The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abu Bakar Siddiquee

Even the other evening I found a crowd in front of Shamsu Mia's betel leaf shop. Majed Mia's angered voice could be heard, 'the bloody lame is going to kill his wife by beating, the bloody muzzy!'

Munshi Bashir Mia followed the trail of Majed Mia, wrathfully he shouted,

'Look at the hauteur of the lame! Hey, she is your wife; but it doesn't meant that she is your slave and you can beat her all the time with or without any reason.'

Shamsu's tipsy voice could be heard now.

' Whether I beat my wife with stick or worship her with flower, what is that to you?'

'Hear … hear… what the tippler is saying!' The entire crowd became agitated. One of them reproach with a local slang meaning the younger brother of one's wife,

'Shaala!' 'Deal the drunker with a good number of blows, his drunkenness will blow off.'

'What happened? Why all of you are making chaos?' I wanted to know with a harsh voice and hard look. On seeing me Munshi Bashir Mia of khoa, Shaheb Ali, the owner of sweetmeat shop, Raghu Bagdi the sweeper of hatkhola, Lakhia's father the chanchurwala, all moved aside. Majed Mia came forward and complained 'Master Shaheb, the stupid Shamsu has swallowed a good amount of wine and beat up his wife.'

No allegation came from Shamsu's wife who was behind the torn gunny curtain of the shop, centring whom the people are so much excited. Shamsu was not in a condition to speak then. His eyes were reddened and droopy showing the signs of drunkenness. Moreover the presence of the mob made him annoyed and irritant. By this time he regained some vigour and said in a drunken voice,

' I'll punish my wife as I wish; I have that right. Why you people feel bad if I punish her?'

Hearing his dialect a hum spread amongst the crowd. Majed Mia almost screamed,

'Did you hear, Master Shaheb, the way he talks!'

Someone made a sarcastic comment from behind,

'The blind, lame and the dumb, is the father of Satan'.

I requested all to be silent. Then I enquired Shamsu about the reason of beating his wife and make out that the quarrel was on a trifle personal issue. Hence I addressed those present there,

'Why you people poking your nose in their personal affairs? Leave them aside, they will settle their dispute themselves'.

Then I turned toward Shamsu and said with a tone of order,

'Look Shamsu, you shouldn't beat your wife incredibly, it brings bad name and your family life will also be ruined. Never assault your wife like this in future, understand?'

Shamsu bowed his head down humbly, then said,

'I honour your advice, Master Shaheb; I carry on your advice over my head. But, I have an accusation against these people'. He raised his hand to show the crowd. The sweetmeat shop owner Shaheb Ali growled,

'What is that nitpick? You drunkard! You are boasting too much! How dare you complain against us to Master Shaheb?'

To stop him I snapped, quite angrily,

'Why have you started reviling again? All of you should leave this place now.'

The entire crowd was on their way after my scolding. I told Shamsu,

'I shall hear your complaint later on. Never beat your wife and never entangle in quarrelling with other people. Try to get in good touch with everybody.'

Shamsu bowed his head in assertion to abide by my advice. I was about to step forward when a sound floated from behind the torn gunny curtain,

'Master Shaheb, I want to say something. You have to listen.'

I could guess that the female voice was of Shamsu's wife. I apprehend that the wife would now complain against husband. To hear and solve husband-wife's problem will take much time. I was in a hurry and had many works to complete; also I had to examine the students answer sheet. So I told Shamsu's wife,

'Don't raise a storm in a teapot with these bagatella. One should obey her husband. Be careful not to make such type of row in future.'

But she pleaded,

'Listen to me kindly, I am requesting you earnestly that I have something to say. Here the people cast evil eyes on me and express obscene hints.'

I could understand that the beauty and youth of Shamsu's wife have intoxicated the people of Hatkhola with a desire of passion and excitement, which she failed to tolerate. I said,

'You must be careful while moving around and better wrap up your body with a veil. You need not fear. In this society the number of good people are more than the dirty one. If you and your husband stay in good term there will be no nuisance.'

Without wasting further time I made my way to school boarding house.

After the incidence of that evening I could not go to Hatkhola for a couple of days. At the end of school hours I remained awfully busy with office works, as the Inspector will visit the school soon and in the evening also I remained busy in examining the student's sheets.

I had a frivolity of chewing a roll of betel leaf after each meal. For that I used to go to Shamsu's shop at least twice a day. But these days that could not be done, boarding boy Afzal used to bring the betel leaf for me. After a long time on a leisure hour I had gone to have a roll of betel leaf in Shamsu's shop. But my mind became heavy hearing the incidence of last evening.

