Islamizing Bengali Curricula in Bangladesh and Indian West Bengal

Muslim-majority Bangladesh and Hindu-majority West Bengal both are Islamizing Bengali Curricula to appease anti-Pluralistic, Intolerant, Jihadi Islamists

Sachi G. Dastidar

            Note from Bengal: West Bengal, India and Bangladesh

Increasingly both independent Bangladesh and West Bengal State of India – together the former Bengal Province of British India – are Islamizing the Bengali literature and school curricula as per several articles, one appearing in the New York Times, the other in India, yet another one in Bangladesh. Yet the poor and middle class Hindus, Christians, pro-secular Muslims and others of urban and rural West Bengal – with Calcutta (Kolkata) its capital – decry this Islamization and Arabization in every casual conversation yet are too terrified to protest against a perceived tyranny of the ruling elites. This is of course true for morally-and-bravery-challenged West Bengali population. This is not true for Bangladeshis. They are still alive and kicking. 
During a 2017 trip to the Subcontinent what was puzzling to find out how even in 2017 minority Hindu population of Bangladesh is fleeing to India, especially because Bangladesh is apparently being run by a pro-tolerant Awami League party. During a trip to New Garia Station at the southern end of Kolkata (Calcutta) Metro I found one green coconut seller Dilip Babu, or Mr. Dilip, a Hindu, a skeleton of 5 feet tall person, possibly in his fifties, wearing dirty pair of pants and an undershirt when asked said he is from Perojpur, in southern coastal Bangladesh. He knew some individuals I have met from the district: Prof. Chitta Ranjan Mondal, former Member of Bangladesh Parliament Mr. Sudhangshu Sekhar Haldar, among others. He knew a Hindu monk engaged in social work in his homeland. When asked why a poor person like him would migrate to India leaving ancestral homestead, he remarked “for poor oppressed-caste people like us it is increasingly difficult to live there with our family. Women are always a target. Moreover, I don’t think my son would have been able to go to a top engineering college like Bengal Engineering College where he is studying now. There is lots of official discrimination against us.” I asked, “Really?”

I still refuse to believe this.

Then I ran into Bikash, 27, who fled to India 15 years ago. He said after continued fleeing of Hindus our family was one of the few minority Hindu families left our Barisal village. My father is a well-known school teacher. To drive us out there were 11 night-time attack by dacoits (armed gangs) on our family, but wealthy Muslim families were spared. All of our movable assets were taken away. We were afraid of being killed. When we saw our attackers in the bazaar the police said “don’t report to us. We won’t arrest them.” Finally during an attack by Muslim thugs they kicked my father in the back so hard that he was hospitalized and his back was almost broken. Then my parents said that I must leave our homeland for India. I left my parents when I was 12. I crossed the border illegally through a smuggler. Now I am 27. I have obtained an Indian passport. I haven’t seen them in 15 years.” What is worth noting that this high-energy boy, a step away from being a street child himself, has opened an N.G.O. to educate street children at MajherHaat in Kolkata! 

Then there was this Kolkata (Calcutta) carpenter, Tarun M, a young Hindu of early 30s, skinny, possibly 5’ 3”, when asked where he is from, answered “South 24 Parganas District,” a southern suburb of Kolkata connected by suburban train service. But his accent gave away his identity. Then he said, “I am actually from Hatia Island near Chittagong City in Bangladesh, you wouldn’t know that place. I came recently.” I asked “Weren’t there need for carpenters in Chittagong, a booming metropolis?” He replied, “Uncle, do you know anything of my desh (homeland)? How can a poor or bhadralok (i.e. middle class) Hindu live there? Although many of my family members (i.e. parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts) still live there, but they live subjugated. They can’t say anything including when they are robbed.”

“Don’t you live like a second-class subjugated citizen anyway in a foreign India?”

