I was a class 10 student then. Hearing that the headmaster had sent for me, I started sweating profusely. AK Mahmudul Haque was a rash, but funny man. Again, strictness is the master of strictness. Why did he summon? This question was answered after going to his room. That day was Bangabandhu’s birthday. All of a sudden a speech competition was organized in the school. At that time, rhymes were being printed in Dhaka papers, but I did not learn to give speeches. Present speech is more difficult! But sir’s order – I came to say what came to my mind.
The next day I found out there was a gift for me. I was the first. Before I say anything about that gift book, I want to say one thing. Now suddenly in our society defamation of teachers has increased. The teacher who means guru or guardian, that teacher is now a victim of various types of torture and torture.
I don’t want to talk about it. Because there are pros and cons. But it must be admitted—these teachers were our gurus, our fathers. It came as a surprise to me that I was suddenly selected for the lecture in class 10th. But today, standing in my mid-sixties, I know, I love to say. More people love my words than my writing. I may never have known the quality with which an almost Nirguna was sent, which our teacher knew or understood at my age. Anyway, the author of that book was Ahmad Chafa. It was written in the book – If you listen to what the intellectuals say, the country will not become independent, if you listen to what they say, the country will not prosper. Even if Chhafa Bhai makes such sarcasm, it cannot be said to be untrue.
I said these words because these days there are so many incidents, so many incidents, but I don’t see well-known intellectuals anywhere. Once upon a time, those who regularly wrote and spoke, whose words and sayings gave us strength, woke us up, are no more today. This time a big change has happened in the country.
For the first time in the country’s history, a head of government has been forced to leave the country. If you know the role of intellectuals during the government forced to flee or emigrate, you will understand why they are silent today. There was a lot of ‘yes yes’ and ‘gee-gee’ all around. Those who did not speak or knew how to speak, were gradually taken into hiding. Be it oppression or silent secret insults—whatever they were, they could not be seen. Accept it, balance has never existed in our society. Politics did not allow him to balance. The party that governs the country should be foaming at the mouth to say good things, this was the rule! A ‘tag’ was attached only if there was any objection within it.
Now some of those mindless intellectuals live in safe land but are as silent as stones. They do not have any regret, sadness or anger. Becoming a ‘Great Buddha’ is also a mask. This is also done for time. Because that’s what they’ve been doing for more than a decade—when the bush gets angry. Now you see which direction the wind is blowing, otherwise they would have written or said two or four lines out of gratitude. What use did the intellectuals put stones on the face and chest? Rajkabi, Sabhakabi, Sabhalekhak, Formashi speakers did the good of the country? Their job was to share for no reason. For that part, some would get titles, some would get medals. Blessed be blessed. Social media was flooded with joy and congratulations.
But no one has ever read one of their writings. I am forced to say today, when Calcutta is hot for rape justice at this critical time, how many writers of the other side of Bengal, Sudheejan, returned their medals! Is there such a precedent in our country? One or two did it out of conscience, but the rest ran away from work or home with those crests in their bags. Intellectuals did not do this even in difficult times like World War or Liberation War. We have a Martyred Intellectuals Day in our country because they did not. The legend written in the death of Gaurav has become a legend?
Intellectuals are much needed in our society today. If they speak, write, come forward, they are supposed to receive guidance on many issues. We need genuine patriotic intellectuals who speak the truth at all times rather than different types of intellectuals. They are sitting with locks on their faces. New intellectuals are not less in this country. Grows, flaps its wings, dies again. These are not seasonal, we want well-known benevolent people.
People can bow down to their reading and knowledge. Who will help to bring back order and rule in the society. Those who will give us the lesson of free intelligence and democracy.
Mainly three types of personalities can be recognized as intellectuals in the society. An intellectual is a person who uses thought and reason. Intelligence and critical and analytical reason are also associated with his mental outlook. One who is an expert in professional or personal needs.
The Chief Adviser repeatedly said he wanted to hear criticism. It is positive. There is no alternative. We have seen the consequences of those who did not listen or ruled the country by loving praise. Even if they themselves are safe, neither the country nor the people can be safe.
So today there is no alternative to brave and wise people, who will tell the truth, show the way, pull in the path of modernization, where are they?