The story goes like this. Yesterday evening Shamsu's wife went to the river flowing along Hatkhola, to fill her pitcher. When she was returning it was almost dark. Taking the opportunity of this solemn moment of dusk, Alkas, the full-grown son of sweetmeat shop owner Shaheb Ali, pulled Shamsu's wife close in an embrace and tried to drag her in nearby jute field. Shamsu's wife screamed in protest against this immodest immoral behaviour of Alkas. Hearing that Shamsu reached at the place of occurrence. The scene of struggling of his wife with Alkas outraged him and as such he struck Alkas in the head with his walking stick. Alkas was injured and there was spurting of blood from his scalp. Somehow Alkas reached the hospital, the cut scalp was stitched and bandaged. Today he went to the town with doctor's certificate to file a lawsuit in the court against Shamsu.

Shamsu became frightened hearing about lawsuit. Seeing me he felt a stirring of kinship, and of hope. With great entreaty he said,

'Master Shaheb, please do something. I am poor and have no means to spend for the lawsuit. Moreover there will be saucy talk in the court about my wife which will be a matter of great shame for me.'

Shamsu's wife also fall over my feet, wept and said,

'Master Shaheb, please give a decision of this lawsuit. Otherwise we poor people have to loose everything.'

Before this I have never seen Shamsu's wife so closely. Truly, she is beautiful; her body is full of lustrous youth embodied with excitement of passion. Shamsu is in a vulnerable position. Thinking that I decided to arrange a settlement of the issue.

In response to my call almost all the shop owners of Hatkhola gathered in front of Shamsu's shop in the evening. The Union Council Member of that Ward attended the meeting; Shaheb Ali also present with his son Alkas. I prologue for few minutes and then proposed,

'Whatever has happened is very disgraceful for all. But I think instead of having a lawsuit in the court for this unwanted incident it will be better to make a decision by the local authorities, if all of you agree to that. However the judgement should be acceptable to both the party.'

Almost everyone agreed with me and said,

'That's right, but we want to know the matter of fact.'

There is reasoning in this saying, so I asked the sweetmeat shop owner Shaheb Ali,

'You put in the picture the reason of filing lawsuit.'

Shaheb Ali narrated, 'day before yesterday, in the evening, the lame Shamsu and his wife went to the landing place of the river to bring water. As Shamsu is lame he always walks leaning over a stick. Shamsu's wife was coming up along the bank of the river with pitcher full of water. At that time Shaheb Ali's son Alkas was returning from the town. As it was growing dark he was walking in a speed and suddenly stumbled with Shamsu's wife, the pitcher full of water falls and broke. On seeing this lame Shamsu abused Alkas with filthy words. Alkas tried to protest. But the block-headed Shamsu hit him in the head with his walking stick and made him wounded. Soaked with blood Alkas went to the hospital where the doctor stops bleeding from the scalp by stitching. Shaheb Ali was compelled to file a lawsuit in the town court thinking that the man, who being excited with a trifle affair could crack the head of a known person, should undergo a trial.

Hearing Shaheb Ali's narration Shamsu roared up and made objection. He addressed all those present there with folded hands,

'Master Shaheb, Member Shaheb, the respected persons present here, my regards to you all. Shaheb Ali's grievance is not factual. The truth is my wife went alone to the landing place of river to fill her pitcher. Taking the opportune of solemn moment of the dusk Shaheb Ali's son Alkas touched her; he was trying to drag her to the jute field. My helpless wife screamed with all her strength on hearing that I ran to her with the support of stick. It's true that I have hit Alkas with my walking stick, but that was done to drive away Alkas and to protect my wife's chaste.' Then Shamsu looked apathetically at all the persons present there and in a sad voice continued, 'otherwise, what else a cripple one like me could do to save his wife's chaste, please tell me.'

The statement of both the complainant and the defendant was exactly reversed. Member Shaheb asked my permission and said,'The report of both side is completely different. It is very hard to come to a conclusion from the statement. So we like to hear the fact from the person with whom this incidence occurred.'

'Yes, that will be better. Let us hear the real story from her,' almost everyone said in a word. All were looking eagerly towards the gunny curtain drawn in front of the inner room of Shamsu's shop. But no response came behind the screen. The Member Shaheb urged forward,

'Lo, Shamsu's wife! Why are you keeping mum? You are the actual plaintiff. How can we make judgement if you stand mute?'