“No, uncle. I have a ration card, ID card, and even a voter card. Our women are not threatened. No one takes our crop forcefully. I paid (bribe) to local TrinaMool (ruling West Bengal State) politicians and police to get those cards.” Then he quickly added, “It is not just Hindus but majority Muslim Bangladeshis are also coming to West Bengal and getting all these (IDs).” He then pointed to the Muslim workers at the construction site across the street. “Ask them.”

Incidentally, construction is one of the few areas where low-skill individuals can get a job in urban sector after the demise of industrial sector in post-independence (1947) India once Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) took state power in 1977 in India’s second-most industrial state. During the 34 years of their rule tens of thousands of factories closed due to Communist agitation. By the time there was an effort to bring back industrial jobs CPM was ousted by a virulent anti-Communist Miss Mamata Banerji of TrinaMool (Grassroots) Congress Party. She too has failed to attract jobs because of her ultra-populist rhetoric. But the construction sector remains a bright spot as 90-million strong West Bengalis who now find jobs out-of-the-state for lack of development in the state buys homes for their retirement or for their parents who live in the state. There is a belief among many that these construction jobs are being taken by Bangladeshis not West Bengalis. This is a serious issue, true or false, and can turn into violence and political liability unless checked early.

Wouldn’t it be beneficial for both Bangladesh and West Bengal if folks like Tarun, Dilip and Bikash were able to serve their Bangladesh homeland? Then there is Aunt Shil Mashi, a widow, surviving away from her homeland. When asked why she has left her ancestral land, she just said, “How can we live there?” Why a stable, pro-tolerant Bangladesh Government is not able to keep their Hindu minority for their own benefit still puzzles many. Is Islamization of Bangladesh education speeding up the process? Is Hindu-majority West Bengal also heading in the direction of anti-Hindu Islamization? Where would West Bengalis flee then? 

Here are a few recent articles:

New York Times article of January 23, 2017 by Ellen Barry and Julfikar Ali Manik: To Secular Bangladeshis, Textbook Changes Are a Harbinger

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/22/world/asia/bangladesh-textbooks-radical-islam.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Check for Hasan Ferdous' column on (daily) Prothom Alo, Dhaka Bangladesh

From Dainik Jugasankha, January 23, 2017
Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore is out because he used the word "temple" in his poetry:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/03/opinion/bangladeshs-creeping-islamism.html?ref=world&_r=0

NY Times 

The Opinion Pages | Op-Ed Contributor

Bangladesh’s Creeping Islamism

By K. ANIS AHMED FEB. 3, 2017 

West Bengal, India

Here is an article of Islamization of Education in Hindu-majority West Bengal State:

Secularising gone wrong? Row after Bengal government replaces 'RAM' with rong in textbook rainbows

The commonly used Bengali term for a rainbow is "Ramdhonu", which literally translates to "Ram's Bow" has now been replaced by "Rongdhonu" in the new text books. 

by Indrajit Kundu  | Kolkata, January 13, 2017 

  

 http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mamata-banerjee-secularising-textbook-west-bengal-government-ram/1/856628.html

Hindu-majority West Bengal bans traditional celebration of Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) Puja (service) performed for generations: "Saraswati Puja stopped at Tehatta High school" "Controversy at GourBanga [univ  ersity] with Vice Chancellor's order to Stop Saraswati Puja" Comment: Thanks, Sachida. Enjoyed reading it.   Hasan; February 4, 2017

Bangladesh School held at Chandshi Hindu Temple of Gour Nodi Police Station

At Chanshi of Gour Nodi Police Station of southern, coastal Barisal District classes are being held the village Hindu Mandir (temple) as the original school was abandoned ten years ago because of non-maintenance of the old school. The secretary of the school organizing committee Sri Bikash Goswami said that classes were held for 5 years in the old building even after its official abandonment in 2005; since then classes are being held at the temple. School's headmaster Sri Sankar Humar Datta said that Chandshi is inhabited most by poor and oppressed Hindu (minorities in the Muslim-majority Bangladesh.)

