"You are in power. If I criticise you, is that a crime?Mamata Banerjee is courting yet another controversy.

"You are in power. If I criticise you, is that a crime?Mamata Banerjee is courting yet another controversy.

Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, Chapter 799


Palash Biswas

Mobile: 919903717833

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is courting yet another controversy.

We Bengalies respect the cop for his literary activities for long. He is a muslim.And he wrote a book on the plight of muslims in West Bengal. The Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee who reincarnated herself as the saviour of the minorities, has simply banned his book.IPS officer Nazrul Islam, published a book titled Mushalmander Ki Karaniya (What Muslims Should Do) where he spoke about the alleged plight of the Muslims in West Bengal and how the Trinamool Congress-led state government was resorting to double standards in the name of 'improving' their condition. On Saturday, Kolkata Police officials raided units of the publishing house and seized copies of the books.We are shocked as we had been while then left front government banned Taslima Nasrin.Another book by retired IAS officer Dipak Kumar Ghosh, released a few months ago, also spoke volumes on the 'grey areas' of the Trinamool chief and her party, its way of functioning, and other issues. That book has also been allegedly shelved by the state authorities.Nazrul is reputed for his objective prespective and Mamat should have been noted that the IPS officer, who was an ardent critic of the Left Front government, has penned down several books, a few of them criticising the role of the Marxists in controlling the police. He was censured by the Left Front government at that time and was allegedly denied promotions. The author received several literary awards and has also set up an engineering college at Domkol in Murshidabad district — his native place. According to reports, the author is planning to move court against the decision of the West Bengal government.

Islam's book - 'What Muslims Should Do' - reportedly criticises the West Bengal government for failing to improve the condition of Muslims in the state. Though the book has not been banned, a police team reportedly searched the offices of its publishers, Mitra and Ghosh, in North Kolkata's College Street on Saturday. The cops also allegedly closed the counter where the book was being sold.The enforcement branch of the Kolkata Police has raided a renowned publishing house's office and shop at College Street after it published a book 'Musalmander ki Karaniya' (What Muslims Should Do) written by senior police official Dr Nazrul Islam. The raid happened despite no official order being issued for it. Dr Islam, in his book, has indirectly criticised the Mamata government's minority appeasement policies and vote-bank politics including announcing stipends for Imams, and more madrasas.The publishers claim that the raids were done to intimidate them. The book, which was released a month ago, has been published by Kolkata-based publisher Mitra and Ghosh.

The incident has led to another outrage in the state with many slamming the government for its censorship policies.The intellectuals of the state have come out against the government's move, calling it "draconian". "We are shocked to know about the state government's decision of banning the book," said legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen. Noted littérateur Sunil Gangopadhyay also minced no words to protest the government's decision. "This cultural policing (by the government) should be condemned by everybody,'' he said.

Author Sunil Ganguly told NDTV, "You are in power. If I criticise you, is that a crime?

Most unfortunate part of the story is that some of Bengal's 'pro-government' newspapers have blasted Islam in their reports published on Monday that the IPS officer was trying to incite communal violence in the state particularly when the Trinamool leader was trying to develop a 'secular' atmosphere in the state and was even extending 'help' to victims of Assam violence. The reports neither spared noted Bengali littérateur Sunil Gangopadhyay who slammed the government for its 'cultural policing'.

Ms Banerjee's government has been severely criticised for its alleged highhandedness in the past. A professor in Kolkata's Jadavpur University, Ambikesh Mahapatra, was arrested in April for circulating a cartoon lampooning the chief minister. He was also allegedly beaten up by workers from Ms Banerjee's party, Trinamool Congress.

Last month, a man named Shiladitya was arrested after he asked the Chief Minister a question at a public rally at Belpahari. Ms Banejee had reacted angrily to the question; pointing to him, she claimed he was a Maoist and ordered the police to arrest him.

When Mamata Banerjee became Railway Minister, she made him an official of the Railways in charge of safety. But after Trinamool Congress came to power in the state, Mamata made him an officer on Special duty in the Home Department, which he refused.Thereafter, Islam was made Additional Director General (Training) of West Bengal Police, a post he still holds.

Shubham Ghosh writes:It is true that people like Gangopadhyay had opposed Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen's book earlier and a speech on free press doesn't fit them well (Nasreen recently launched a scathing attack on Gangopadhyay), but then what change has Bengal really seen if the same totalitarian tendencies continue even after the Left's departure? This question must be addresed. What Paribortan Bengal boasts for?Shubham further asks: One of the Nazrul-bashing reports said the poor people could not be fed just by raising slogans of communal politics. My question is: "How the shallow slogan of Ma, Mati, Manush will satisfy needs of those several left without any development and basic opportunities of life?"The utility of slogans end with elections and Mamata Banerjee clear do not have the capacity to back it up with work on the ground. She, as Dipak Ghosh said in his book, knew how to befool ordinary people by using quotations of giants like Tagore, Vivekananda or Kazi Nazrul Islam in a way that those people who never read about them would indeed believe that it was Mamata who had invented such 'feel-good' words. Ghosh said Mamata had fully understood ways to attract common people through words only and the latter never bothered to wait for the leader to fulfil her promises at any point.

We are shocked to see  the recent trend in West Bengal which confirms how the government is targetting individuals who are not agreeing to abide by its ways of functioning. We have seen a number of eminent people like Sunanda Sanyal, Kabir Suman, Mahasweta Devi, Sukanta Chaudhuri and now those from the ranks of bureaucracy, deciding to quit the 'dream project' that Mamata Banerjee had decided to set up on the soil of Bengal. They haven't decided to part their ways or criticise the current government for no reason.

CPI(M) on Monday castigated West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly targeting a book by a senior IPS officer on the plight of Muslims in the state, charging it reflected her "fascist" and "intolerant" attitude.

"Such a move reflects her fascistic attitude,
an attitude of total intolerance. It is an anti-thesis of our democratic values," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury alleged in New Delhi.

He alleged Banerjee had on several occasions earlier "shown such intolerance and taken blanket action and getting arrested a professor for onpassing a cartoon or a poor peasant for asking a question on fertiliser shortage, by branding them as Maoists."

Yechury also said "we understand that the writer (whose book was banned) is her sympathiser."

In the latest instance, the Mamata Banerjee-led government has banned IPS officer Nazrul Islam's book, titled 'Musalmander Ki Karaniya (What Muslims Should Do)' in which he has highlighted the plight of Muslims in West Bengal and discusses how to improve their lot.