Even after this there was no sound. Availing the opportunity of silence the sweetmeat shop owner Shaheb Ali said,

'How Shamsu's wife could speak lie? After all she comes from a good family. Shamsu don't have values for honour or prestige but his wife cares for respect and dignity.'

This time also Shamsu's wife did not respond. She was feeling awkward to speak about such an immodest story in front of so many people. Shamsu apprehend the trouble. He knows very well that his wife is shy and very sensitive. She will never open her mouth to speak the disgraceful incident to this decision-making conference.

The Munshi Bashir of khoa said,

'That's very unfair! How comes that Shamsu defamed his virtuous wife being unable to fight against mighty opponent! Can't this ravish get a rope to tie around his neck!'

The entire crowd were looking at each other hearing Munshi Bashir's remark.

The Member Shaheb also had some reason to take revenge on Shamsu's wife. Few years ago, and not long after Shamsu's marriage, the Member Shaheb wanted to won Shamsu's wife by offering money. In reply to the illegal proposal of Member Shaheb in the solitude of a tree in Shamsu's courtyard she mopped him up. Luckily none saw the incidence nor Shamsu's wife has spoken to anyone about it.

Member Shaheb took advantage of this righteous moment, with a tiny sigh of disappointment as if to say there was nothing so far in the narration, he said,

'So, what could be done Master Shaheb! How can we go ahead if the main plaintiff remains silent? Let us apart from here now.'

All were preparing to go away while Shaheb Ali folded his hand and said loudly,

'Member Shaheb, Master Shaheb, now do a justice to me.'

'What complain do you have again?' Member Shaheb asked.

'I am asking all of you to do the justice. Till now none has smirch my family honour, which Shamsu did today being instigated by his debauch wife. Shamsu can't control his wife. He failed to control her even after a good beating. Now a day she cast evil eyes over the young boys of her vicinity, allure them to the evil path. This wife should be forbidden for Shamsu. She has degraded us; all who came here for judgement are insulted. Sir, today you ought to take a decision in this matter.'

Member Shaheb was waiting for such a hay-time. Spontaneously he responded,

'You are right Shaheb Ali, that wife has become forbidden for Shamsu. She is not a virtuous woman.'

Then he looked at Shamsu and said,

'The woman who can defame a man of good character, is able slay her husband in the bed. Now we can't allow this woman to stay in this village. Shamsu, your wife has lowered down your honour and dignity. As such she has become forbidden for you. You are to divorce her.'

The word 'divorce' shoots Shamsu's heart with an arrow. Shamsu's wife fainted on hearing the verdict. Without paying any heed to all these Member Shaheb set his face resolutely to pronounce,

' Hey Shamsu, now you cut off your wife's hair and utter the word 'divorce' three times; then sign the divorce paper. You have had to send your wife to her father's house tonight.'

The conference of judgement was over. I wanted to say something but I sensed clearly that my suggestions would not be taken into grant; so I abandon the idea and slowly walked towards the school building.

Events ran too quickly. The verdict was made effective without delay. In no time the scandal of Shamsu's wife spread in the whole village. The villagers became enthusiastic and made Shamsu cut off his unconscious wife's hair; after that he uttered the word 'divorce' three times in front of the Munshi Shaheb and signed the divorce paper. On the same night his wife was send to her father's house.

The villagers were telling to one another, 'Shamsu is a boozy silly mutt; that's why he has called for trial. The stupid drunker doesn't know that his wife has a love affair with Shaheb Ali's son Alkas from the very beginning.'

Some one said,'Shamsu's wife is not to be blamed for. She is very modest. Being a woman how one can speak of slur in front of all! Her shyness brought a disaster. Alack! What a punishment was waiting for her!'

Different people made different remarks, but what was destined occurred in silence. On that evening the lame Shamsu cut off his wife's hair, signed the divorce paper and sent her to her father's house. Then he walked straight towards the bank of river with the help of walking stick. Nobody noticed him. He leaned over the stick holding it in one hand and with the other hand he hold the sharp chopper by which he cuts palm tree. Shamsu's calculation in term of intelligence and arithmetic was not wrong. It was in the twilight of end-night when Shaheb Ali went to the bank of the river on nature's call with a mug in hand Shamsu snapped the head of Shaheb Ali with a single blow of the sharp chopper, Shaheb Ali's whole body flooded with blood. Without uttering a single word Shamsu threw the chopper far away and jumped into the river to be drowned.

