Rafiqul Islam: An Unsung Language Hero

 

Ekushey February is one of the most scintillating days in the history of our nation as far as our bonds and heritage with Bengali language and literature are concerned. Back in 1952, on this momentous day the fearless youths of our country revolted against the autocratic Pakistan government’s wanton decision to impose Urdu on us as the only state language. But the gallantry, patriotism and spirit of our young people of that time did not allow that to happen. By means of the sacrifices of Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and some more martyrs we achieved our beloved language Bengali as our mother tongue. 21st February is a glorious flyspeck for us to cherish proudly and to recall the supreme instance of courage we showed to the world by acquiring lingual emancipation through a blood-spilling upheaval.

A lot of things about the International Mother Language Day are unknown to us. Rafiqul Islam was one of the pioneers behind making 21st February International Mother Language Day. Rafiqul Islam was a former student of Department of Marketing, Dhaka University. He later on settled down in Canada. One Rafiq laid down his life on 21st February 1952 while another Rafiq mulled over getting Bengali language recognized on the global stage sitting in Canada.

Rafiqul Islam was a heroic freedom fighter too. His younger brother Saiful Islam was a student while the Liberation War of 1971 was going on. Saiful Islam participated in the Liberation War and embraced martyrdom.Rafiqul Islam migrated to Canada in 1995. He lived in the Canadian city of Vancouver. Rafiqul Islam wrote a letter to the then United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. He proposed Kofi Annan to recognize 21st February as the International Mother Language Day.

Rafiqul Islam founded an organization named Mother Language Lovers of the World on 20 January 1998. Rafiqul Islam included some speakers of other languages in this organization. From this organization Rafiqul Islam sent another letter to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Another copy of the letter was sent to Canadian Ambassador to UN David Fowler. Later on Rafiqul Islam managed to get proposals to make 21st February International Mother Language Day to the UN from India, Canada, Finland, Hungary and Bangladesh.

Rafiqul Islam and some other likeminded people managed to obtain support from 29 more countries in favour of 21st February. The proposal was raised in the UN on 17 November 1999. 188 countries including Pakistan supported it. The proposal was granted in the UNESCO meeting unanimously. This is how 21st February became International Mother Language Day. Rafiqul Islam is the maker of the International Mother Language Day. It’s still unknown to may Bengali people. Ekushey Padak was awarded to Mother Language Lovers of the World. Independence Award was conferred to Rafiqul Islam posthumously. Rafiqul Islam died in 2013. Rafiqul Islam deserves posthumous Ekushey Padak too, according to historians and academic scholars.

21st February has also elevated our status on the global stage by becoming recognized as International Mother Language Day several years ago. Bengali is one of the sweetest languages on earth and the precious literary works penned in this language by Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jibanananda Das, Jashim Uddin, Shamsur Rahman, Shakti Chattapaddhay, Syed Shamsul Huq, Al Mahmood and many more poets and authors have in the meantime secured a dignified spot in the arena of universal lingual, intellectual and philosophical avocations. Poetry and fictional works by these litterateurs have earned applause from different corners of the globe and have enabled us to raise our heads high with a strong sense of self-esteem.

The Pakistani authorities of that time wanted to take away our dignity and to make us intellectually mute by confiscating our mother tongue Bengali language. But they failed because they had no idea that Bengali language reserves the power to teach us to love while at the same time this language is also capable of teaching us to fight back in the middle of adversities. Bengali language is also resplendent with an anti-imperialistic vigour as a result of which the people of our country showed the terrific chivalry of taking up arms against the Pakistani occupation forces and gained our independence through the bloodbath of three million people in the Liberation War of 1971. The bridgework between 1952 and 1971 is the most vital and most glaring perspective of our history. The language revolt of 1952 ignited our enthusiasm and bolstered our mettle to confront the Pakistani military forces on the battlefield during 1971. The sense of tenacity, determination and self-respect instilled in our hearts by the language movement of 1952 instigated our exhilaration to fiercely fight for freedom in 1971. For this reason, while speaking on our independence, it comes as a strong obligation to make references to the glittering roles played by our countrymen back in 1952. Ekushey February taught us not to bow our heads to repressive powers and not to give up our rights under hostile circumstances. This is how 1952 actually paved the way for 1971 regarding the context of our history.

The intellectual exercise that so long we have been proceeding with freely is indebted to the combat for mother tongue we vanquished in 1952. Sadly enough, the young people of today’s Bangladesh are not much competent in the correct use of Bengali language. Eagerness to explore the splendor of Bengali literature is also nowadays very little among our youngsters. This is a very undesirable phenomenon. The martyrs of 1952 and 1971 did not give away their lives for a future generation who would have almost no respect for Bengali language and literature. Most of the English medium schools don’t attach much importance to Bengali language as a result of which students of these schools have shockingly insufficient ideas about our history and traditions. On the other hand, most of the students of our country at present don’t have much proficiency in English language either though it is widely used. Currently an incorrect form of colloquial Bengali language has infected the boys and girls in our country which is neither formal Bengali nor any regional dialect. An awkward mixture of Bengali and English is another harmful thing threatening our lingual sanctity at present. Some satellite channels and radio programs are responsible for the spread of this erroneous and oddly synthesized lingo.

We should wake up before it is too late. We need to rectify the misperceptions about academic studies among our people so that they encourage their children to read poetry, novels, science fictions, history books, fairy tales, biographies of successful dignitaries and other constructive, amusing books which can enhance the merit and thought power of our youths. We also need to educate our rising generation about the cultural affluence, history, natural resources and geographic features of our country. This is how we can materialize the glory and values conferred to us by the martyrs of 1952.

Ispeta Iqbal Priyanka is Human Resource Officer of The Asian Age.