Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
Kachi-kanchar Mela, a children organization in Bangladesh, has succeeded to cross hurdles to reach sixty-two years of existence in spite of political dole drum, anarchic and economic hardship. Kachi-Kanchar Mela is dedicated children organization set up by Mr. Rukanuzzaman Khan pseudo name Dada bhai on 5 October of 1956 at the residence of Poet Sufia Kamal at Tarabagh. This children organization is the off shot of Kachi Kanchar Ashor of Daily Ittefaq. Rukanuzzaman Khan became legendary figure during his life time for launching a movement for the well-being of children and establishing their rights in the society. Being inspired by the ideal of Moni Mela of Ananda Bazar Patrika of Kolkata and Mukul Mahfil of Daily Azad of undivided Bengal he floated the idea of establishing true sons of the soil to shoulder the responsibility of the country.
Mr. Rukanuzzaman Khan began his journey with handful members of Kachi-Kanchar Ashor to build up a pioneer children organization against the backdrop of economic and cultural exploitation by Punjabi dominated military-politico elite of former Pakistan regime. This was possible for Rukanuzzaman Khan because he utilized the services of mufassil representatives of Daily Ittefaq as Muffassil Editor of Daily Ittefaq, apart from Editor of Kachi-Kanchar Ashor. Poet litterateur Mahbub Talukdar, a member of Kachi-Kanchar Ashor was the first convener, who is now serving as Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, followed by Khandakar Ibrahim Khaled, former member of Ashor as well. Khandakar Ibrahim Khaled retired as Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, who is now steering the wheel of Kachi-Kanchar Mela. Syed Mohiuddin Mansoor was the first member of Kachi-Kanchar Ashor, who became a civil engineer, also joined Kachi-Kanchar Mela and Mr.Shasuzzaman Khan,first Organizer of Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela who is now Chairman of Bangla Academy. Rukanuzzaman Khan tried to imbibe in children a sense of values and tradition of Bengalese and patriotism for the country as well. There was no doubt that Rukanuzzaman utilized Muffazal correspondents for building Kach-Kanchar Mela. This writer was approached by Kushtia representative of Daily Ittefaq Mr. A. K. M. Mutaleb, a poet and editor of Weekly journal of Kushtia district board: Jogajog to form a branch of Kachi-Kanchar Mela.I was privileged to see the letter of Rukanuzzaman Khan addressed to Mr. Mutaleb some time in 1958, who expressed his nostalgia by expressing that there was a darkness under the lamp.
The reason was that no branch of Kachi-Kanchar Mela was formed in Kushtia .Mr.Rukanuzzaman Khan’s father was from Bheramara of Kushtia district while he was born at Pangsha under Faridpur district from where his maternal uncle renowned writer Yakub Ali Chowdhury and Rowshan Ali Chowdhury was from. This writer succeeded to form branch of Kachi-Kanchar Mela in Kushtia in 1958 under the name of JoyJatra Kachi-Kanchar Mela wherein Principal of Kushtia College Professor M.U.Bhuiya,Babu Hrishikesh Moitra,Head Master of Kushtia United High and Municipal School and Mr.Abdul Latif,who won titled as Mr. East Pakistan in 1953 as body builder, were advisors. This writer also formed branch of Kachi-Kanchar Mela at Azimpur in 1962 wherein Writer and Novelist Jobeda Khanam, who became first Chairman of Shishu Academy, Professor Sanjida Khatun and Principal of Kinter Garten School of Azimpur Mrs. Anowara Mansoor were involved. Classes of Kachi-Kanchar Mela used to hold in the premises of Kinter Garden School. Poet Rubi Rahman, who retired as English Professor, was convener. Although Shishu Academy was established by President Ziaur Rahman but it was brain child of Mr.Rokanuzzaman Khan on whose advice President Zia established Shishu Academy.
In his pioneer efforts Rukanuzzaman Khan was assisted by Scientist Dr. Abdullah Al Muti Sharfuddin,Mr.Abdul Wadud,General Manager of Daily Ittefaq, Professor Ajit Kumar Guha, Professor Anisuzzaman etc. Many stalwarts like Shilpacharya Jainul Abedin,Palli Kabi Jasimuddin,illustrious poet Sufia Kamal, among others, had been associated with Kachi-Kanchar Mela since its inception.
That Rukanuzzaman Khan was successful in his mission had amply been demonstrated during war of liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. A large number of members of Kachi-Kanchar Mela participated in war of liberation. My close friend Shahadat Chowdhury, who became Editor Weekly Bichitra and Shaptahik 2000 after Bichitra was sold out, was daunting freedom fighter.
