Recalling an educationist
No nation can surge ahead without education. It exposes man’s intellect and leads to the right track. That is why most governments of the world allocate a very good amount for expansion of education in their countries.
But sadly the Muslims of India could not realize this fact and refused to learn English, because it is the language of the British people who plundered power and wealth illegally. But the exception was Begum Roquiya, who sacrificed all that she had for the expansion of education among the women of Bengal.
She established a school in Calcutta and moved from post to pillar and pillar to post in order to convince the guardians to send their children in her school. She was spirited and energetic. She was progressive but not desperate. She maintained discipline and punctuality in life and always used veil whenever she came out of her house.
Begum Roquiya was a member of a very conservative family. But that could not stop her thirst for knowledge. When every member of the house went into sound sleep in the dead of night, her eldest brother taught her English and Bengali.
Her husband Sakhawat, who was a Magistrate, inspired and patronized Roquiya in the field of education and learning. When her husband died, she did not break down, rather worked for the expansion of education in Bengal. Such a noble lady was Begum Roquiya.
She was born on December 9 in 1880 AD and died on December 9 in 1932. We pay our deep respect to Roquiya and advise our women to follow her in the field of education.
Ameer Hamzah
Dhaka