In the same morning the villagers saw two dead bodies: the beheaded corpse of Shaheb Ali at the bank of river and the drowned lifeless body of lame Shamsu Mia at the alluvium.

The story should have ended here. But sometimes one episode continues to other. In this connection I have to narrate something more. In no time of this incidence the boundary line of sweetmeat shop owner Shaheb Ali's confectionery shop and Shamsu Mia's betel leaf shop gone off and the land merged together. In that space a building was erected having provision for shops on the ground floor, and in the first floor a cosy dwelling house was built where Alkas, the son of the Shaheb Ali lives. Whole building was brightened with electric light. The villagers praised Alkas's wits.

Three months have passed. Another obvious surprise was waiting for the villagers. They came to know that Shaheb Ali's son Alkas married the divorcee of deceased Shamsu Mia. The wedding reception was celebrated with great pomp. All the villagers were entertained with a full rich meal. Amplifier was hired from the town and recorded songs were played throughout the bridal-night to express the joy of festivity. Again all the villagers enjoyed the occasion.

(Original story in Bangla named 'Protishoodh' translated by Razia Khanam.)

Rashidul Bari

When I asked Jerald Posman, the Vice President of CUNY York College and columnist of New York Times, to make a comment about Muhammad Yunus, he replied, "Nobody did as much to empowering women as Muhammad Yunus. He is a symbol of icon in women empowering movement". My sentiments are as same as Prof. Posman when it comes to the contribution of Yunus' to changing women's lives. In his new book, Creating a World without Poverty Yunus tales the tale of a movement started forty years ago which changed millions of women' lives.

In his new book, Creating a World without Poverty Yunus outlines his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the mission which could make a compassionate world -especially for women. In the past three decades, free markets have swept the globe, bringing with them enormous potential for positive change. But traditional capitalism cannot solve problems such as inequality and poverty, because it is held back by a narrow view of human nature in which people are unsophisticated beings understand nothing but profit. However, Yunus' believes that human beings are more than money making machine. According to Yunus, human beings have many other drives and passions, such as sacredness, the societal sense of humour, and the philanthropic compassion. Welcome to the Yunus' world where the imaginative vision of the entrepreneur is applied to solve the serious problems such as reducing poverty, improving education, housing the homeless, healing the sick, and protecting the planet from CO2 emissions.

Creating a World Without Poverty tells the tale of Grameen Bank, and how it changed millions of women lives in so little time. It discloses the next stage in a hopeful economic and social revolution that is already under way and in the worldwide effort to abolish poverty by unleashing the philanthropic part of human beings.

In this book, the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate sketches his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the mission for a more benevolent world and tells the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today. In the last three decades, free markets have flounced the globe, bringing with them enormous potential for positive change. Yunus believes that the traditional capitalism cannot solve the human fundamental tribulations such as inequality and poverty, because it is held back by few billionaires who understand nothing but making money.

Prof. Posman writes, "micro-credit is not about money, it is about unleashing the most abundant and least utilised resource in the world today - human potential. It is about providing an opportunity for every person - especially woman- to become self-sufficient, personally responsible and creative and Yunus is the father of this movement. "I read Banker to the Poor years ago and I just placed an order for the new book from Barns & Noble. I am eagerly waiting to read this book" Prof. Posman told me in an interview-who will bring Yunus at York College on February 11, 2008 to kick off Muhammad Yunus International Scholarship which enable five children of Grameen members each year for the next four years to be given full four-year scholarships to study at CUNY York College.

Yunus was born in a rural village called Bethoea in Bangladesh. He earned Ph. D in Economics from Vanderbilt University as Fulbright Scholar. In 1974-, when he was a head of the economics department at Chittagong University - Bangladesh went through a devastating famine which led Yunus loaned $27 to forty-two stool makers living in a tiny village. This small loan helped these women break the cycle of poverty forever. In 1983, he found Grameen Bank, a pioneer of micro-credit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. The Grameen movement has now spread to nearly 100 countries. In 2006 Yunus was awarded the Nobel Prize.

Yunus new book Creating a World without Poverty is coming out on December 31, 2007. Perseus Publishing, one of the leading book publishers of the United States, publishing this book. Yunus will make a month long book tour throughout the United States to promote his book. "Yunus is coming to Barnss & Noble at Union Squire to sign Creating a World without Poverty on January 23, at 7 pm" said Steven Harvey, its media manger.

(Rashidul Bari is a Bangladeshi born writer based in the United States. He is an author of 25 books-and biographer of Muhammad Yunus. His website is: www.rashidulbari.info)