Martyrs’ Memorial Girls’ High School, Doihari Village, Swarupkathi Police Station, Pirojpur District, Bangladesh

Martyrs’ Memorial Girls’ High School, Doihari Village, Swarupkathi Police Station, Pirojpur District, Bangladesh

(Shahid Smriti Madhyamik Balika Bidyaloi)

Sachi G. Dastidar

On a much-awaited visit to a remote corner of southern coastal deltaic Bangladesh, SriRamKathi village of BhimKathi area of Pirojpur District New York’s (U.S.A.) Probini Foundation delegates Executive Secretary Shuvo G. Dastidar and this writer met folks of the area to discuss a possible school construction at the Pranab Ashram. The 175 mile distance from Bangladesh capital Dhaka takes a day’s journey either by river boat or by bus crossing many river ferries, although journey by boat or steamer is certainly a pleasurable-yet-unhurried way to travel. 

 

 

 

 

In 2007 as soon as we reached the SriRamKathi Pranab Ashram it seemed celebration began. Boys and girls and their parents were already waiting for us. Welcome began by saying Namaskar or Greetings with folded hands, women ululating and others blowing conch. With announcements from the head (Hindu) monk via ashram’s loudspeakers streams of local residents started to pour in. Words of mouth spread like wild fire. We joined rest of the crowd in singing, playing, chatting, and offering Hindu prayers in a Muslim-majority land. Some in the crowd took Shuvo for a walk in the village, while others took me for walk, chat and tea. Both Shuvo and I took a look at the possible site for a new school building that the locals were pleading with Probini for help. (Probini has built the school building named Probini Bhavan [Building].) Some people imagine more powers in us than actually we possess. One distraught poor oppressed Hindu father came to us seeking justice for her daughter. His daughter, first graduate of the family, was kidnapped in midday, abused then murdered by drowning by a Muslim gang. And the local administration was reluctant to punish the killers. In desperation he thought we foreigners could be his “last straw” for justice. There were others who shared their pleasure and pain. Soon dark fell. Some headed home, others moved indoors for further briefing. In darkness entered a group of newcomers accompanied by Monk Sunil, a swami, or ordained Hindu monk. Guests took off their shoes and went straight to touch my feet to show their respect and affection. Swami introduced them as a group of people from a nearby school desperately needing help. Swami said “They need help badly. The school was wiped out after a storm a few months back. Their school has no roof. School’s dorm has been wiped out, and kids are sleeping in rooms without any roof. Older Brother, please help them. If it delays our school project, so be it. They need urgent help.” We said, “Probini doesn’t help without a firsthand report, and we have no time to visit their school.” Students and teachers started begging and crying to take us to their school. Changing our plan next morning we took a boat ride to that coastal island, one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. Some of the structures were completely gone. Headmaster Nirmal Chandra Dhali, a Hindu, who lived in the school dorm with rest of the resident girls had organized a meeting with founder of the school, Mr. Sikdar, a Hindu minority, and many other important personalities in hours notice. During Bangladesh Liberation Movement in 1971 on the school site 136 Hindus were corralled by the Army of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its Bengali Islamist allies then shot or hacked them to death, including Mr. Sikdar’s father, a headmaster. Thus he gave the name Martyr’s Memorial in memory of his father and other’s killed when he founded the school. There were several individuals killed who could not be identified as they were brought from other islands. Their Hindu families may also have been killed.

The monk at nearby SriRamKathi Pranab Ashram in his attitude of self-sacrifice said, “If you can, please help them first. We can wait. Their need is urgent and immediate” That’s what Probini did.

Over a decade mostly-minority students have done very well in nationwide exams. Now it has been upgraded to a higher level able to teach junior college-level courses.

Funds for building the dorm (hostel) came from the following: Probini Foundation Members in the U.S.; The Late Ronald E. Moehle; St. Francis College of Brooklyn; Dorothy Phelan in memory of her parents Mary & Thomas; Mrs. Baby Chowdhury; Ms. Vanitha Venugopal; in Memory of Tulshi Sengupta of New Jersey; Drs. Eloise Linger and Ernst Harsch; in memory of Ranu Banerji by daughter Mita; in Memory of Comilla-born (1908) Mrs. Jyotirmoye Sen by nephew Pratip Dasgupta; and Drs Sabyasachi Ghosh and Shefali Sengupta Dastidar.

Here are some pictures from Martyrs’ Memorial Girls’ High School.