The book has been brought out by a noted Kolkata-based publisher whose office premises, sales counter and godown were raided by the Enforcement Branch of Kolkata Police, a charge denied by Kolkata police.

When Banerjee was the railway minister, Islam was an official of the Railways in charge of safety. After Trinamool Congress came to power in the state, Islam was made Additional Director General (Training) of West Bengal Police, a post he now holds.

Times of India reports:

A 102-page book written by senior police official Nazrul Islam seems to have ruffled a few feathers in the state administration. The police, on Friday, allegedly raided the College Street shop of Mitra Ghosh, the publisher of the book — Musalman der Koroniyo — written by the senior IPS officer and additional director general of police (training).

The present owner of the publishing house Sabitendranath Roy alleged that a huge force of police reached the College Street premises of his shop, locked the sale counters and searched for the book. He also complained that police had asked him to discontinue its circulation a day before.

The book was released a week back and got good response. On Thursday night, an 80-year-old Roy received a call from the deputy commissioner of police (enforcement branch) asking him to stop selling the book.

In the book, Nazrul has advocated the need for secular education and criticized the state government for not doing much to help spread education among the Muslims. "Though a lot has been said about the new government being an agent of change, nothing much has changed," Nazrul said in the book. He has criticized the leaders in the new government for attending Iftaar parties without keeping the mandatory daytime fast. "The words inshallah and khuda hafiz cannot be said in the same sentence, but our leaders are doing so, without knowing that they are actually hurting Islam," the book reads.

Similarly, the state's plans to set up and regularize madrasas and its focus on Aligarh Muslim University have also come in for criticism . "What we needed was a secular university in Murshidabad. Similarly, why should money be spent for creating new madrasas instead of modern day schools?" the book says.

It may be noted that Nazrul fell out with the LF government at its fag end, when Mamata Banerjee gave him a senior position in the Railways. After Mamata came to the power in Bengal, she brought Nazrul back to the state.

The book seems to be making a reference to the chief minister, when it says that just by covering the head with a white cloth and reading namaz, one cannot do justice to the community. The book urges the Muslims to rise from their slumber and assess the situation they are in. It urges the Muslim population to protest some decisions by the state which are politically motivated.

"The police had no search warrant with them. We had already stopped the book's circulation and removed the copies from our College Street shop. We told them that the complimentary copies would be sent to them soon," said Indrani Roy, director of Mitra Ghosh.

The publisher also got in touch with the writer and sought help in his capacity as a top cop of the state. "We have also briefed our lawyer, Arunava Ghosh, on the issue. He has advised us to start selling it from Monday since there is no official ban on it," Indrani said, adding that the books will be on sale from Monday.

Debabrata Das, deputy commissioner (enforcement branch), Kolkata Police,denied the allegations. "I never told them to stop selling the book," said Das. He, however, confirmed that his officers bought five copies of the book from the publisher late on Friday. Sources, meanwhile, said Das and his team acted after getting instruction from the police chief.

Nazrul Islam declined to comment. He only said that being a government employee it won't be right for him to speak.

However, writers and intellectuals are rallying behind Nazrul and protesting the "ban". "Why should police take such a step. We are a democratic country where anyone is free to write anything. There are platforms that can be used for protests, but the police should not be used as a wing to suppress voices," said writer Abul Bashar. Muslim intellectual Azizul Haq said: "I have written on similar lines in the past and don't think that Nazrul has written anything that can elicit this kind of reaction. Only secular education can help Muslims. Why is this government giving special benefits only to imams and not to Hindu purohits? I will not be surprised if they talk about a Muslim blood banks next..."

"We are living in a free country. This episode reminds me of the dark days prior to the independence," said writer Sunil Gangopadhyay.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Row-over-book-by-senior-Bengal-cop/articleshow/16227327.cms


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned her detractors and opponents not to play with fire by fomenting riots in the state.

Addressing the foundation day programme of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad onTuesday, Banerjee said she has information that "some people" opposed to her were trying to spark trouble in the state.

"I warn them. Don't play with fire. Don't try to start riots. I know who all are behind such conspiracies," said Banerjee, adding her opponents would not succeed in their "nefarious plans".

"We consider Hindus and Muslims as flowers from the same stalk. We care for both the communities equally," she added.

Days after she was criticised by Muslim leaders for having been silent on the riots in Assam, the chief minister said she has already drawn the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the issue.

"I have drawn the attention of the prime minister to the issue during my recent visit to Delhi for attending the UPA Coordination Committee meeting," she said, while adding that her government would shelter all those who are fleeing Assam.

The chief minister asserted that her party was prepared for mid-term polls anytime, but added that she wanted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to complete its full term.

Addressing media persons at the state secretariat, Writers' Building, to a query on chances of mid-term polls against the backdrop of the current political situation, she said "We don't want the UPA dispensation to fall.. we want it to complete its full term in office."

However, she said the party would assess the political situation if the situation drifted to the possibility of a mid-term poll.


Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mamata-banerjee-cautions-her-detractors-opponents/1/215218.html


Full 15 months after she came to power, chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited West Bengal's largest Muslim dominated Murshidabad district on 29th August 2012. She last time visited Murshidabad as Trinamul Congress chief on 20th April, 2010 for campaigning for the party. In her maiden visit as CM, Mamata announced a slew of welfare and development projects for the district.

She announced that an ITI for students and Kisan Mandi (farmers' market) and cold storage for farmers will be set up in every block of Musrdidabad. Besides, she announced several other development projects for the district where a special centre of Aligarh Muslim University is also coming up.

Stronghold of Congress, Murshidabad was always far away from the eye of Mamata Banerjee since Parliamentary elections in 2009. But on the eve of three tier Panchayet election (due in 2013) Mamata is targeting the Muslim minds to attract them in favour of Trinamul Congress instead of Congress. Few days ago, in his Eid sermon at Eid Ul Fitr Maidan at Red Road Kolkata, Qari Fazlur Rahman had condemned Mamata for not seriously working for the development of Muslims. He, however, had admitted that she visited the Eid Maidan twice in 15 months of power while no Left Front CM visited the place even once in 34 years.

On behalf of Murshidabad administration a grand meeting was held in Baharampur Square Field on 29th August afternoon. Huge crowd gathered to hear Mamata Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee allocated more funds to development of the district of Murshidabad and as well as minority welfare and declared 52 projects. Out of 52 Mamata inaugurated 17 projects and laid down foundation stone of 7 projects on that day.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, Government has taken up 121 arsenic free water projects and will spend Rs 700 cr for this purpose. She inaugurated 17 arsenic free water supply projects in that day.

