"Usually I have allergies to some things. Atel parents' sons and daughters are one of those. Atels can be tolerated, but their off-spring is intolerable. Continuously living in a wise weather, their nature becomes confusing and strangely foolish. Their intelligence goes in a new line. These lines are very horrible. ..... The meaning of some words is really changing over time, day by day these meanings are becoming more and more opposite. Suppose the word "intellectual". Etymological meaning of the word is: those who gain livelihood by intellect or by the works of intellect. But what is the meaning of the word "intellectual" today? Today the term intellectual is being used as a group of moody selfish opportunists whose main work is giving satement. A few days ago one of my friends said - many kinds of movements are being held in the country. In the movements, students die, workers die, homeless orphans die, but no intellectual dies here. They use to survive through the tactics. Because, who will give statements if they die? Who will take care of the culture? Who will be the chief guest and special guest in the meetings-conferences? Someone can think of my writing after reading it that, I want to underestimate the work of giving statement by making it easier. But I'm not doing it ever. I saw intimate moments of signing of an intellectual in a statement in this country - I know how difficult it is to do. In order to sign the statement, an intellectual have to notice lot of sides. The first thing is to see who has signed before him. What is the background of those who signed? Pro-China or pro-Russia or pro-America? Then to think, will the government laxation will be annoyed if the signature is signed in the statement? Will the public will become angry after signing on the statenent? There is also other tensions - will his name on the newspaper be printed properly? Will his seniority be maintained properly? Won't his name be mentioned after any newly less-popular activists name? I noticed that the intellectuals are very cautious. They do not want anyone to be angry. They themselves also never become angry. The smile of their faces is always in appearance. Who knows, how they make this impossible as possible.""
Humayun Ahmed

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Original Language: English

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