Rabiul Alam :
An unconventional face with traditional structures carrying rare books of English literature, shabby outfits, outmoded sandals, unruffled hair style but is familiar smiling face to students of Jagannath University and literature lovers of Old Dhaka area.
I am telling about no other man; this is Jakaria Hossain, a final-year student of English Department of the University, who interprets a literary text with his own ideas, comprising ideas excepted from the Bible, The Greek Mythology; he shows most often comparative and contrasting analysis within his analytical speeches in the class while the teachers of the courses conducts the classes. One exceptional feature of his is that he has mastered over the Old Testament and New Testament, which is a rare incident for the students of English Literature in the barren age of literature. When a teacher conducts in presence of his class, he/she eulogizes him seeing his sparks of experiences of literature. After the class literature minded students come to him to exchange views on literature; after that, he is used to listening to addresses in the literary addas in anyplace where these literary discussions take place. This is the common picture of everyday life of his on the university campus.
His unquenchable thrust for literature makes anyone to acquaint about him. He has collected more than 6,000 books related to English Literature and Philosophy that books are mostly of Penguin Books, Bantam Books, Macmillan, Norton, Harcourt Brace and World etc.
“Books dispel the darkness from the inner side of mind; books help to flourish the development of mind. Literature delights the readers, I had ineluctable thrust for literature from my boyhood; by reading myriad literary books, I have been able to know the culture, society, history, philosophy of different nations. In my boyhood, I was influenced by the speech of Leo Tolstoy, who said that three things are essential for human life; those are books, books and books.”Jakaria said while answering his thrust for collecting such books.
He resides at a bachelor’s mess at Malibagh in which the books cover a large portion of the room. He sends two sacks full of books to his village home every months due to not getting sufficient space in the room, he does do this. He left the former mess for the scarcity of the room’s space. First, he hoped that present mess would suffice him but to no effect. The room doesn’t possess all the books that he possesses now.
“In addition to literature, I would like to read philosophy very much, for my most favourite teacher Md Tanvir Ahsan, Assistant Professor, Department of English gave a rare book on philosophy titled Philosophy : a Quest from Socrates to Sartre; this book inspired me a lot, After that, my thought on philosophy burgeoned quickly. He further added while answering about his liking for Philosophy.
He got sociology in Jagannath University for the first time, but he declined to study here because of his indomitable passion for English Literature. So, he got admitted himself into the English Department of Begum Rokeya University. But in order to get more English Literature books facilities and for highly qualified teachers, he got admitted himself for the second time at Jagannath University, Department of English.
“I make my living by teaching students privately. I try to keep budget on personal uses; I save some money to purchase books although I have pecuniary problems. ” while he said in emotion-choked voices about the sources of money that help him to purchase whopping numbers of books.
Md Jakaria Hossain, a third year student, hails from Kurigram, which is popularly known as a monsoon-hit area. He has to struggle a lot since his boyhood: he had to teach students privately; his studies was on the verge of halt due to poor monetary state.
“My father tried his level best, but it was inadequate as to my necessity. That’s why, I chose the paths of struggle to run my studies. In my boyhood, Md Abu Salek, Head teacher of Daldalia Ideal School, my mentor, rescued me from the shabby state of my studies. ” he told about his prime of life.
His father is Anisur Rahmam, resident of Kurigram, a farmer by profession; His mother Rahima Begum is a homemaker. He is the second child of his parents. He completed his primary education obtaining Talent pool scholarship from the then Munshipara Registered (now govt) Primary School. Then, he got admitted himself in Nazim Khan High School. From there, he got government board scholarship in class eight. He passed his SSC examination from the same School in Science section obtaining GPA-5. Then he completed his HSC examination from Ulipur M.S College showing extraordinary performance. Due to his timeless passion for literature, despite having facilities in science background, he chose the first.
“I had more passion in English Literature than science. My family members and my teachers forced me to study science, but I opted myself to study English Literature just after the HSC examination. “
Md Jakaria Hossain wants to cement himself as a university teacher and researcher in future; he wants to complete his doctoral study from America. Obtaining 3.53 Jakaria is one of the tops of the department. He has humbly sought blessings from all.
(Rabiul Alam, Department of English, Jagannath University)