Not only fresh drinking water project, she also announced projects for health, education and road.

She said, the government has allocated Rs 127 Cr more for Minority Welfare. Some 23 Primary Schools, 118 secondary and Higher Secondary Schools will be set up. Recruitment process for 5794 teachers is going on in this district. She said 11 Model Schools will be built and one Primary teachers training college will be set up at East Kashipur of Bagwangola Block-1, the college will have hostel also. Three Multispecialty big hospitals will be built up at Sagardighi, Domkal and Jangipur.

Mamata said, the only Medical college in Murshidabad, the Baharampur State General Hospital will get Rs 16 cr for infrastructure development and 3 new sick newborn care units will be set up. A blood bank will also be setup at Domkal subdivisional Hospital.

Chief Minister of West Bengal laid foundation stone of a Bridge on the Falgu River at Suti Block-1, Skill development centre at Baharampur ITI campus, 50 bedded girls Hostel of Domkal Girls School and Amirabad High Madrasa both, Horticulture development Centre etc. But when she was delivering her speech on Aligarh Muslim University and saying that, the AMU campus has started, then electric power went off and the audience could not hear him. In fact, for a long time she remained silent on AMU campus issue while the protests for construction work were going on in Murshidabad and Kolkata.

Mamata expressed unhappiness on the poor condition of National Highway-34 & other roads. She allocated Rs 60 cr to development of the rural roads of Murshidabad. Mamata distributed honorarium among Imams and Muazzins, Scholarships & term loan among minority, SC/St students, Kishan Credit Card, Artijan Card, General Credit Card, Weavers credit card & health insurance etc.

Mamata called an administrative meeting at Rabindra Bhawan in Baharampur, Murshidabad on that day. OC of 19 Police Stations of Murshidabad and all the BDOs, SDOs and many other officials participated in that meeting. Mamata welcomed facts and problems to development of the district from the government district officials. She enquired about progress on all state and Central government projects. She patted good performing officers and snubbed the poor performers.

Ahead of the coming panchayat elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee embarked on a tour along with ministers and IAS officers to Congress dominated districts, triggering criticism from its ally and the CPI(M).

The five districts are Nadia, Malda, Murshidabad and North and South Dinajpur districts — a region that sent six Congress MPs to the Lok Sabha.

While Banerjee held meetings with officials of the districts in Nadia and Murshidabad today, her rally at Berhampore in Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district was marred by a chaotic situation after the failure of the public address system in the midst of her speech.

People who thronged the venue in thousands broke the barricade and hurled chairs to come close to the dias to hear Banerjee. Asking the crowd to remain calm, Banerjee stopped her speech as the public address system continued to remain non-functioning due to snapping of some wires.

Her first visit to the district after becoming chief minister is seen in Congress circles as an attempt to wean way voters from the Congress ahead of the panchayat polls slated for early next year.

Many state Congress leaders, specially those from Murshidabad district, are unhappy with chief minister's visit to the district today.

No Congress MLA was invited at her meeting with officials or at her rally and "It was not proper in democratic tradition", CLP leader Mohammed Shorab told PTI.

The chief minister laid foundation stones for many new roads in the district and distributed Kishan Credit Cards.

She said two lakh such cards would be distributed during her five-district tour. She announced that Rs 700 crore has been allocated for 121 drinking water projects in Murshidabad of which foundation stones of 17 were laid today.

Later at a press conference, Banerjee said she had asked the police and district officials to check problems like trafficking of women and drugs and circulation of fake currency notes in the border district.

Of the total 22 Assembly seats in Murshidabad district, the Congress had won 14 during last year's Assembly elections. Trinamool Congress had won just one seat from the district. Now Trinamool is trying to strengthen its base in the district before the panchayat elections.

Adhir Chowdhury, the Behrapore Congress MP and a known critic of Banerjee, said, "I wanted to meet her and talk about projects that would have helped the people of Murshidabad. But I have not been invited. So we have put up posters to inform her what the people want."

The wish list includes setting up of a jute industry, development of tourism centres, an agricultural university, upgradation of Behrampore Municipality to a corporation, a railway component manufacturing unit, new tracks and better train services.

The chief minister announced 17 arsenic-free underground drinking water supply projects, a college for teachers' training, a skill development centre, schools, hostels, roads and bridges, apart from state schemes.

CPI(M) leader Suryakanta Mishra raised charges of 'wasteful expenditure' during Banerjee's district tours which had yielded 'nothing worthwhile'.

Emancipation of Muslims a myth?

Express news service

Posted: Feb 05, 2012 at 0316 hrs IST
               
                                
               
                                                 
               
                                                 
            
       
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Kolkata A literary compilation called "Udar Akash" (Open Sky) - in a special issue titled "In search of Dignity" and released in the Kolkata Book Fair has raised questions about the sincerity of successive governments in West Bengal about the emancipation of Muslims.
The compilation contains a series of essays by well known authors, including the rebel IPS officer, Nazrul Islam and a host of other intellectuals such as Sunanda Sanyal, Dr. Miratoon Nahar, Dr. Sheikh Maqbul Islam and Faruq Ahmed who have been critical of "vote bank politics" of successive governments in West Bengal with the Muslim community.
The real progress and development have eluded the community in the past and it continues to be same at present, several noted authors opine.
The outspoken IPS officer, Nazrul Islam in a write up about what should be done for the upliftment of Muslims has stated the community does not need job reservation because it does not have adequate number of qualified students to avail of such reservations. Illiteracy continues to dog a number of Muslims.
He therefore pitched for reservations for Muslims students in reputed educational institutions so that the community members could avail of the reservation facility in jobs.
In trying to portray the plight of the Muslims in positions of power and authority, he cited examples of how in the last Left Front cabinet in West Bengal out of 43 ministers had only 5 Muslims, constituting only about 11.6 per cent of the total, while Muslims in the state have constituted about 25.25 per cent.
In the same ministry, Brahmins occupied 15 berths, constituting 34.9 per cent though the Brahmins constitute only 2 per cent of the population in West Bengal.
Similarly, in the Trinamool Congress, of the 44 ministers, only 8 are Muslims, constituting less than 18 per cent of the population.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/emancipation-of-muslims-a-myth/908135/

1. Sachar Committee Report - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachar_Committee_Report
3. Sachar committee has put a lot of analysis about the Indian Muslim with ... in government jobs (5.4%) than compared to states like West Bengal (2.1%) and New ...