Incidentally Chandshi is a famous and historical village going back to the pre-Bengal partition days.

http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/494416/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A0%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87

Prothom Alo April 4, 2015

বিদ্যালয় ভবন পরিত্যক্ত

পাঠদান চলে মন্দিরে

গৌরনদী (বরিশাল) প্রতিনিধি | আপডেট: ০২:২০, এপ্রিল ০৪, ২০১৫ | প্রিন্ট সংস্করণ

 

     

বরিশালের গৌরনদী উপজেলার মধ্য চাঁদশী সরকারি প্রাথমিক বিদ্যালয় ভবনটি পরিত্যক্ত। শিক্ষার্থীদের পড়ানো হচ্ছে পাশের মন্দিরে। গত বৃহস্পতিবার তোলা ছবি l প্রথম আলোবরিশালের গৌরনদী উপজেলার মধ্য চাঁদশী গৌরীচাঁদ সরকারি প্রাথমিক বিদ্যালয়ের ভবনটি ১০ বছর আগে পরিত্যক্ত ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে। বিকল্প ব্যবস্থা না থাকায় পরবর্তী পাঁচ বছর পরিত্যক্ত ভবনেই পাঠদান (ক্লাস) করা হয়। পাঁচ বছর ধরে স্থানীয় সর্বজনীন মন্দিরে পাঠদান করা হচ্ছে। নতুন ভবন চেয়ে সংশ্লিষ্ট দপ্তরে অনেকবার ধরনা দিয়েও কোনো ফল মেলেনি।
গত বৃহস্পতিবার সরেজমিনে দেখা যায়, মধ্য চাঁদশী সর্বজনীন মন্দিরে ছাত্রছাত্রীদের পড়ানো হচ্ছে। পাশেই বিদ্যালয়ের পরিত্যক্ত ভবন। ভবনটির ভেতরে পলেস্তারা খসে পড়ছে। বিমের রড বের হয়ে গেছে।
বিদ্যালয় ব্যবস্থাপনা কমিটির সভাপতি বিকাশ গোস্বামী জানান, বিদ্যালয়ের ভবনটি অধিক ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ হওয়ায় ২০০৫ সালে এটিকে পরিত্যক্ত ঘোষণা করে উপজেলা শিক্ষা কমিটি ও উপজেলা প্রকৌশল অধিদপ্তর। পরিত্যক্ত ঘোষণার পরও বিকল্প ব্যবস্থা না থাকায় ওই ভবনেই পরবর্তী পাঁচ বছর পাঠদান করা হয়। কিন্তু ধসে পড়ার আশঙ্কায় ২০১০ সাল থেকে ভবনটি পরিত্যাগ করে মধ্য চাঁদশী সর্বজনীন মন্দিরের বারান্দায় পাঠদান শুরু করা হয়। বর্তমানে বিদ্যালয়ে ১৭২ জন ছাত্রছাত্রী পড়াশোনা করছে।
বিদ্যালয়ের প্রধান শিক্ষক শংকর কুমার দত্ত জানান, মধ্য চাঁদশী গ্রামটি পশ্চাৎপদ ও হতদরিদ্র সংখ্যালঘু-অধ্যুষিত। ১৯৭২ সালে বিদ্যালয়টি প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়। ১৯৯৩-৯৪ সালে বিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থীদের পাঠদানের জন্য পাকা ভবন নির্মাণ করা হয়। অথচ এক যুগের মাথায় ভবনটি ব্যবহারের অনুপযোগী হয়ে পড়ে। বিদ্যালয় ভবন পরিত্যক্ত ঘোষণা হওয়ার পরও শিক্ষার্থী ও শিক্ষকেরা জীবনের ঝুঁকি নিয়ে ক্লাস করতেন। তিনি আরও বলেন, ‘অজপাড়া গাঁয়ের হতদরিদ্র এলাকায় অবস্থিত হওয়ায় বিদ্যালয়টি অবহেলিত এবং কেউই এটির খোঁজ রাখে না। আমাদের সমস্যার কথা বারবার জানানো হলেও কোনো গুরুত্ব দিচ্ছে না সংশ্লিষ্ট কর্তৃপক্ষ।’
চাঁদশী ইউনিয়ন পরিষদের (ইউপি) চেয়ারম্যান কৃষ্ণ কান্ত দে বলেন, ‘বিদ্যালয়ের নতুন ভবন নির্মাণ ও ডোবা ভরাট করার জন্য সংশ্লিষ্ট দপ্তরের ঊর্ধ্বতন কর্মকর্তাদের কাছে আমি বহুবার মৌখিকভাবে বলেছি। লিখিত দিয়েছি। কিন্তু কোনো সাড়া পাইনি।’ জরুরি ভিত্তিতে ভবন নির্মাণে প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যবস্থা নেওয়ার জন্য তিনি প্রধানমন্ত্রী, শিক্ষামন্ত্রী ও স্থানীয় সাংসদের দৃষ্টি কামনা করেছেন।
উপজেলা শিক্ষা কর্মকর্তা মোস্তফা মাসুদ প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, বিদ্যালয়টির ভবন নির্মাণ খুবই জরুরি। উপজেলা শিক্ষা কমিটির অনুমোদন সাপেক্ষে ভবন নির্মাণের বিষয়টি ঊর্ধ্বতন কর্তৃপক্ষকে জানানো হয়েছে।

