Published: 12:00 AM, 18 June 2016
Madhu’s Canteen: Our ‘Coffee House’
Madhur Canteen was named after Madhu Sudan Dey.It is a familiar name in the history of Dhaka University as well as in the national politics of Bangladesh because of its association with various political movements which originated from Dhaka University.
Madhur canteen played a pivotal role in the Liberation Movement of Bangladesh. The canteen also played significant roles in the Language Movements of 1948 and 1952, in the movement of fourth-class Dhaka University employees in 1949, in the students' revolt against the black laws (kala kanoon) of the university, and in the 1969 mass uprising in East Pakistan. It was the social epicenter of various political movements in the country.In the year 1921, late Aditya Chandra Dey, started the Canteen with the help of his fifteen-year-old son Madhu with the permission of the then university authority. The canteen was, first, located in the present Dhaka Medical College building. It was later shifted to the Arts Faculty building of the University.
At that time, they used to sell different types of sweets and confectionary. In 1935, soon after Aditya Chandra's death, Madhusudan Dey began to run the Canteen. Gradually he became a popular figure among the students' leaders and became popularly known as 'Madhuda'. His towering popularity changed the Canteen's billboard and within years, it was renamed Madhur Canteen. Madhusudan Dey was a very simple man and always tried to help the students. His long presence among the students' leaders made him a political analyst as well. During the rule of East Pakistan, before beginning any political movement, students' leaders and activists used to gather at Madhur Canteen. After the military crackdown by the Pakistani army, Madhu Sudan Dey was killed in the dark night of March 26, 1971.
Madhusudan's second son and the present owner Arun Kumar Dey recalls the incident of 25 March 1971 as follows.
"My brother and his wife were the first victims. When they arrested my father, my mother tried to save him but they started firing. My mother died instantly while my father fell to the ground with one bullet hitting him on one of his hand and then they dragged my father to Jagannath Hall playground. He was killed there with many other students." Since then, Arun Kumar Dey has been running the canteen.Today's Madhur Canteen was built as a skating rink and a ballroom for the Nawabs and later used as a 'Darbar Hall' of Nawabs for formal and informal meetings. This is where the Muslim League of India was formed in 1906. It was converted into a dining hall and meeting place for the students and faculty members of Dhaka University. The canteen's current location holds important architectural value.
Madhusudan Dey is an equally important figure in the socio-political history of the region. In 1995, Toufiq Hosen Khan a second-year student of fine arts engraved a sculpture of Madhu Sudan Dey as a permanent mark to pay respect, which remains as a reminiscence of Madhu Da, who connected himself with the protest and struggle of the people in 1971.
I accompanied by my brother Kaji Sazzad Jahir Chandan visited this place for the first time in 1993. National level leaders of all students' organizations used to come to Madhur Canteen on every morning. I met all leaders there during my visit with a view to attending National Conference of BSU as a fraternal delegate.Last but not least, I think Madhur Canteen has lost its past glory and it has also failed to play pivotal role in the contemporary socio-political movements of Bangladesh. I also believe many of us may not agree with my aforesaid notion. On top of everything, Madhur canteen tells the tales of our protests, struggles and triumphs.
-Asian Age Special Feature
Madhur canteen played a pivotal role in the Liberation Movement of Bangladesh. The canteen also played significant roles in the Language Movements of 1948 and 1952, in the movement of fourth-class Dhaka University employees in 1949, in the students' revolt against the black laws (kala kanoon) of the university, and in the 1969 mass uprising in East Pakistan. It was the social epicenter of various political movements in the country.In the year 1921, late Aditya Chandra Dey, started the Canteen with the help of his fifteen-year-old son Madhu with the permission of the then university authority. The canteen was, first, located in the present Dhaka Medical College building. It was later shifted to the Arts Faculty building of the University.
At that time, they used to sell different types of sweets and confectionary. In 1935, soon after Aditya Chandra's death, Madhusudan Dey began to run the Canteen. Gradually he became a popular figure among the students' leaders and became popularly known as 'Madhuda'. His towering popularity changed the Canteen's billboard and within years, it was renamed Madhur Canteen. Madhusudan Dey was a very simple man and always tried to help the students. His long presence among the students' leaders made him a political analyst as well. During the rule of East Pakistan, before beginning any political movement, students' leaders and activists used to gather at Madhur Canteen. After the military crackdown by the Pakistani army, Madhu Sudan Dey was killed in the dark night of March 26, 1971.
Madhusudan's second son and the present owner Arun Kumar Dey recalls the incident of 25 March 1971 as follows.
"My brother and his wife were the first victims. When they arrested my father, my mother tried to save him but they started firing. My mother died instantly while my father fell to the ground with one bullet hitting him on one of his hand and then they dragged my father to Jagannath Hall playground. He was killed there with many other students." Since then, Arun Kumar Dey has been running the canteen.Today's Madhur Canteen was built as a skating rink and a ballroom for the Nawabs and later used as a 'Darbar Hall' of Nawabs for formal and informal meetings. This is where the Muslim League of India was formed in 1906. It was converted into a dining hall and meeting place for the students and faculty members of Dhaka University. The canteen's current location holds important architectural value.
Madhusudan Dey is an equally important figure in the socio-political history of the region. In 1995, Toufiq Hosen Khan a second-year student of fine arts engraved a sculpture of Madhu Sudan Dey as a permanent mark to pay respect, which remains as a reminiscence of Madhu Da, who connected himself with the protest and struggle of the people in 1971.
I accompanied by my brother Kaji Sazzad Jahir Chandan visited this place for the first time in 1993. National level leaders of all students' organizations used to come to Madhur Canteen on every morning. I met all leaders there during my visit with a view to attending National Conference of BSU as a fraternal delegate.Last but not least, I think Madhur Canteen has lost its past glory and it has also failed to play pivotal role in the contemporary socio-political movements of Bangladesh. I also believe many of us may not agree with my aforesaid notion. On top of everything, Madhur canteen tells the tales of our protests, struggles and triumphs.
-Asian Age Special Feature