4. Sachar Committee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

5. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachar_Committee
6. The report is first of its kind revealing the backwardness of Indian Muslims, according to Sachar Committee report some of the major concers are: The status of ...
7. You've visited this page 2 times. Last visit: 14/5/11

8. Sachar Committee « India Minorities

9. indiaminorities.wordpress.com/tag/sachar-committee/
10. 24 Jan 2012 – Posts about Sachar Committee written by An Indian. ... West Bengal's figures for Muslim students' enrolment at the primary level are better than ...
11. [PDF]

12. LEFT FRONT GOVERNMENT & THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSLIM ...

13. www.cpim.org/documents/2011-minority.development_wb.pdf
14. File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
15. 31 Mar 2011 – Muslims in Bengal, 1.72 crores are .... BENGAL. ▫. The flagship scheme of the Central Government in implementing the Sachar Committee ...

16. Sachar Committee Report : A Review - Mainstream Weekly

17. www.mainstreamweekly.net › 2006 › December 23, 2006
18. 23 Dec 2006 – According to the Sachar Committee's findings, 25 per cent of Muslim ... In West Bengal where almost 25 per cent population practises the ...

19. Left's worries in Bengal include disenchanted Muslims | NDTV.com

20. www.ndtv.com › Assembly Polls
21. 25 Mar 2011 – In 2006, the report of the Sachar Committee said West Bengal was among the worst states for Muslims to live in. Headed by retired judge ...

22. Did the Sachar committee report get it wrong on West Bengal

23. communalism.blogspot.com/.../did-sachar-committee-report-get-it.ht...
24. 14 Apr 2011 – Did the Sachar committee report get it wrong on West Bengal ? The Hindu, 14 April 2011. Status of Muslims in West Bengal by Maidul Islam ...

25. Sachar figures reveal Bengal apathy - The Telegraph

26. www.telegraphindia.com/1100209/jsp/nation/story_12083557.jsp
27. 9 Feb 2010 – 8: The Sachar committee's report revealed that Muslims in Left-ruled Bengal were worse off on every count than their counterparts in most other ...
28. [PDF]

29. English - Muslims for Secular Democracy

30. www.mfsd.org/sachar/leafletEnglish.pdf
31. File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
32. The Sachar Committee's report is an extremely valuable document on the .... More than 1,000 Muslim concentration villages in West Bengal and Bihar, and ...

33. The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Status of Muslims in West Bengal

34. www.thehindu.com › Opinion › Lead
35. 14 Apr 2011 – West Bengal's figures for Muslim students' enrolment at the primary level are ... The Central government's commitment to the Sachar Committee ...

ADG criticizes Brahmins' hold on West Bengal politics

                                                                
Submitted by admin on 27 June 2012 - 8:07am

• India Politics
• Indian Muslim

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net
Kolkata: Muslims are 89.5% of the population of Damkal area of Murshidabad yet all political leadership is non-Muslim. In this situation how is Muslim condition going to change? Asked Dr. Nazrul Islam, IPS who is the Additional Director General of Police of West Bengal participating in a symposium organized by West Bengal Muslim Association (WBMA) on June 23rth in Kolkata.


(L-R) President of West Bengal Muslim Association Dr Abdus Samad, ADG of Police (Training) IPS Dr. Nazrul Islam, Secretary of WBMA Masum Akhter and Journalsit Sabina Yesmin in a symposium at 69 Elliot Road, Kolkata on June 23, 2012. [TCN Photo]
Dr Nazrul Islam added, after Independence, West Bengal has never seen a Muslim Home Secretary or Police Commissioner or Chief Minister. But, in Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan it has been done, even Gujrat. He also said not only Muslims, not one Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe sits on any of the important post in West Bengal. Only 2 percent Brahmins in West Bengal have occupied all the important ministries since Independence till now.
He gave example of his native village, where political leadership of the area whether CPI(M), Congress, Trianamul Congress, RSP, SUCI all are non-Muslim. But the fact is that whenever there is a clash between groups it is always Muslim or SC/ST who get killed.
Dr Nazrul Islam condemned the education policy of both Left and the present TMC government for lack of a university in Murshidabad. He said, `Aligarh Muslim University Campus to be established in Murshidabad. I was not against this, but why not a state university? Unfortunately the progress of Aligarh Campus is still pending.' People who elected Pranab Mukherjee to Parliament will see him become President of India but they can't be sure when they will see a university in their area.

Dr Nazrul Islam weighed in on the need for a Muslim political Party. "If we can seat together, we can launch a new political party for Muslim along with Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes." He hopes, then the marginalized will be king maker in politics in West Bengal and Chief Minister will be either Muslim or SC/ST.
Scientist and President of West Bengal Muslim Association (WBMA) said, we have organized this symposium to know Muslim Intellectuals views. WBMA will talk to all Muslim organization and Muslim political party to be united on a common platform.
WBMA State General Secretary and Educationalist Masum Akhtar said, we are now in confusion. Governments eyes Muslim vote bank for coming Panchayat elections in 2013. For the last 34 years Left Front government deprived us, now Mamata led Government don't wants real development of Muslim society. So, their intention to Imam & Muazzin remuneration to get support in Panchyat elections. WBMA demands more schools, colleges, madrasas in Muslim dominated area first. Besides, WBMA will organize seminars to raise awareness among the Muslim youth and intellectuals in the Muslim-dominated areas throughout the state.
Representatives of Dalit Muslim Unity centre, Maheshtala-Metiaburuz Tailors & Workers Association, Backward Class Muslim Organization, journalist Sabina Yasmin, former English lecturer of Calcutta University Dr Kalimuddin Ahmed, Dr Mehbub Rahman and many others personalities attended the symposium.
Link:
http://www.westbengalmuslimassociation.blogspot.com

Owaisi sees no change in Muslims' condition in West Bengal

                                                                
Submitted by admin6 on 18 March 2012 - 3:58pm

• Indian Muslim

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: If Mamata Banerjee is troubling the Congress led UPA at the center, another ally of the UPA Asaduddin Owaisi slammed her party to failing to take steps to alleviate the backwardness of Muslims in West Bengal.
Owaisi along with a series of social, political activists discussed the condition of Muslims in West Bengal and rued their continuously worsening situation in the Mamata Banerjee ruled state. He was speaking 17th March in conference `All India Muslim Convention' organized by All India Anjuman Ettehad e Millat in Kolkata.