An artist and writer Shahadat took up arms to liberate the country from the clutches of Pakistan marauding armed forces who built up guerilla force and initiated adventurous actions in Dacca on several occasions, including bomb blast in Hotel Intercontinental to scare Pakistan administration and invite attention of the world to the success of Mukti Bahini.Shahadat also succeeded to whisk away two daunting daughters of Poet Sufia Kamal to cross the border to join in liberation war. Both Sultana Kamal and Sayeda Kamal were members of Kachi-Kanchar Mela.In fact, Sultana Kamal was convener of Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela in 1962 who became one of advisors to Care taker government and established as an advocate.
Abul Bark Alvi, now a Professor of Charu Kala Institute, also involved in war of liberation. Alvi was Joint-Convener along with Sultana Kamal in 1962. Another member of Kachi-Kanchar Mela M.Golam Mustafa,Ph.d, who retired as Chief of Public Relation of Bangladesh Bank, also participated in war of liberation. A large number of members of Kachi-Kanchar mela were killed in the war of liberation. Mr. Rokanuzzaman Khan was boastful saying that no member of Kachi-Kanchar Mela became razakar.
He was work alcoholic. That had been demonstrated in his untiring effort to develop Kachi-Kanchar Mela. In the morning to afternoon Mr.Rokanuzzaman Khan remained busy in Ittefaq office while in the evening his presence was felt in Central Kachi-Kanchar office at Segunbaghica.During Saturday and Sunday his presence was invariably felt in different classes in Kach-Kanchar Bhavan. When a marshy land was awarded by President Ziaur Rahman government through Land Developoment Minister Barrister Abdul Haque to Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela at Segun Baghicha Mr.Rokanuzzaman was looking for donor to develop marshy land. NORAD came forward to develop land. He formed a committee to look after development. Engineer Syed Mohiuddin Mansoor, and architect-cum-poet Mr. Rabiul Husain and myself were member of the construction committee.
In fact, design of Kachi Kancha bhavan was made by architect Mr. Rabiul Husain. Foundation of Kachi-Kancha bhavan was completed by Messer’s Mir Akhtar Hossain Limited and we were informed to take over the building following a meeting of the construction committee held on 12 July of 1995. It was inaugurated by Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman while auditorium by Mr. Rokanuzzaman Khan. At the advice 0f Mr. Rokanuzzaman Khan Barrister Abdul Haque was invited by this writer to attend the ceremony.
It was unfortunate that Mr. Rokanuzzaman Khan did not see further development of Kachi-Kancha Bhavan which now have three-storied building and we succeeded to make air conditioned of the auditorium as well. During his life time Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela established unwritten friendship with children of Norway. There had been exchange of visits from both sides.
Apart from holding classes for painting, recitation, dance and Music and computer, presently Kachi-Kanchar Mela introduced adda (Gossif) with old and young alike and annually holds picnic as well. The first picnic was sponsored by founder and Chairman of Givensee group of Industries Mr. Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul at Old rehabilitation Centre Bishia, Kuribari of Gazipur in 2002. As a matter of fact, Old rehabilitation Centre was inaugurated by Mother Theresa while second such picnic sponsored by Barrister Mainul Hosein at his Mamaripur Baganbari located outskirt of Dhaka in January of 2003. Surrounding of Barrister Mainul Hosein’s Baganbari is really picturesque indeed. Big cage of local and foreign birds is really worth seeing. A copy of his letter to this writer showed his magnanimity. Barrister Mainul Hosein also contributed financially to Central Kachi-kanchar Mela during lifetime of Rokanuzzaman Khan. This year picnic took place on 26 January at Baliati Zamindar Bari at Manikganj.
Kachi-kanchar Mela also holds birth day of celebrated personalities like Poet Sufia Kamal, Shilpachariya Joynul Abedin, Palli Kabi Jasimuddin, Scientist Dr. Abdullah Al-Muti Sharfuddin and Litterateur and Journalist Rokanuzzaman Khan, apart from Poet Nazrul Islam and Bengali New Year as well. Somehow or other, Dadabhai was against observation of death anniversary for children organization. Kachi-Kanchar Mela also introduced annual Pita competition during winter month.
Long live Kachi-Kanchar Mela which now crossed its existence of 62 years.
(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat, former Joint Director of Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela and permanent member of Central Kachi-kanchar Mela, writes from Virginia, USA)
