The New Nation - Internet Edition

Siddique Mahmudur Rahman

Muslim population of British India, especially those who lived in the Eastern part of Bengal, were greatly deprived of the advantage of the facilities given by British Government during the Nineteenth and early twentieth century. With the Partition of Bengal in 1905 these Muslims became happy in anticipation that greatly-deprived eastern part of Bengal will get their share of development, but their dream was shattered after the prorogation of Partition of Bengal in 1911.

To pacify these frustration, the 'Nathan Committee' was constituted by the British Government. The committee recommended to establish a tertiary level educational institution for the people of the East Bengal in 1912. Considering the report submitted by Mr. Nathan, Calcutta University Commission took decision of establishing a residential hall based university and after much dispute, Mr. PG Hartog, took over the charge of Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka on 10 Dec 1920. Enrollment of students started from 10 July 1921. In the beginning, the journey of Dhaka University started with only three halls.

These are Salimullah Muslim Hall, Jagannath Hall and Dhaka Hall. In 1921-22 session, Salimullah Muslim hall started functioning with 75 residential students (according to another opinion 87) and 103 non residential students on the first floor of Dhaka Medical College. Ahmed Fazlur Rahman, Reader of History Department (Associate Professor), Ex-Faculty of Aligarh Muslim University (alma mater from Oxford University) was appointed as Provost of Salimullah Muslim Hall. The Present building of Salimullah Hall was inaugurated on 11 August 1931.

The hall is established on a 12.91 acres of land including 75 thousand sq. ft. of garden. The main structure is a rectangular structure, resembling a fort, but without typical fortification. This two-storied building house 810 students. It has one dining room, one library, one auditorium with TV facility, one computer room, two reading rooms and one saloon.

After the Liberation of Bangladesh, the then Government deleted the word 'Muslim' from its name to make it non-communal flavour in a resolution taken by the Syndicate of University of Dhaka in its meeting dated June 17, 1972 renaming of "Salimullah Muslim Hall" as "Salimullah Hall", and the consequent changes made in the Dhaka University Order 1973.

A Writ Petition was filed by Raquibuddin Ahmed, a former resident of Salimullah Hall, who is also the first Secretary General of Salimullah Hall Alumni Association requesting the High Court about this changing of the name of this Hall.

The High Court on June 12, 2004, issued a rule upon the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of Dhaka University and Provost of Fazlul Huq Hall to show cause as to why the Syndicate's decision of deleting the word 'Muslim' from the name of the hall should not be declared illegal.

The HC declared 1972 decision of the University Syndicate illegal and the rule absolute. The Hon'ble Court directed the authority to give SM Hall its original name "Salimullah Muslim Hall". Salimullah Muslim Hall is not only an ordinary residential hall for the students of Dhaka University but it embodies also our history and proud heritage, the heritage of our own identity along with ours being backward not only in education but also in almost all civic matters.

One may recall here the facts and sad experience the people of this region had in the creation in 1905 and then in the annulment of the new province of East Bengal and Assam in December 1911, and the 'compensatory' measure that followed the establishment of Dhaka University in 1920.

The dynamic political and social roles played by Dhaka's Nawab Salimullah during this turmoiling period in the beginning of the 20th century was embodied in the arena and structure of the Salimullah Muslim Hall. No doubt, he died immaturely in 1915 at the middle of his youth when he was moving up and down for seeking well-being of the down-trodden people of this region and for emancipation of the disadvantaged classes and so also of the Muslims of East Bengal and Assam, the establishment of the Dhaka University and of the Salimullah Hall, in particular, was made symbolic of his endless sacrifice and contributions. Salimullah Muslim Hall has also its involvement in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 too.

It came to news headlines many a times after that. The Pakistani soldiers also attacked Salimullah Hall and Dhaka Hall.

They beat up Salimullah Hall house tutor Professor Munim. Editorial March is the month of Liberation War and on 26 march, we celebrate Independence Day. With the sacrifice of a sea of blood during the ninth months of horrible struggle we earned our freedom. Every inch of our land is soaked with the blood of our valiant soldiers. There will be many exhibitions, cultural functions, discussions, seminars, musical soiree, film shows all over the City and also all over the country. March also represents the months of Falgun and Chaitra. It is really pleasant to go around and visit places.

In rural areas there will by many beautiful melas (fairs) by the sides of the rivers. In this issue, we bring before you a building, an architectural splendor of great importance to our history and culture - Salimullah Muslim Hall of Dhaka University is turning 75 years old. It is really a matter of prime for those who are related with his hall.

(There are many things to see around this residential hall of Dhaka University.)

Ameer Hamzah

Begum Rokeya, the harbinger of education for women in Bengal was born in the district of Rangpur in a village under Pairaband Union in 1880 on the 9th December. Her father Zahiruddin Mohammad Abu Ali Haider Saber was very conservative in character and prohibited the learning of Bengali and English. But Rokeya had a thirst for knowledge and it was her eldest brother who taught her Bengali and English at dead of night when every one used to remain in the deep sleep.

Roakeya was given married to a nearly old man Syed Sakhawat Hossain (40), Deputy Magistrate by profession, in the year 1897. As Sakhawat was himself a learner, she patronized his wife's craving for knowledge and gave all out supports. However, Rokeya's marriage life was short-lived and Sakhawat died on the 5th May 1909 at Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.

The death of Sakhawat saddened her very much and she was thinking how to overcome seclusion.

Just then a hadith of the Prophet (SM), 'it is compulsory on every man and woman to learn,' rescued her from melancholy. This sayings helped her understand the inevitability of learning and she opened a school at Bhagalpur with just five students but could not stay there for long due to misbehavior of her father in law's family members.

Rokeya returned to Calcutta, West Bengal a year later and floated a girl's school on March 15 1911 on Taltala Waliullah Lane. The name of the school was Sakhawat Memorial Girls School. Rokeya's school is recognised as the first permanent school for girls in Bengal as two more schools which were opened in 1980, lasted for a very short period.

In the field of education, Begum Rokeya received inspiration from Maulana Mohammad Ali, Sher-e-Bangla A.K.Fazlul Haque, Justice Syed Sharfuddin and others like them.

During those days, it was very hard to get female students at school because the guardians did not like their female members to go out of houses. So, Rokeya had to move from pillar to post and post to pillar to convince the guardians to send their daughters/sisters to her school. In doing this noble job, a section of the society often abused her with the filthy languages. But she was not a woman to retreat. She continued to surge ahead and it is due to her tireless efforts and sincerity, the school was upgraded to Junior Girls High School in 1917 and to High English Girls School in 1931, a year before her death.

In 1916, she established a socio-cultural organisation named Anzuman Khanetun-e-Islam having the objective of assisting the destitute women to survive and to become self-independent financially. She was out and out a Muslim by faith and deed. She never uncovered her head and hand and avoided discourse. At the same time, she disliked superstition and ignorance and to keep women confined in houses. This great lady died in the year 1932 on the 9th December.

Begum Rokeya wrote several books. Those are Aborodhbasini published in 1931, Sultana's Dream in 1922, Ardhangini, Motichur in (Vol 1 1904, Vol II 1922, Padyarag in 1926.