All India Muslim Convention at Muslim Institute Hall, Kolkata on 17th March, 2012. (L-R): Secretary of All India Anjuman Ettehad E Millata Moinuddin Shams, Asaduddin Owaisi, MP, President of AMU Students Union Sharique Ahmed and Ex Chief Misnister of jharkhand Babulal Marandi. Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury in back row middle.
"Since Last 34 Years Muslims in West Bengal have been suffering and so is the case under the Trinmool Congress government. Left front has done nothing and this government will do nothing for Muslim," Owaisi said.
The Hydarabad MP argued that Muslim should stand on their own legs, get organized in order to evolve as a power which can pressurize the political dispensation, otherwise condition of Muslims in West Bengal will not change.
Forward Block leader Debarata Biswas highlighted that the Left Front government had introduced 10% Muslim OBC reservation in West Bengal government service which the Mamata led state government didn't follow.
General Secretary of Jamiat-e-Ulama Hind, Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury emphasized on the continuously worsening backwardness of the minority community since the independence; Muslim percentage in government jobs was 27% ; in Congress regime under the Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Roy it was 8% and in Left Front ruling that came down to 1.5%.

Audience of the All India Muslim Convention at Muslim Institute Hall, Kolkata on 17th March, 2012.
But Chaudhary talked about giving the Didi led government a chance for doing the needful for Muslims, "If her government doesn't do justice to Muslim, they will remove her from power. Muslims of West Bengal have got lesson from last 34 years, they will not wait again for long time," warned Chaudhary.
Moinuddin Shams, secretary of All India Anjuman Ettehade Millat prescribed the demand chart of his organization which included 10% reservation for Muslim in the government jobs, educational institution and also in the Parliament, Assembly, Municipal Corporation & Panchayet and Urdu should be awarded Official language in entire West Bengal.
http://twocircles.net/2012mar18/owaisi_sees_no_change_muslims%E2%80%99_condition_west_bengal.html

Dr. Nazrul Islam

Missionary in Khaki

Feature

, by MAQBOOL AHMED SIRAJ
A police officer challenges illiteracy and official sloth in West Bengal and raises a string of schools and colleges in Murshidabad, reports MAQBOOL AHMED SIRAJ
Dr. Nazrul Islam is a one man mission. An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1981 batch, Nazrul is currently Director General of Police and holds the post of Additional Director General of Prosecution in the West Bengal Police. Call him an ever alive volcano of energy or a 24 x 7 missionary in the cause of education, all titles fit him. Ever active, ever vigilant, Nazrul has pursued several passions through his life and left none among them from attaining the ultimate fulfilment. But for his whirling red light topped official car, he might be mistaken for an ordinary man as nothing in his looks suggests him to belong to the elite services.
A thoroughly simple man, he is extremely amiable, speaks English with Bengali accent and keeps snobbery at arm's length. A celebrated author in Bengali literature, Nazrul has 57 books to his credit so far. And few know that he began to fund his ventures in educational field from royalty he received for some of his award-winning books.
While doing all these, he has carried a spotlessly clean career in police. The ones attempting to blemish him with corruption charges have faced the music in the courts and have only ended up elevating his reputation by a few notches. Newspapers are now scared of writing anything unsubstantiated against him even if it comes from the official corridors. In the past, ministers had to eat their words after hurling of wild allegations and the man is never shy of showing the ministers their place and dragging the delinquent ones to the corridors of justice.
Nazrul is founder of a primary school, a high and senior secondary school, a degree college, a teachers' training college, a polytechnic, a vocational training college and finally an engineering college in Domkal, small town in the educationally most backward district of Murshidabad. All these institutions came up within a span of five years beginning from 1996. Born in Basantapur village of the Muslim dominated Murshidabad district, he had for long nursed a pining for doing something to uplift the masses from the poverty and dire drudgery. And himself being born to an illiterate parents, Nazrul had set the sight on higher echelons within the Government for himself. However, lure of Bengali literature was too powerful to be ignored.
His first book Mangal Path (can be translated as 'Path of Welfare') was published in 1995. It was a big hit and lampooned several ministers for being corrupt. It created ripples in the power corridors as it had named several ministers. The Government threatened him with action, but could do nothing as the facts were well documented. In another case, he took the popular Bengali daily Pratidin to court for publishing baseless charges made by a minister. The minister had accused him of using the official car to visit his native village in Murshidabad at weekends. Having maintained a meticulous record for paying for the driver and fuel from his pocket, Nazrul proved in the court that he was well within the perimeters of law in doing so. The Court asked the Government of West Bengal to pay him one rupee towards compensation for making false charges. Pratidin had to publish an apology.
The royalty from Mangal Path i.e., Rs. 1.5 lakh was utilised to set up the primary school under the aegis of Basantapur Education Society at Damkal, 35 kms north of district headquarters Berhampore. Later a few philanthropists came forward to help him with either land or money and more educational institutions came to be set up. Curiously, even while he was engaged in bringing kids to schools, he too was acquiring degree after degrees. Following selection in the IPS in 1981, he acquired an MBA and Ph.D. in literature from Calcutta University. Meanwhile, his novels and short stories began to win wide acclaim in literary circles and he was conferred with Anand Puruskar in 1995, Saratchandra Puruskar in 1999 and Nikhil Puruskar in 2000.
While Nazrul has won wide appreciation in his native district for yeoman service, the West Bengal government had been after him, putting spokes into his wheels and sparing no opportunity to nullify his mission. By framing bizarre rules, the Government has practically ousted him from the managing committee of the Degree College. Local Marxist Party committee has inducted all its members into it. Says Nazrul, 'The Marxist dispensation has been indifferent to the educational development in Murshidabad and surrounding districts with a preponderant majority of Muslims'. He alleges that degree of bias against the Muslims and Dalits in West Bengal is worse than the one seen in Gujarat under the BJP government.
Quoting Sachar Committee Report, Nazrul says, nine per cent Muslims in Gujarat have more than five per cent Government jobs while Muslims constituting 24 per cent in West Bengal have a measly representation of mere 1.5 per cent. Nazrul says, Murshidabad with 64 per cent Muslim population has a Government primary school for 1,851 persons while in Purulia district there is one Government primary school for 852 persons. 'Fact is that even the ratio in Purulia is far from being satisfactory. And for Murshidabad to attain parity with Purulia the Government would need opening another 3,716 primary schools, adds Nazrul.
"It is an upper caste dominated Government which under the guise of Marxist ideology rides roughshod over diversity of the populace. Look at the composition of the ministry in the State. There are 15 Brahmins among 43 ministers and nine other ministers belong to Baidya and Kayastha castes. This makes the upper caste representation 55.8 per cent while Muslims who make up nearly quarter of the State's population, have only five representatives or just about 11.6 per cent. Moreover, they are assigned insignificant portfolios such as horticulture and animal husbandry," he adds.
Such quotes are rare to come by from in-service Government officers. But Nazrul has not learnt to mince words and nothing baulks him from stating facts provided he has satisfaction of their veracity.
A workaholic, Nazrul knows no rest. Weekends see him travelling to Murshidabad from Kolkata, tending his institutions that stand on an 83-acre campus in this impoverished and riverine district. Determined to see that this backward district joins the mainstream, Nazrul's institutions have almost 4,000 students today.
He can be contacted nazrulbakul@yahoo.co.in