 

Probini-supported Karasole, West Bengal, India School

Sachi G. Dastidar

 



Probini Foundation of New York is helping Karasole Sishu Bikash Mandir (Children's temple) build a new school building. Karasole is located in a remote, poor, forested, tribal area of the southern Paschim (West) Medinipur District of PaschimBanga (West Bengal) State of India. The school was started by faculty, staff and neighbors of Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur. Probini Foundation's Drs. Sachi and Shefali Dastidar visited the school in January of 2012 with Professor Rabindra Nath Chattopadhyay to ascertain the need. The school is about 2 hours drive from Kharagpur City of PaschimBanga (West Bengal) state of India. Kharagpur is about 100 kilometers southwest of Kolkata (Calcutta). Probini is now building a new school at the site as the old school is overcrowded.

 

The School

 

Karasole Sishu  Bikash Mandir School

 

 

Ferry across the SubarnaRekha River with Shefali Dastidar (L), Sumedha, and R N Chattopadhyay (R)

 

 

Students in the Classroom

 

One-room School

 

PaschimBanga (West Bengal) State; Medinipur District is in the South

 

Karasole Village is south of Nayagram, across the river, close to Orissa border

 

 

Karasole Parents

 

 

Karasole Parents and Neighbors

 

 

Sports Competition

 

The First School

 

 

Sishu Vikas Mandir, Karasole Village

      Nayagram Block, Paschim Medinipur

Professor Dr. R. N. Chattopadhyay

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, PaschimBanga (West Bengal), India

              The Sishu Vikas Mandir, a non-formal school for the children of Forest-Protection Committee (FPC) members was first established on 24^th November, 2002 at Karasole Village of Nayagram Block of Paschim Medinipur district of PaschimBanga (West Bengal) State of India. The Participatory Forest Management (PFM) Project Office of Architecture & Regional Planning Department of IIT Kharagpur was initiated at Nayagram Block, in 1993 with its  multiple activities like craft production from natural resources, formation of Self-Help Groups, technology transfer for rural livelihood generation, establishing market links with different national and international Organizations, establishment of non-formal schools etc. The school at Karasole was originally established by the initiative and financial assistance of this Ford Foundation sponsored Project. Prembazar INITIATIVE, an NGO with its activities at Nayagram and other Blocks of Paschim Medinipur District took over the responsibility of this school in 2004 when the tenure of PFM Project was over. It has, since then, been working in the villages of primitive tribesmen particularly women with the noble missions of (i) Literacy Drive for illiterate tribal folk, particularly women, (ii) Bringing the School Drop-outs to this school and linking them to mainstream of school education after attaining necessary standard, (iii) Helping poor school children with coaching back-up and (iv) Vocational training to parents of these children for livelihood improvement besides assistance to students from poorer families with books, clothes nutritional aids etc.

