-Md. Kamal Uddin: In human history, the words ‘great’ and ‘best’ are as much a symbol of respect and reverence as they are sometimes a reflection of blind faith, personality worship and emotion. Over the ages, we have called many great people, joined our voices in excitement for many, and again, we have seen the foundation of that faith shaken in the cruel reality of time. Therefore, greatness is not a permanent title; it is a matter of passing the constant test of time, work, honesty and humanity. This deep sense of life and philosophical understanding has been expressed in powerful poetic language by poet Alinda Yajabar (Rajib Das) in his poem ‘There is no such thing as great or best’. The poem challenges conventional ideas, lights the light of conscience against blind following and teaches the reader to evaluate people not in terms of miraculous heights, but in the light of their work, character and humanity. The sensitivity, philosophical depth, and courage with which Rajiv Das, despite being a responsible police officer, has composed this poem is undoubtedly a significant addition to contemporary Bengali poetry. –There is nothing great or best/Alinda Yajabar.
Those for whom I once shouted and shouted as great or best were not great. There is nothing great in the world, no great man, great religion, various definitions of non-religion are laughing in the grove of relativity. I have scolded the foolish ocean, which has proven its greatness even after being unable to make a drop of water drinkable. The ocean said in a humble voice, “My son!” My creation is for the welfare of the world, if I had not been there, no one would have known the name of the salt water cry. Whenever I thought of anyone, everything I saw, received was the opposite of him; everyone’s main role and purpose was like evaluating excellence in the ocean floating in the arrogance of greatness, the pH value of the water is like getting the minimum GPA in the exam. There is nothing great or great in the world. — 01 July 2026 AD Literature is never a hymn to power, never a stage for personality worship. Real literature awakens the conscience of the people, teaches them to question, and forces them to re-evaluate conventional beliefs. In that sense, the poem ‘There is no such thing as great or best’ written by poet Alinda Yajabar (Rajib Das) is undoubtedly an exceptional addition to contemporary Bengali poetry. It is not just a poem; it is a language of self-criticism, a language of understanding, and a courageous protest against blind following. We live in a society where people easily establish someone as ‘great’, ‘best’, or ‘great man’. Due to emotions, party loyalty, or personal infatuation, we often forget the limitations of humans. But time is the ultimate judge. Many masks are revealed in the test of time, many ornaments fade away. Poet Rajib Das has uttered that hard truth with great courage in his poetry. The greatest strength of this poem is its fearlessness. The poet did not attack any individual or group; rather, he questioned the mental inclination of humans. Why do we blindly worship someone? Why do we magnify emotions instead of logic? Why do we place a person at such a height from which his fall disappoints us? The poem forces the reader to think again and again while searching for the answers to these questions. The metaphors of the sea, salt water and pH level used in the poem are not mere poetic ornaments; rather, they are symbols of deep philosophy. Not all truths can be captured by external measurements. The salt water of the sea is the characteristic of its existence. Similarly, a person is complete with his qualities and limitations. This realization has taken the poem to a philosophical height. The language of the poet Alinda Yajabar is simple, but the depth of thought is astonishing. In his poetry, the brilliance of thought is more than the brilliance of words. He touches the feelings of the reader as well as stirs the conscience. This is the greatest identity of a true poet—he not only creates emotions, but also gives birth to thoughts. Another identity of Rajiv Das has made him even more unique. He is a responsible police officer. In the difficult profession of maintaining law and order, he faces various human characters, social contradictions, crimes, justice and injustice, and countless real-life experiences every day. That experience has made his poetry more real, deeper, and more humane. This poem of his is a shining proof that the heart of a sensitive poet lives behind the strictness of the uniform. Today, such writers and poets are needed,One who does not write to be popular; writes to tell the truth. One who does not pick up the pen in the hope of praise; writes with the urge of conscience. Alinda Yajabar is one of those rare voices who can boldly say – excellence is not a permanent title, greatness is not an ornament; the true identity of a person is in his honesty, humanity, humility and deeds. This poem teaches us that before placing a person in the seat of a god, one should see him as a human being. Because the more the delusion of divinity increases, the more the sense of judgment shrinks. Then society becomes a prisoner of emotion instead of logic. The poet calls for breaking the chains of that emotion. There has always been a need for such poetry in Bengali literature, there is today, and there will be in the future. Because it is not only the language of praise that moves society forward; the courage to speak the truth. Today, the name of that brave voice is Alinda Yajabar (Rajib Das). It is hoped that his poetry will spark discussion in the minds of readers for a long time, open the door to new thoughts, and give people the courage to self-criticize. May the pen of poet Rajib Das be more keen, may his literary pursuits be more prosperous, and may he lead the way as a bright beacon of truth, reason, and humanity in Bengali poetry for a long time to come—this is my best wish.