http://www.radianceweekly.com/152/3546/parliamentary-elections-2009-jih-presents-manifesto-for-the-consideration-of-political-parties/2009-04-09/feature/story-detail/dr-nazrul-islammissionary-in-khaki.html

Birth

Date of Birth: 03-02-1954 Biography - Nazrulislam Place of Birth : Vill & P.O Jaikrishnapur, PS Jalangi, Dt Murshidabad, West Bengal

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Parents

Mother Lekzan Nesa, Father late Abdul Aziz. His father was a part-time marginal farmer and part-time daily labourer. Dr Nazrul Islam is the eldest of 7 brothers and 2 sisters. He was born at the dwelling house of his maternal grandfather. Her mother can only recollect that, it was a Tuesday morning. The Sun was just rising. A few days of Bengali month, Paush was left. Depending on it, some argue that, his actual date of birth must be some day on or about 10 January and not 3 February. At that time, there was not even a primary school at his paternal village, Ramna Basantapur, where he was brought up in the childhood. One village elder, Khodabakhsh Mandal, took him, along with others, to the primary school in the neighbouring village, Bhatsala. In the admission registrar, the headmaster of Bhatsala Primary School recorded his date of birth as 03-02-1954, as per the rough age given by Khodabakhsh Mandal. That continued to be his recorded date of birth.

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Name

He was born at his maternal place. They gave him the name of 'Mani'. His paternal relatives gave him some name. His mother claims that he was given the name of 'Nazrul'. But as far as he remembers, before going to the primary school, he was not being addressed as 'Nazrul'. On the inquiry of the headmaster of Bhatsala Primary School, Khodabakhsh Mandal mentioned his name as 'Nuzbal'/ 'Nuzmal'. The headmaster did not like it. He recorded the name as 'Nazrul Islam', perhaps after Rebel Poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. After he got the doctorate degree in 1991, his name became 'Dr Nazrul Islam'. In 1999, he decided to change his name to 'Bakul Bangali'. He made affidavit in the court and was about to announce the same in the newspapers, which is a requirement for the change to be effective. But some of his very close friends persuaded him not to make the change of name effective. [There was a rationale for the change of his name. He wrote a book on how the Hindu-Muslim relationship could be made cordial. One of his recommendations was that the name, which identifies a person with some particular religion or a particular caste of that religion, should be abolished and secular name should be encouraged. He thought that, he should implement it in his life. ]