            On 24^th November, 2002, Prof. Amitabha Ghosh, Director, IIT Kharagpur, accompanied by Registrar, Dean (SRIC) and other officers paid a visit to the PFM Field Station at Nayagram. He visited different Craft Centres at different villages, different Nurseries (Medicinal Plant and Tuber-Crop), interacted with the artisans and the FPC members on current issues, interrogated then about national and international market links etc. Later, Director inaugurated the Sishu Vikash Mandir at Karasole in presence of BDO, Sabhapati, Range Officer, Beat Officer, Officer in Charge, Nayagram Thana, Panchayat Pradhan and other dignatories. The PFM Project personnel explained the particular reasons for the establishment of such a school in such a remote village with so much labour and endeavour.

            Nayagram Block is known to be the poorest Block in the entire Paschim Medinipur region. Along with poverty, illiteracy and ill-health have cast a dark shadow of depression and desolation over the area. The Santhals, Lodhas and the Mahali tribesmen mostly dominate the area among whom the Lodhas are the worst affected lot. Karasole is one such Lodha village, where poverty, illiteracy, ill-health and ignorance are the gnawing features. In order to erase such bruises like illiteracy, school drop-outs, ignorance of craft technology etc. the PFM Team ventured to establish this school at Karasole. It was hoped that the sparks of light would enlighten many disheartened souls to come to limelight and light the lamp of optimum in the morrow. Every year, this NGO distributes books, slates, pencils, chocolates and clothes to the poor children.

            The school activities, like regular teaching, conducting art and music classes, conducting sports (annually) were quite satisfactorily performed by two teachers (one from Project Team and another from local tribal community) till November 2004, when the PFM Project completed its eleven years tenure. But observing the good progress of the school, the Project personnel decided to carry out the responsibilities of the school with the assistance of an NGO, which again, is fortunately run mostly by retired IIT Professors and some important dignatories, like doctors, bankers etc. The NGO named, Prembazar INITIATIVE has since then shouldering a big responsibility of work at Karasole School at Nayagram. As mentioned earlier, the Lodha inhabitants of this village and the nearby villages are mostly illiterates. Some of the young members of the NGO are carrying out this task of literacy drive voluntarily. The goal is not only to rule out illiteracy, but to educate and guide the young students reading in class IX or class X, so that they can look forward for a promising future. In order to instill the spirit of dynamism, the Organizers also organize Annual Sports Programme, Cultural (folk) programme, observation of Days of significance, Saraswati Puja and other assemblies for the youngsters at the school premise.

               The children of Karasole school could show some signs of excellence through their academic performance, folk culture and athletic activities. Accordingly, the Prize-Distribution Ceremony is organized every year in recognition to their excellence in sports, cultural attainments and of course in academic performance. The Ceremonies are participated not only by the NGO personnel, but by the members of local administration of the Panchayat Samiti, Forest Department, local schools etc. The distribution of prizes is usually accompanied by a cultural programme including folk songs & dances performed by the tribal children under the guidance of the INITIATIVE members. The pupils as well as the tribal inhabitants of the villages get much impetus from this event. They also exhibit their improved taste in culture by presenting Rabindranritya (plays of Rabindra Nath Tagore) and Rabindrasangeet (Tagore song.)        