Heading off from SriRamKathi to Doihari

Beginning of Boat Journey

Shuvo on the boat with Hosts

Riverside

BhimKathi Ghat (bathing and boat landing area)

Headmaster Dhali, facing camera, leading the Boat

Going under a Footbridge Connecting two Delta Islands

Friends who Came to take the Guests to Doihari Village

Enjoying the Scenery Going by Boat from SreRamKathi to Doihari (Island)

Headmaster Dhali (right) welcoming Guests at the Doihari Boat Landing

Welcome by Students to the School

Welcome by Students

Students and Monks at one of the Surviving Structures

Roofless (blown away by Hurricane) Girl's Dorm Room

Roofless (jute-sack covered) Girl's Dorm Room

Remains of a Classroom

Saying Goodbye to Visitors returning to SriRamKathi

Building Under Construction

Building under Construction with Supervision from Headmaster Dhali (on rooftop)

Memorial with Names of Hindu Mass Murder Victim

School Students with Probini Tablet on Back

Probini Tablet with Donors' Names

 

Sahid Smriti (Martyrs’ Memorial) Girls’ High School

Doihari, Swarupkathi, Pirojpur

Probini Foundation (New York) School & Student Dormitory (Reconstruction)

This Concrete Building, Roofs Built by:

The Late Ronald Mohle

St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York

In Memory of the Late Mary & Thomas Phulan by Daughter Dorothy

Srimati (Ms.) Baby Chowdhury

Srimati Vanitha Venugopal

In Memory of the Late Tulshi Sengupta of New Jersey

Srimati & Sri (Ms. & Mr.) Eloise Linger & Ernest Harsch

In Memory of the Late Ranu Mukherji by Daughter Mita

In Memory of the Late Jyotirmoyee Sen (Born: Comilla, BD) by Nephew Pratip Dasgupta

Sri & Srimati Dr. Sabyasachi Ghosh & Dr. Shefali Sengupta Dastidar

June 2009

New School Building

Martyr's Memorial

Some of the Names of Individuals Murdered by Pakistan Army and Bengali Islamists

 

 Mass Murder Memorial Tablet

(Ganahatya Smriti Falak)

DURING THE INDEPENDENCE WAR OF 1971 ON MAY 24 THE SAVAGE PAKISTAN ARMY AND ITS LOCAL ALLIES MURDER VICTIMS’ NAMES AND THE LIST OF MARTYRS AT DOIHARI UNION NO 6

(Swadhinata Juddhye Barbar Paak Haanadar Bahini O Tader Sthaneeyo Doshorder Hatey 1971 Khristabder 24 May, 6 No Doihari Unioner Mrityubaaran kari Sahidder Naamer Talika)

No.        Martyr Names                Name of Father/Husband                           Village  

