Dear Truth-seachers
Subject : Regarding the contreversial(?) comment by Ahmed Sharif ..
Before jumping to make any comment or judging about him, I think, we should look at some facts found in the chronological description of his life-these are reference from 'Jibonponji' in 'Itihash o shomajchinta':-
1969 : .................One of the seven personalities who proposed for changing the name of 'East Pakista' to 'Bangla' in 30 November. The claim for declaring Pakistan as 'Bangladesh' in a meeting held by East Pakistan Chhatra League on December 24.
1971: In a situation arised due to the unexpected declaration by Iahia of the postponement of Pakistan National Assembly on March 1st, a courageous contribution and involvement in independance movement by him. .............................In Central Shahid Minar, leading the
oath-function of combatting writers and intellectuals on March 5...............................
1974: Famine Prevention committee formed on 11 October, and he became active member of this movement.
1977: Convener of Jatiya Committe for Performing 21st February. A strong protest and criticism in the events of being endangered the freedom of individual, speech and the press as well as the evil policy of rehabilitation of Rajakars by the Millitary rulers.
1981 : President, Nagorik Committee against Communalism and fascism formed at 28 April.
1983 : As a president of Bangladesh Bhasha Samittee, made a strong protest against the Education Policy of the military regime of Ershad. Originating from this protest, demonstrations spreaded all over the country.
1990 : ................................As a president of Bangladesh Bhasha Samittee and a popular intellectual, delivered a statement condemning the conspiracy of imperialism in international politics and also condemning and protesting strongly against the conspiracy of ruining the inter-communal peace in the event of Babri Mosque Occurence, on 7 November.
1992 : a) Adviser of Muktizuddher Chetona Bastobayon and Ekattorer Ghatok-Dalal Nirmul Jatiyo Shomonnoy Committee,
b) An urge for strongly opposing and resisting the rise of anti-liberation fundamentalist forces, 21st February.
c) Jury member of Gono Adalot-1 formed in Dhaka Sohrawardi Uddyan on 26 March, 1992
I don't want to make it lengthy. This is his brief backgroud or amolnama. I described this, because this is very important before jumping to any absolute decision based on emotion.
Now, I am going to provide some important clues for truth seekers-
1. It should be noted that he died in 24 February, 1999. The comment in question was that: ........from 1947 to 1989 no communal riots had taken place....
I will provide the exact excerpt: "The communal riot took place in Punjab at the very moment of achieving independance, which later spreaded everywhere. Before 1950 in the towns and cities of East Bengal or East Pakistan, killing of Hindus and looting had not begun. Riot is a clash or fights between two parties involving killing and looting etc. These did not take place here,-the Hindus did not resist. Since there were no political leaders in villages, In India or Pakistan from 1948 to 1989 up to the event of Babti Mosque confrontation and occurence of breaking of Babri Mosque, communal riots or killing, burning, raping, looting and breaking had not take place. It happened that time because of ..... .(Bangladeshe bigoto ponchanno bochhorer roikhik chalchitro; from the book Itihash o shomaj chinta, page397 or from 'Nrbachito probondho', page 60.
2. In page 440, in the article 'Danger Itihash(history of riots)' he gave reference from a book of Shoileshkumar Bandopaddhay and made a critique for the book. Avoiding full statement, I will give only which is related to our matter. "..............................6. In Calcutta, Noakhali, Punjab, Delhi everywhere[riots of 1946], 7. Despiting of removing the third party[riots of independance era up to 1968-1989]. In context of these seven chapters, the writer is showing the reasons of riots in from chapter 8 to chapter 10 with the title 'Behind riots everywhere(Shorbotro Danger ontorale)
a) It seems to me, in perception, that there could be a mistake somewhere. It is possible that the article in question 'Bangladeshe bigoto ponchanno bochhorer roikhik chalchitro;( from the book Itihash o shomaj chinta, page397 or Nirbachito probondho) might had been written in at the last time of his life, namely 1998 when his health condition could be worsenning and he was loosing memory. Possible that he did not have enough time to update that.
b) Look at his comment again-how he is defining riot. Riot is a clash between two group of people. He also added,"the Hinus did not resist....". Therefore, 'riot did not take place' doesn't prove that the Hindus weren't victim and he meant that.
c) While he is giving referrence in another article(Daanger Itihush) in the same book(Itihash o shomajchinta) from an article of Shoileshkumar Bandopaddhay that : "riots of independance era up to 1968-1989]"-
is he trying to hide any information or pretending unawareness or ignorance ?
d) Either it's a printer's mistake or it's mistake because of illness.
Dear fellow progressive-minded friends ! Before jumping to judg him I would request you to keep open your mind and to keep it flexible. I try to do that also. We need to find out, in which year the article in question was published in 'Itihush o Shomajchinta' and 'Nirbachito probondho'. Dear friends, sometimes truth is difficult to gain. It is easy to make a quick conclusion about somebody. We have to consider his background also. The courageous role what he played in difficult situation, how many of us could dare to do that. It is very easy to make discussion from abroad in a safe distance. Did we judge ourselves how much courageous role we could play in the face of threat of fundamentalists ? How many general people of of Bangladesh can reach the higher level intellectual discussion of Mukto-mona forum in the e-mails conducted in English ? Dear friends, sometimes I feel myself very selfish and oppurtunists because of our own hypocrisy.
If I hurt anybody's feelings, forgive me. This is my impersonnel comment about ourselves.
Thanks-
From: "Subimal Chakrabarty @yahoo.com" <Subimal Chakrabarty @yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 1:25:55 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Re: 'Holy Hate' : Real horror story from History!
WRT: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mukto- mona/message/ 48387
"The comment by Ahmed Sharif that from 1947 to 1989 didn't witness any
communal riot in this subcontinent- ----"
I really want to see the reference from which Ahmed Sharif has been quoted. How can Ahmed Sharif say that when Meerat, Ahmedabad, Dhaka, Khulana, Narayanganj and other communal killings occurred while he was very much a well informed conscious progressive intellectual? Can some one please quote a few lines from the relevant book by Ahmed Sharif?
-----SC
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