            The study of Environment Science has become a compulsory curriculum for students of all ages. 5^th June is observed as the ‘Environment Day’ in all corners of the country. This day is also observed by INITIATIVE in a solemn way at the field station and the school premises at Nayagram in which veteran teachers and NGO personnel and children assemble and read out short composition on ‘Environment’ with much enthusiasm and interest.

             In this way, every year Karasole non- formal  is keeping up school with the schedule of ‘Children’s Day’, ‘World Environmental Day’, ‘Saraswati Puja’, ‘Annual Prize-Distribution Day’ besides Independence Day, Republic Day etc with vivacity and is showing a new vista of better education, better socio-cultural setting and better mental development.

             It was a noble, at the same time gracious gesture of Prof. Sabyasachi Ghosh Dastidar, who on behalf of Probini Foundation (an NGO of global recognition), has donated US $ 300.00 in January 2012 in the larger interests of the poor children of this tribal school of Karasole. He, along with his colleagues visited Nayagram, visited Karasole School and he could feel the real pathos which lies very deep in the soil and soul of this rustic area. It is a bit of fortune that himself residing in the pompous city of New York, he has the desire to erase the bruise of these agonized tiny tots at least to a certain extent. It is expected that very shortly books (at par with the syllabus and book lists of different classes of West Bengal Secondary Board of Education) will be distributed among the children. We hope to see the beaming smiles of these depressed and distressed lots of this remote area of Paschimanchal (western area), who are expected to be the makers of a redeeming generation in future.

 

 

 



Discriminatory laws against Dalits to be repealed, Bangladesh

Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Saturday, March 28, 2009

Says law minister

A colourful procession was taken out from Mahanagar Natyamancha in the city yesterday to mark the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Photo: STARStaff Correspondent
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said discriminatory laws against Dalit and Harijan communities will be repealed, if there is any.
"If you can show me any laws discriminating against your (Dalit and Harijan) communities, such laws will no longer remain in the law books. I will repeal those," he said.
If necessary, new laws will be enacted to remove discriminations and obstacles both the communities have been facing during admission into educational insinuations and in the professional fields, he assured.
"Every citizen of the country has equal rights. So, no one will face any discriminations for economic, educational and social reasons," he said.
The minister made these assurances at the concluding ceremony of a 10-day campaign organised on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The National Committee to Celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) organised the programme at Mohanagar Natyamancha in the city.
Speaking as the chief guest, the minister said that legal rights of Dalit and Harijan communities will be ensured to establish their rights as people of these communities also participated in the liberation war and sacrificed their lives.
The law ministry is going to set up a directorate soon for providing legal and economic assistance for these marginalised people, he added.
In his keynote paper, PARITTRAN Director Milon Das said though the constitution ensures equal rights of every citizen, but Dalit and Harijan communities are deprived of education, health care, habitation and employment facilities and living in a humiliating condition.
There are about 55 lakh Dalit and Harijan people, who are known as untouchables in the society, live under marginal conditions in the country.
Milon demanded enactment of laws eliminating racial discrimination against them, formulation of a national development policy for incorporating the communities in the mainstream development programmes and ensuring their participation in all social activities.
Speaking as the special guest, lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon said Dalit and Harijan communities live in inhuman conditions.
The constitution ensures their rights, but it is not implemented properly, he said, urging the community members to launch their own organisational move on the rights.
Prof HKS Arefin said this is not racial discrimination, rather the discrimination is ideological and involved with religion, adding that mere formulating a law is not enough, the prevailing social structure that deprives them of their rights need to be changed.
Narrating difficulties the women of the communities face, Dipali Das, a member of Dalit community, said the condition of women in the country is volatile and the condition of women of Dalit community is worst.
“We want to live like other human beings. We have the right to franchise and we want to live with self-dignity. Let us give the right,” she said.
With Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad President Krishna Lal in the chair, the programme was also addressed by Whip Shagufta Yasmin, MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam and Research Initiatives Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Meghna Guha Thakurata.