JU convocation and some memories

JU convocation and some memories

Jahangirnagar University, the only residential university in Bangladesh, held its fourth convocation on Janaury 30, 2010. The anodyne and serine natural beauty of JU campus coupled with the chirping of countless guest birds invites the attention of all even those who are indifferent to the beauty of nature. The green vegetation of natural and planned trees and the red and white coloured buildings have tucked up among the small hills have added the beauty of the campus. It’s a heavenly and adoring place to make someone concentrated on study or mediation. Yes, this campus attracted me not only because of these phenomena but also because of its unique residential facilities. Only one public university in our country proclaims the name of fully residential which leads many to give preference to this highest seat of learning. I used to be in this campus for about six years which stored many eventful occurrences both pleasant and unpleasant.
Jahangirnar could have been an excellent place of giving and taking knowledge. The research and spreading the light of learning could have marked this university making it quite different from other universities of the country as it is fully residential. Accommodation is a serious problem in all the universities of Bangladesh. Many specialties have made it different and unique from other public universities. The limited number of students in each department, residential facilities for all the students, calm and quite environment and free from the din and bustle of Dhaka city, library facilities, forty minutes journey from the city offering metropolitan facilities though not touched by the sound and disturbances of city life. Sound and environmental pollution don’t plague the people of this campus. All the students almost know each other and teachers are closer to the pupils due to this homely atmosphere and most probably because of living close to nature.
The first convocation of Jahangir Nagar Unviersiety was held with Prof. Amirul Islam Chowdhury as the VC , the second took place under the stewardship of Abdul Bayes as VC , third with Dr. K. Mushtahidur Rahman and the fourth under the leadership of Dr. Shariff Enamul Kabir present VC. The former VC Professor Abdul Bayes produced an excellent article ( in the DS January 30) giving the short history of convocation of this university and its some special features. By I have just got astonished read of some of the lines. He says,
“I could harness Tk 400 million from the government for the development of the university. This amount was higher than the amount the university repeated home from 1970-2000. I am grateful to Sheikh Hasina’s government which was in power at that time for taking special care of this university. Since 2001, all development works stalled as funds did not flow as were required in subsequent periods. Out of four three convocations are under the AL rule. “ These are absolutely political talks and this politics of the teachers not only of the students has caused irreparable damage to all of our public universities. Universities are the centers of excellence for the highest educated people. This is the centre for research. Teachers of the universities must be above criticism. When students see, watch and experience that their VC belongs to a particular party and adores that party leaders, naturally and definitely the students don’t honour them. Really, our university teachers don’t possess the moral strength as they had earlier times. I can remember, one of my closest relatives who was a brilliant student of Dhaka University was expelled from the university for a fault committed by him. No student politics could influence the decision of the university authority. Not only that he told us “ Event he Chancellor’s request would not change the decision of the VC. And that happened. He had to face the expulsion order. He now ,of course, teachers at a foreign university. Another incident told by my colleague. He was a student of Rajshahi University. The students of RU during Pakistan period cordoned the VC’s office to change the date of examination. The VC approached the students and told very firmly“The date of death may change but the date of examination will never.” And he did not change the examination date and the students had to sit for the examination according to the scheduled time. How morally strong they were! Now what happens to our VCs? No legal or strict decision they cannot take in the face of student leaders’ opposition. Whatever wrong and illegal ways the student leaders claim the VCs yield to them just to preserve the chair. What that chair gives them only God knows. VCs even shelter the rapists and blame the general students just to satisfy the ruling authorities. But the country always expects the opposite behavior from the university teachers. Now those days are gone by. Teachers and VCs have left the path of teaching, research and stand on the path of honesty and morality. They want to go up by satisfying the ruling authorities.
I like Bayes sir’s comment , “ The VCs of public universities maximize their tenure of office by recruiting as many teachers as possible by hook or by crook (just for vote).Recruitment of teachers for the sake of ‘group politics’ to me is a zero-sum game’. If you lose power, the pawns jump out of your boat as quickly as possible to parade with the new VC. Again, question arises why then the teachers continue committing the same thing.
The beautiful and calm campus of Jahangirnagar University was rocked by rowdy student politics sometimes and we were the worst sufferers since the inception of the university. A handful of so-called students used to vitiate the whole university campus from time and again. Most of these students were either from locality or from Dhaka city. I got astonished to see their conduct, behaviour and everyday activities in the highest seat of learning. How they could get into the university. What kind of family they belong to that they don’t feel any hesitation to mercilessly beat their fellow classmates virtually for nothing just to show their muscle power. Actually since then, I started hating student politics. In the name of student politics these students commit all sorts of crimes and these same people find their place in the national politics later on. What the nation gets or can expect from these kind of students? One night how the rowdy students attacked the teacher’s residence and set ablaze teachers’ cars made me think what these boys would give the nation when they would be working in the national level. Some of these dark sides and memories still raise many questions in my mind.
Beyond these exceptions the rest other events are worth remembering. The performance at the regular interval in the open stage, sound atmosphere of the campus served both mental and physical food to the students to get nourishment for future life. My first year days are still vivid in my memory. When I forgot to take the text to the class, Tahmina Quamrunnessa ( now Tahmian Ahmed teaches at Dhaka University) admonished me saying “ Have you forgot to have your tiffin?” How motherly the attitude, behaviour and controlling device is! Really very nice atmosphere and relation between teachers and students prevailed in those days. Professor Shahin Kabir advised us to drink more water. As soon as we met her, she just asked us “how you are” with a broad smile. Sohel Ahmed asked us to go to his chamber if we could not follow the class clearly. Shafia Sahana before going abroad arranged a special class in her chamber in her room.Very friendly teacher like Professor Abu Taher Majumder, Dr. Nurul Islam (presently teaches at Queens Univeristy), Sohel Ahmed, Prof. Harun or Rashid ( Ex-Director General of Bangla Academy) are worth mentioning. Professor Harun considered us like his friend. I cannot but forget that in one Eid for some special reasons some of us used to stay in the campus. Our provost Dr. M. Kabir ( Professor of Statistics) invited all of us to his residence. Really it was very homely situation, though all the students did not go to his residence. One of our teachers told that we were lucky enough. Being a student of Dhaka University we never could expect such kind of personal invitation to any teacher’s residence. How close and homely atmosphere Jahangirnar University campus offers can easily be imagined. Dr. Nurul Islam, very grave and somber person, hardly talks but very soft. One night several students visited his residence who were entertained with sweetmeats and it was home made. University level teaching needs this kind of environment which this campus can make available. Abu Taher Majumber came to our room to teach Browning.
I want to see my university really as a centre of excellence in the globe. Its beautiful campus must have beauty in every respect. I conclude endorsing my views with Bayes sir “Let us commit, on the day of convocation, to making JU a university of international repute where the sword of words is mightier than the words of the sword.”

Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: BRAC Education Programme, PACE
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
Full address: Office-BRAC Education Programme, PACE
10th floor, BRAC Centre
75, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212.
Home: 134, WAPDA Road ( Karotoa)
West Rampura, Dhaka 1219.
Phone: 9355253
Date: January 31, 2010.