my classes only to be awakened by the lectures of my lively professors.