1. Jadab Chandra Byapari	F: Basanta Byapari		Vil: Ganakpara
2. Amalya Byapari	F: Sishu Lal Byapari		Vil:: Ganakpara
3. Nakuleshwar Mandal	F: Ram Sagar Mandal		Vil:: Ganakpara
4. Krishnakanta Bepari	F: Kartik Bepari		Vil:: Ganakpara
5. Nani Gopal Mridha	F: Hari Charan Mridha		Vil:: Ganakpara
6. Kali Charan Rai	F: Raghu Nath Rai		Vil:: Ganakpara
7. Ananta Kumar Haldar	F: Durga Charan Haldar		Vil:: Ganakpara
8. Lalit Bepari	F: Kartik Bepari		Vil:: Ganakpara
9. Manindra Nath Mridha	F: Nibaran Mridha		Vil:: Ganakpara
10. Bishwabandhu Haldar	F: Balram Haldar		Vil:: Chailabuniya
11. Mahindra Nath Bepari	F: Samit Bepari		Vil:: Chailabuniya
12. Dhriren Bepari	F: Satin Beapari		Vil:: Chailabuniya
13. Laxmikanta Bepari	F: Punno Chandra Bepari		Vil:: Chailabuniya
14. Khirad Rai	F: Rashik Rai		Vil:: Chailabuniya
15. Lalit Majhi	F: Chandra Kumar Majhi		Vil: :Bashtala
16. Surendranath Bepari	F: Basanta Bepari		Vil: :Bashtala
17. Sarat Mandal	F: Ishwar Mandal		Vil::Bashtala
18. Lalit Mandal	F: Akhil Mandal		Vil: :Bashtala
19. Eshaan Mandal	F: Baikuntha Mandal		Vil:  Bashtala
20. Dhiren Haldar	F: Shasthi Haldar		Vil: Bashtala
21. Shasti Haldar	F: Gopal Haldar		Vil: :Bashtala
22. Ashwini Boral	F: Chandrakanta Boral		Vil: :Bashtala
23. Kanakprabha Haldar	F:Kumbha Bihari Haldar		Vil::Thaliya
24. Srinath Haldar	F:Madav Haldar		Vil::Thaliya
25. Bisheswar Haldar	F: Jageshwar Haldar		Vil::Thaliya
26. Nityananda Haldar	F: Ambika Haldar	Vil:: Thaliya
27. Bhagban Haldar	F:Buddhimonto Haldar	Vil:: Thaliya
28. Manada Shundori Bepari	Husb- Sarada Bepari	Vil:: Thaliya
29. Kartik Bepari	F: Kali Charan Bepari	Vil:: Thaliya
30. Ashwini Haldar	F:Kuturam Haldar	Vil:: Thaliya
31. Nirmal Haldar	F: Khirad Haldar	Vil:: Thaliya
32. Bishai Haldar	F: Agwato	Vil:: Thaliya
33. Sunil Haldar	F: Ashwini Haldar	Vil:: Thaliya
34. Nirodh Bihari Samandar	F: Kali Charan Samandar	Vil: Pareshkathi
35. Upendra Nath Mandal	F: Ambika Mandal	Vil: Pareshkathi
36. Sakhanath Edbor	F: Kali Charan Edbor	Vil: Pareshkathi
37. Kartik Chandra Shikdar	F: Nanda Kumar Shikdar	Vil: -Doihari
38. Sarat Chandra Chakraborti	F: Eshaan Chakraborti	Vil: -Doihari
39. Nani Gopal Mandal	F: Jageshwar Mandal	Vil: -Doihari
40. Krishna Pada Das	F: Rai Charan Das	Vil: -Doihari
41. Kali Charan Das	F: Rai Charan Das	Vil: -Doihari
42. Surendra Nath Das	F: Meghnath Das	Vil: -Doihari
43. Ramani Das	F: Bhakta Das	Vil: -Doihari
44. Kamal Das	F: Surendra Das	Vil: -Doihari
45. Kumar Bhunja Mali	F: Nakuleshwar Bhunja Mali	Vil: -Doihari
46. Sudeb Das	F: Surendra Das	Vil: -Doihari
47. Haridas Mazumdar	F: Bholanath Mazumdar	Vil: -Doihari
48. Gauranga Bhunja Mali	F: Nakuleshwar Bhunja Mali	Vil: -Doihari
49. Prasanna Kumar Mandal	F: Gaurchad Mandal	Vil: -Doihari
50. RajLakshmi-Hauladar	F: Madan Lal Hauladar	Vil: -Doihari
51. Bishembar Bepari	F: Chandra Kanta Bepari	Vil:  Aamtala
52. Ram Charan Bagchi	F: Rupkumar Bagchi	Vil:  Aamtala
53. Mahendra Nath Bepari	F: Ankur Bepari	Vil: Thakur Haula
54. Prafulla Goldar	F: Agwato	Vil: Chiltala
55. Chitto Rai	F: Mukundo Rai	Vil: Karfa
56. Lab Mandal	F:Ashwini Mandal	Vil: Karfa
57. Kush Mandal	F:Ashwini Mandal	Vil:: Karfa
58. Sukharanjan Banik	F:Kartik Banik	Vil::SriRamKathi
59. Rakhal Pagla	F: Unknown	Vil: Unkhown

In Courtesy of Pirojpur District Administration. 

Note: Locals believe that there were many more Hindus brought from other coastal islands were killed by Pakistan Army and its local Muslim collaborators. These victims couldn’t be identified in the middle of the genocide as families and neighbors fled for safety. Additionally, many more bodies may have been dumped into rivers, as in other areas.

(Tablet Names: Courtsey of Bikas Sikdar of Doihari Village, Bangladesh; 2021)

 

Entrance to the School

PROBINI GIRLS' DORM (PROBINI CHHATRI NIBASH)

Some of the comments via the Internet:

Good work.

Mohsin Siddique

April 7, 2018

Thanks so much. Very moving but impressive. Pl carry on with your noble mission!

Shubho Nonboborsho

Saradindu Mukherji

April 15, 2018

Cool, and congrats!

Joyeeta Dastidar

April 15, 2018