Those who oppose the establishment of the University of Dhaka, Who worked on behalf of:

The University of Dhaka-geniusmanik.com

Those who oppose the establishment of the University of Dhaka

Higher education started in India after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Lord Canning, India's largest lottery in 1857, set up three universities by passing 'The Act of Incorporation'.

The universities are Calcutta, Bombay and Madras University. Earlier, there was a higher education system in India but these three universities were established in the European model.

The standards of the University of Kolkata, like other universities, were high. And the students of this university were mainly Hindu children of the ups and downs of West Bengal.

Before the partition of Bengal in 1905, there were 19 colleges in undivided Bengal. Among them nine in eastern Bengal. But the people of East Bengal did not think that it was enough.

Why university was needed in East Bengal:

In 1905, the Bengal Presidency was divided into a new province called East Bengal and Assam. The name of which is called bhanabhanga.

A part of this initiative was to bring forward the backward population, especially the majority of Muslims in East Bengal.

This time of partition was for only a short time, only six years. Because in the midst of this, the Hindu leaders of West Bengal made strong movements of this partition of Bengal.

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders are excited to get a new province, with the help of different facilities, including education.

But in the year 1911, the partition of Bengal was dissolved in the face of their opposition to Hindu majority in entire India.

As a result, the anger of the Muslims continued to accumulate more. They think they are being discriminated against in education even after economic discrimination.

Writer and researcher Syed Abul Maksud wrote in his book 'The University of Dhaka and Higher Education of Bangladesh', "The anger of the Bengali Muslims on the University of Calcutta was long before the formation of East Bengal and Assam Province in 1905. The reason for anger is not only the Hindu preference but the Hindu religion Due to the prominence, Muslims get dissatisfaction ".

Those who oppose:

As the most opposed to the establishment of the University of Dhaka, the University of Calcutta Vice-Chancellor Sir Asutosh Mukhopadhyay and politician Surendranath Banerjee have come up with Syed Abul Maksud's 'TheUniversity of Dhaka and higher education in Bangladesh'. Some people of Hindu community were also opposed to the establishment of Dhaka University.

Lord Hardinge, India's Viceroy, returned to Calcutta after his Dhaka visit in 1912. On 12 February 1912, A delegation led by Rashbehari Ghosh presented a memorandum opposing the establishment of the University in Dhaka.

It has come up in several books, Lord Hardinge asked Sir Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay, at what price he would refrain from opposing the establishment of Dhaka University in exchange for what?

In the end, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee ended his opposition to the creation of four new professorships for the University of Calcutta. Later, Sir Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay supported the appointment of teachers for Dhaka University. Sir Nilratan Sarkar was with him.

Why this opposed ?:

Katha literary and magician Kulda Roy wrote in an essay titled 'Opposition to the establishment of Dhaka University and Rabindranath Tagore', originally opposed three types of people-

One. Some Muslims in West Bengal - They thought that Muslims in West Bengal had no benefit when the university was established in Dhaka. The Muslims of East Bengal will be benefited. For them, being a university in West Bengal is profitable for being a university in West Bengal.

Two. Some Muslims of East Bengal - They thought that among the 10000 Muslims of East Bengal, only one can pass at the school level. The number of students at the college level is very low. If there is a university, the number of Muslim students will be very low.

If there is a primary and high school in East Bengal, the rate of education among Muslims will increase. It needs to be done before. And if the University is established then the government budget allocated for Muslims will be spent on the university. There will be no new primary or high school. Those who have it will be closed due to lack of money. That's why they did not want the university.

Three. Some Hindus of West Bengal thought that the budget allocation of the Calcutta University would be reduced if the University of Dhaka was reduced. So how will the University of Calcutta? In this fear, they opposed the founding of Dhaka University.

What did Rabindranath Tagore protest:

Over the years, many writings have been written about the role of Rabindranath Tagore in the establishment of Dhaka University.

Those who opposed it said they did not provide any documentary evidence.

Considering the social and political context of the time and some of the people who had been sitting together at that time of Rabindranath, were against the establishment of this university.

So many people wrote in simple equations, he was also against it.

Syed Abul Maqsud wrote in his book 'The University of Dhaka and Higher Education of Bangladesh', "Rabindranath was also very angry over Curzon (Lord Curzon) for class interests, and strongly responded to the highly educated commentary of Curzon's Hindu society in Calcutta, where Rabindranath also participated. There were some arguments in it, mostly emotions and some of them

Again those who did not oppose Rabindranath said they have mentioned several facts and dates of this date.

Professor Biswajit Ghosh of the University of Dhaka University said, "Some people are writing in writing without presenting any evidence that Rabindranath was presided over by Gadkari in a large public meeting on 28 March 1912. Such a meeting was held, but in Rabindranath's presence it was impossible, because On that day he was not in Kolkata, on 19 March 1912, the City of Paris Rabindranath was commemorated by the ship, and his doctor Dr. Dwijendranath Mitra, who was accompanied by his traveling companion, was taken in the vessel, but the poet's baggage was also brought in, but suddenly Rabindranath became ill in the morning, and his luggage was returned from Madras, and in Calcutta for some days, on 24 March, Rabindranath Shilaidaha was rested. Came out and from 28 March to 12 April,

After considering the social and political context of that time, Dhaka University teacher and researcher Touhidul Haque said, "We want to keep Rabindranath in the third row among those who opposed the establishment of the University of Dhaka because they were some of the high caste Hindus of West Bengal, especially with them. Vice Chancellor of the University of Kolkata Apart from Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay and politician Surendra Nath Banerjee, Rabindranath's meeting with him more than once before going to Shilaidah. From this, we want to realize that there can be a discussion about the overall development of East Bengal, but there is no clear evidence. "

Who worked on behalf of:

Information on the establishment of the University of Dhaka has been found in many ways from which it was opposed.

But this university has been playing an important role in confirming and establishing the necessity that those who do not speak about them.

Nawab Sir Salimullah is particularly noted in this case. But, suddenly Nawab Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury took the initiative in a strong hand when Nawab Salimullah died in 1915.

Among others, Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq is notable.

The Hindus of East Bengal came forward to establish the University of Dhaka.

Among them, one of the landowners of Baliya in Dhaka Jagannath Hall was named after his father Jagannath Roy Chowdhury.

Data source: BBC Bangla