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Education

At this time, the primary school was just established in the neighbouring village, Bhatasala. At that time Elahi Mandal was the leader of their part of the village. The school authority approached him for sending some students. His eldest son, Khodabakhsh Mandal took Nazrul Islam, along with others, for admission to the school. In this school he met his most respected teacher in life, Shri Amarendranath Pal, who made Nazrul to dream big. Primary School : Amarendranath Pal was an outstanding teacher. He used to teach through play. The students used to just play and learn. Nazrul still remembers how Amarendranath Pal wrote some letters on small pieces of cardboard and they were asked to arrange these in order and in the way taught them how to make correct words by arranging necessary letters and correct sentence by arranging necessary words in proper sequence and putting the punctuation marks properly. On Saturday's routine he did not keep any usual classes. Instead, he used to arrange the weekly programme called 'Saptahik Asar'. In it students had the option to take part as per his or her ability. One could sing. Another could dance. Yet another could recite. Being from the family of an illiterate daily labourer, Nazrul could not learn singing and dancing. Mr Pal made him to deliver a speech on some selected topics. The topics included the life of many great men. Their lives inspired Nazrul to aspire for dream high. When he read the life of some scientist like Jagadishchandra Basu or Dalton, he aspired to be a scientist. When he read the life of some patriot like Gandhiji or Netaji, he aspired to be a patriot. When he read the life of some literatteur like Rabidranath or Kazi Nazrul, he aspired to be a literatteur. The life of Vidyasagar was more inspiring to him. Vidyasagar was born of a poor family. Yet he got education and established educational institutions for his countrymen and struggled hard to reform the society. Nazrul was also born in a poor family. Thus, if educated like Vidyasagar, one day he would also be in position to do something for his country and countrymen. Nazrul thinks that, whatever achievement he accomplished in life is due to the teaching of Amarendrnath Pal of Bhatsala Primary School. * Higher Secondary School : His father was not in favour of his further education. His father thought that, his son had enough education to check the correctness of revenue receipt and read and write letters. So he should learn cultivation. The son of a cultivator would not get any job. So he would starve in case he failed to master cultivation. His mother was in favour of his education up to High School. One of her maternal cousins had passed High School, went to Pakistan and got a job. So her son also might get some job. Nazrul's primary teacher, Amarendranath Pal got him admitted in the Dumkal Higher Secondary School. He passed Higher Secondary (XI) form this school in 1971. He was lucky that the school was within a few kilometres from his native village. So he could attend the school on foot. If there was no such school he could not study well. But he realised in his later life that the standard of the school was very low and many of the teachers were not suitable to cover the syllabus. This was a hindrance in his competing in the competitive examination. Nazrul always used to score very good marks in Geography. But when he saw the syllabus for Central Civil Services Examination, he found that he did not study anything about Australian, North American and South American continents. He did not study anything about glacier, aurora australis, and avalanche. Why? Because, suppose, the book of Geography contained 250 pages as per syllabus. The subject teacher covered only 40 pages. Examination was held from the 40 pages. 210 pages were not covered. In this way, from class V to class VIII, he learnt only 160 pages of 1000, which is only 16% of the syllabus. How could he compete with a student who covered 100%? He was compelled to cover the rest 84% of his school syllabus, after graduation, that also of his own effort. Nazrul chose Science stream. Syllabuses of no Science subjects except Biology – Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics - were covered fully. For example, in Higher Secondary Mathematics syllabus contained 'Binomial Theorem'. The Mathematics teacher left it aside on the plea that sufficient number of questions would be available from other chapters to answer the required number of questions. It was right. But he did not tell that this theorem was necessary to study Mathematics in the college. In those days, Core Mathematics was taught to the Higher Secondary science students. At that age, the students like Nazrul were not aware that this subject was 'core' to future learning. One might not study Elective Mathematics. But he must study Core Mathematics. But the teacher taught them differently. They emphasised that as there would no final examination by the Board, so the students should not bother much for Core Mathematics. Nazrul remembers that, only a very small portion of the syllabus was covered. Almost entire syllabus of Core Mathematics was never touched. Thus he did not learn anything about mean, median, mode, standard deviation of statistics. But these were included in the General Knowledge syllabus of Central Civil Services Examination. So he was compelled to learn these anew for the examination. Then it was very difficult for him to compete with those students who were taught these in their schools. * There were topics like 'Upasarga', 'Anusarag', 'Pratyay' and 'Natwa bidhan-Shatwa-bidhan' in the Higher Secondary Bengali syllabus. The subject teacher did not teach these. These are required not only for passing examination, but also for writing correct Bengali. These are required for understanding words formation, spelling and sentences, which are life-long requirement. So the unsuitable teachers made their students to suffer lifelong. Why are we writing these things? Dr Islam wants to make the students aware so that they do not suffer likewise. It is very difficult to compensate such loss in the school life. This is why almost all students of good schools with qualified and dutiful teachers are generally established in life. But the majorities of students of ordinary schools with unqualified and callous teachers fail to make any mark in life. College : The college life of Nazrul Islam was a tragic one. Their economic condition was very bad. To add fuel to fire, there was a devastating flood in 1971, the year he passed HS. Crops were damaged. The cattle died. His father tried to do a part-time business in buying raw jute and selling it in the 'arhat' of 'mahajan'. The 'mahajan', Khokan Thakur, took the jute from his father and decamped overnight. He did not pay the price. His father could not avoid paying the local people from whom he purchased the jute in credit. The administration did not come to his help. His father had neither ability nor courage to approach the court. The court was situated in the district headquarters, where the house of the cheater 'mahajan' was situated and he was reported to patronise some criminals for intimidating the wretched people like the father of Nazrul whom he had cheated. Nazrul went to him thrice. He gave dates after date and did not pay. His father had to sell a portion of his land for paying the money. So his father was not in a position to pay the money required for his admission in the college. He worked as daily labourer and earned some money and got him admitted in the college with the money. He could not afford any lodging at Berhampore. So he had to travel twice daily the distance 5 kms on foot and 35 kms in bus. At that time, there was no bridge over the Bhairab River. All had to cross it on boat. It was time-consuming. The bridge on the Bali Channel was on floating drums. The passengers had to cross it on foot. It also took time. Thousands of refugees from the then East Pakistan took shelters on the roadsides. It also made the speed of the buses very slow. For covering a distance of 35 kms it took about two hours and sometime more than that. Nazrul used to get up very early in the morning, take his bath, take food and start for the college at seven. He almost ran to reach the BDO Crossing for catching the bus at about eight in the morning. The bus was overcrowded. It was difficult to get inside. He had to hang from the handle for some distance. Then he could get in, but getting a seat was beyond any possibility. At about 1030, the bus used to reach the Berhampore Bus-stand. Getting down from the bus, he again began to walk hurriedly. But he could not reach the college before one or two periods were over. The classes were used to be over by 1730, except on days when the practical classes were at the end and the practical classes took more time. * From the college he used to hurriedly rush to the bus-stand, board the bus, stand in the bus till it reaches Dumkal. He needed money as bus fare. So at Dumkal he had to give tuition to children of well to do family. When the tuition was over it was generally 10 passed. Completely exhausted – heavily tired and highly hungry – he used to set feet towards home. He generally used to reach home at about 12/ 1230. He took the food, if there was any, and went to sleep. After a few hours the hectic activities for the next day used to start. He had no time to study. No time to take rest. No time to think. Moreover, on account of his utter poverty, he could not buy even a single book. He could not buy even the exercise books for taking class-notes. So in the college days he could not make any study. There were two more hindrances. Firstly, he was drawn to the ideas of communism by his schoolteacher, Abdul Bari, who was a CPI (M) MLA from Dumkal Assembly Constituency. But very soon he found that CPI (M) was not doing much for the very poor people like him. So he was attracted towards the more radical Naxallite Movement. It dented into his already meagre time. Secondly, during his school days, he used to take part in debating. He represented his school in the inter-school debates and stood first in the district. In his college days he represented his college in may competitions, including all Bengal and all India level competitions and also got first prizes for his college. This gave him some pleasant moments in his very miserable college days. But it further reduced his study time for the honours course.     University : Though Nazrul Islam sometime dreamt of becoming a scientist, he did not have the chance to attend any university regularly. Just after graduation, he joined service. During the service period, he passed Special BA, passed M A, and obtained Ph D and D Litt degrees from Calcutta University and M B A degree from Jadavpur University.

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Life

He began his life as 'Mani' at his maternal village. Very soon he was brought to his paternal place and became 'Nuzbal'/ 'Nuzmal'. Admission record in the primary school made him Nazrul Islam. After primary school he was admitted in the Dumkal Higher Secondary School. He passed his Higher Secondary Examination, in Science Stream with higher First Division and Letter Marks, in 1971. He got himself admitted in B Sc (Honours in Chemistry). He obtained his B Sc degree from this college. The final examination was scheduled to be held in 1974. It was actually held in 1975 and the result was out much later. So he passed the B Sc of 1974 in 1976. He began his career as a daily labourer. He left his paternal house and took a job of Private Tutor at a village in Hooghly district, at a monthly salary of Rs 100. At the intervention of his college teacher, Dr Asish Chatterjee, he joined as a temporary Laboratory Assistant of Krishnath College, Berhampore, at a monthly salary of Rs 150. Through the Clerkship Examination, he joined as a Lower Division Assistant in the Writers Buildings in 1977. He appeared at many competitive examinations like WBCS (Executive) etc, ASM in Railways, Guard in Railways, KGO in Land & Land Reforms Department. Through these examinations, he got five jobs at a time. He joined as ARCS (WB Co-operative Service) in the Co-operative Directorate of Govt of WB, New Secretariat Buildings in 1978. Through the Central Civil Services Examination 1980, he joined Indian Police Service in 1981.

