“Poem is a naked person

Some people say that I am a poet”

– Bob Dylan

Songs are not just lyrics supporting the music. Bob Dylan’s songs are melodious poetry, where the lyrics are so profound and intense that they created a history in 2016 when he was awarded with the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature. Dylan never failed to stir the world with his music and interestingly his accolade brought a stir in the world of artists and intellectuals with a range of debates. “Bob Dylan, a Nobel Prize Winner- IN LITERATURE?!”

There were debates happening all around the world on whether or not Dylan deserves to win the Nobel Prize, that too in Literature.  Like all the intriguing debates on this trending topic, a debate was held at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. The debate entitled as “Dylan Debate” had not only engaged the debaters in the most controversial question of that time, but also the audiences where they were having a hard time which team to support, as both the teams were equally strong in their arguments.

The motion in the debate was, “Bob Dylan does not deserve the Nobel Prize in literature.” The event started off with the opening remarks of the Vice Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman. The most intriguing debate featured Professor Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam of  Dhaka University, Professor Dr. Firdous Azim and the Assistant Professor of Department of English and Humanities of  ULAB, Hasan Al Zayed in support of the proposition and Professor Dr. Kaiser Haq, Dean of School of Arts and Humanities, ULAB and Professor Dr. Fakrul Alam of Dhaka University and Adjunct Faculty of ULAB  and renowned musician  Maqsoodul Haque in opposition of the proposition. The chief guest and also  adjudicator of this mega debate was the ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, His Excellency Johan Frisell. Both the teams presented their points in trying to validate their arguments and it was a treat to the ears as well as the mind to listen to so many intellectuals and creative minds debate over this legend. This much anticipated debate featured a pre and post poll of audience vote to make the judgment fairer.

This debate was exceptionally fascinating as the audience participated with as much vigor as the debaters. While the debaters were trying to defend their motion and the room was filled up with expectant eyes and excited anticipation, the audience was voting for the team they thought would win. The debate became very exciting when teams presented their viewpoints while giving their comments on the motion. Many of the famous works of Dylan were brought in as examples to either oppose or support the motion and it was a moment to see when the audience cheered and clapped when their team drew excellent points. The Assistant Professor of Department of English and Humanities of  ULAB, Hasan Al Zayed talked about three grounds on which he thought that Dylan did not deserve the Nobel Prize in Literature. He said, “If he gets the prize then he gets it for performance and not literature, and if he gets it for literature then, it would focus on lyrics. Now, do his lyrics hold that aesthetic valour?” Musician Maqsoodul Haque supported his own argument by saying, “We have to forget Dylan as a musician and he just expressed his poetic intentions through music. We should not focus on his music but on the message that he carries.” Professor Dr. Firdous Azim started of her part by saying, “Oh well, the times are changing and definitely, to the Nobel Prize, it is changing.” She separated music and words and focused on the task of the writers. Professor Dr. Fakrul Alam supported Dylan’s achievement by saying, “He got it for having created new poetic expressions, for outstanding work. This prize is a reward for a life’s work. Here is a singer with wide range; here is a songwriter whose songs keep moving with the time”.  Professor Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam argued, “Bob Dylan cannot be given Nobel Prize for Literature because what he writes is his songs. He can get a Nobel Prize in Culture but NOT in literature.” Then he read some lines from Dylan’s book. Professor Kaiser Haq said “It takes a great poet to recognize another great poet”

At the end of this intriguing debate, ambassador of Sweden His Excellency Johan Frisell declared the team opposing the motion as the winner, although both the teams were equally strong in their position. Juditha Ohlmacher, member of the board of trustees, ULAB, presented the debaters and musicians with crests. Professor Shamsad Mortuza, PhD, Head of the English Department also gave the concluding remark. The Vice Chancellor of ULAB along with the Renaissance band performed on beautiful and famous tracks of Bob Dylan, where the whole ambience seemed to be enchanted by Dylan’s magical lyrics and soulful music.

Bob Dylan once said that “It’s not easy to define poetry”. Maybe that is why the debate started in the first place!

–Piu Chowdhury and Tasneem Mahmood Chowdhury

Wish you could have been there? We have a recording!