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Mentors/ whom he remembers

He remembers his both parents, who cultivated first the idealism in him. Besides them there are few more persons, whom he remembers till today for affecting his life. Ichharuddin Fakir played an important role in his life. He was being revered as a 'pir'. He used to live a life of pious Muslim. But he had no dogmatism. People of the area used to believe that he used to wield supernatural power. They believed that, he had command over the angels and fairies. He could walk over the water. He could fly in sky. The ferocious animals like tiger respected and made way for him. He could exorcise ghosts. His popularity cut across the religious lines. People used to come to him for exorcising ghosts and curing of other disease. He could realise hefty amount from them, as is done by the so-called sacred men. But he did not take any fees from them. He used to work as a carpenter. The wage of this carpentry was his livelihood. He lived a very simple life. So requirement was less. He could serve other people selflessly. This helped Nazrul throughout his life to live very simple life and keep his requirement very limited. If any other persons have any effect on him, it was that of Dr B R Ambedkar, and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Dr Ambedkar was born to a Mahar family, which was considered untouchable. In spite of all the difficulties, he became B A of Bombay University, M A and Ph D of Columbia University, Bar at Law, M Sc and D Sc of London University; and rose to be the first Law Minister of India. What is more, he struggled all through his life for the emancipation of the untouchables, among whom he was born and brought up. He never forgot to fight for them. And Gandhi, the 'half-naked fakir' became and continued to be the unquestioned leader of the millions of Indians. But he used to live a very simple life. The people of the country could think him as one of them. In his childhood, Nazrul was a devout Muslim. He used to have namaz seven times a day. He used to observe roza. He used to take part in the religious discourses. So Ichharuddin Fakir and other elders like Adhar Sekh used to like him much. The liking was so intense that, once, when the regular khatib became absent, they made schoolboy Nazrul their Imam in the Friday Jumma prayer and the Octogenarian villagers like Ichharuddin Fakir and Adhar Sekh also had their prayer under his leadership. In his Higher Secondary days, Nazrul was attracted to science and communism. He became logical. He gave up having prayer and observing roza. Yet Ichharuddin used to like Nazrul for his good disposition. Once some people complained to him against his affection for Nazrul, who did not have namaz and observe roza. The fakir answered to them in a different way. "You people go to my house", He asked, "Don't you?" The people answered, "Yes, we go." "But when I come to your place you don't go to my house for me", He asked, "Do you?" The people said in one voice, "No, we don't go." "Why? Don't you need me then?" "No, no." "Then?" "Because you are available in our place." "Likewise Allah comes to him. He needn't go to Allah. He needn't have namaz like us. Allah doesn't come to us. So we have to go to Him. We have to have namaz." The people became voiceless. He continued, "We need it. He doesn't need it." The people stood spell bound. He went away. Later on, there was much discussion about it and the people could not come to a conclusion whether dictum of the fakir was out of his realisation or out of his blind affection for Nazrul. But they did not raise this point again to him. Ichharuddin Fakir was a pious man. But he never preached to others. People followed him out of their reverence to him. People of the area used to come to him for the cure of ailments. Without any objection, he used to puff the water for the purpose. He used to go to any place to exorcise the ghosts, if requested. When inquired confidentially, he confided Nazrul that he had no supernatural power. He stated that his puffing the water did not cure any disease. His exorcising did not cure any ghost. "Then why do you do these?" "The people are very poor." He replied, "They could not pay the high fees of the physicians. So they did not attend them. They come to me. I puff the water. They believed that, they would be cured. They feel assured. Some of them are cured in this way." "Walking on water, flying in the sky and command over the angels and fairies?" "I have no such power." "Then, why do people discuss so?" "People aspire to be more powerful. They want the ability to walk on water, fly in the sky and command the powerful. So they imagine these things. They revere the pious. So they ascribe these abilities to them. That's why." "Simply that's why?" "Simply that's why." This was Ichharuddin Fakir. Another villager had profound effect on Nazrul. He was Elahi Mandal. He was the 'mandal' of the 'Mandal Clan' of the village to which Nazrul's father belonged to. Elahi Mandal was illiterate. But he could tell the section of IPC and ayat of the Koran. He always tried to lead his clan well. He tried to get his children educated. He was not successful. He sent his eldest son, Khodabakhs to Batikamari Primary School. He could not go further. His son Atar was contemporary of Nazrul. Elahi spent much for his education. He could not do well. Nazrul's father was poorer than he was. He could not spend much for Nazrul's education. Yet Nazrul was progressing well. This was why Elahi used to like Nazrul well. He wanted that, Nazrul should take the role of the leader. He wanted Nazrul to lead them to prosperity. Before arriving at any important decision for the village he used to discuss matters with Nazrul. When Nazrul was a college student, there was a feud between the Mandals and Biswases. At the time of discussion, Elahi stated to Nazrul, "They are from the same village. They will live here. We shall also live here. Find way out so that both are saved." Nazrul liked the feeling very much. In his later life, it paved the path for his thinking about the welfare of even those, who were perpetrating damage to him. Among his teachers, Nazrul remembers his primary teacher, Amarendranath Pal most. It was he, who set the goal and idealism of his life. Among the High School teachers, Gangaprasad Ghoshal appeared to him the most secular person present in the school. Among his college teachers, Sakinath Jha, Dipankar Chakrabarti and Dr Asish Chatterjee demand special mention. Both Professor Jha and Porfessor Chakrabarti were ultra-left in their thoughts. In his school and college days he used to represent the school and college in the debating. For discussion he used to meet the relevant teacher. The clarity of thinking of Professor Jha and Porfessor Chakrabarti influenced him much. In his later life also their thoughts went on paving the path. Dr Asish Chatterjee of chemistry influenced the life of Nazrul much. He was very much optimistic and idealistic. When Nazrul was away from home with the job of a private tutor, he arranged the job of Laboratory Assistant in K N College. It was he, who encouraged Nazrul to appear at the WBCS Examination within a few days of his recovery from small pox. It was he, who encouraged him to join IPS, when Nazrul's friends were against his joining police. Dr Chatterjee argued, "Won't the police of independent country reform? You will join police. You will remain honest and you will make the police honest." Prof Debapriya Banerjee also helped Nazrul in going ahead in his life.

http://drnazrulislam.com/Biography.aspx