Mahendra Chandra Sikdar
In the first decade of the twentieth
century, modern school education was absent in the South Cachar region. In the
late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, people migrated to this region
from various parts of Cachar. The inhabitants included financially weak
Muslims, Hindus, and tribal people. The people were illiterate. They were not
aware of the importance of modern education. There were no modern educational
institutions in the South Cachar region. To provide Islamic religious education
to Muslim students, Maulana Arzad Ali Chowdhury ran a madrasa at his residence
in Rajghat. At that time, there was probably no "tol" (traditional
Sanskrit school) in South Cachar for the education of Hindu students. In such a
situation, providing modern education to their children was beyond the
imagination of the parents. At such a moment, Mahendra Chandra Sikdar
established the Channighat L.P. School in 1920. This was the beginning of
modern education in the remote southern part of the Cachar district.
Mahendra Chandra Sikdar, son of Tilak
Ram Sikdar and Gunamayi Devi, was born in July 1900 at Monachara Tea Estate in
Hailakandi. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a very skilled
housewife. Gunamayi Devi was a kind-hearted woman, and her grandchildren
affectionately called her "Thakur Dudhu".
Mahendra Chandra Sikdar
Mahendra Chandra Sikdar completed his
education from Lala Middle English School in 1916. Later, he moved to Suktala
in South Cachar and established Channighat L.P. School in 1920. Later, he
started classes four, five, and six in Bengali medium in this school, and in
1930, the school received departmental recognition as Channighat M.V. School.
As he was not qualified for the post of Head Pandit, he passed the Normal
School examination within two years as per the instructions of the education
department. In 1932, he passed the Normal examination from Silchar Normal
School and became the Head Pandit of Channighat M.V. School where he taught
with distinction until his retirement in 1955. After that, he established the
Hawaithang M.V. School. He joined the school as the head pundit and provided
his valuable services until 1960, and he breathed his last in 1985.
He was an exceptionally dedicated
teacher and worked wholeheartedly for the spread of education. At that time,
female education was considered unnecessary, and families preferred to marry
off their daughters at a very young age. Boys were often prepared for farm work
instead of being sent to school. In this situation, attracting students to the
new school was a challenging task for Pundit Mahendra Sikdar. Bringing students
from Muslim families to the school was an even more difficult task, as the
Muslims of Bame generally had an aversion to school education and instead
focused on madrasa education.
Pundit Sikdar worked tirelessly at
the grassroots level, persuading parents to send their children to school. He
even convinced Maulana Arzad Ali Chowdhury of Rajghat to enrol his eldest son,
Mahmud Hasan Chowdhury, who was a madrasa student, in the school. This decision
proved to be a landmark event. When other Muslim villagers of Rajghat saw that
a Maulana had sent his son to school, many of them followed suit. This marked the
beginning of modern education among the Muslims of Rajghat, which continues to this
day.
Until 1955, the students of Class VI
of Channighat MV School had to go to Silchar to take their final examinations.
Pundit Sikdar himself took on this responsibility. He would take the students
to Silchar, covering half the distance on foot.
During his lifetime, Pundit Sikdar
became a familiar name in South Bame. Every villager, irrespective of caste or
community, would greet him with 'Adab' whenever they met him at Bhagabazar on
the weekly market days, Saturday and Tuesday.
Under his
leadership, Channighat MV School became a center of quality education and
various social and cultural activities. Although many high schools in
present-day Bam still lack a school library, Pandit Sikdar established a
well-equipped library at Channighat MV School, which was open to villagers and
former students. This library served as a rural library. Most of his students
are well-established in society. Numerous of his students have further advanced
the field of education in Bam.
After arriving in Bam, he lived in Sukhtala for some
time before settling in Aradhanpur. Mahendra Chandra Sikdar also served as the
president of the Aradhanpur village panchayat for three years. While working as
an L.P. teacher, he bought land in this village for only 250 rupees, and by the
time of his death, he had become the owner of approximately 56 bighas of land.
Mahendra Chandra Sikdar was married twice. With his
first wife, Mohini, he had two children—a son, Manmohan Sikdar, and a daughter,
Charu Prabha Sikdar. Manmohan Sikdar, who is currently 91 years old, started
his career as a teacher and later retired as an Audit Officer from N.F.
Railway, Maligaon in 1990. Charu Prabha Sikdar worked as a Lower Primary
teacher in Kandigaon, Silchar, and passed away in 2010.
Mahendra Chandra Sikdar had four sons from his
second wife, Prabalini. The eldest son, Mrityunjay Sikdar, worked as an
employee of the Postal Department in Silchar. Sikdar's second son, Manmath
Sikdar, worked as a Normal School teacher in Jamalpur and as the head Pandit of
Channighat M.V. School. The third son, Mohit Sikdar, retired as a Senior
Railway Audit Officer from Maligaon, Guwahati. The youngest son, Malay Sikdar,
worked at LIC in Silchar and passed away in 2019.
Author: Sadullah Chowdhury, Retired Senior Lecturer,
D.I.E.T, Udharband
In collaboration with: Mita Brahma, daughter of
Manmohan Sikdar.
Manikya
Chandra Nathlaskar
Early Life and Background
Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker was a
pioneering figure in education in the Barak Valley region. He was born in 1892
in a village in the southern part of the Cachar district. His father was
Kalicharan Nath Lasker and his mother was Shrimati Rajeshwari Devi. Manikya
Chandra Nath Lasker grew up at a time when educational opportunities were very
limited. Despite these challenging circumstances, he displayed exceptional
academic talent from a young age. He completed his matriculation from
Murarichand High School in 1916 and earned his graduate degree with distinction
from Murarichand College in Sylhet in 1920. Notably, he became the second
graduate from Cachar district, which was considered a significant achievement
in his educational journey. Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker
Career and Contributions
"In 1922, the Bam Nityananda
M.E. School was established through the initiative, patronage, and land
donation of the Honorable Shri Krishnajivan Purkayastha, Krishnacharan Barman,
and Krishnadhan Barman, along with the efforts and supervision of other noble
individuals, and the financial contribution of Nityananda Barman.
In 1923, Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker
joined as the headmaster of Bam Nityananda M.E. School. His tenure lasted until
1960. He upgraded the school to a high school in 1938. He served the school for
37 years and retired in 1960. Under his leadership, BNMP School became a
leading educational institution in the Barak Valley. During his tenure, the
school achieved excellence in education and moral development.
He spread the light of education in a
remote and underdeveloped area like the Bam region. At that time, his students
went from Bam to prestigious institutions such as the London School of
Economics, London Air University, University of Pennsylvania, and Delhi
University. Former students of BNMP School have made significant contributions
at the state, national, and international levels, reflecting the high standards
of the educational institution established by Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker.
The expansion and promotion of
education in the Bam region became increasingly successful. The region, which
was deprived of the light of education, is now illuminated by it. Students from
this region are now working in various high positions at home and abroad. All
this has been possible as a result of Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker's
self-sacrifice.
Educational Philosophy and Discipline
Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker was known
for his self-respect and influential personality. He had a strong sense of
self-esteem. His influential personality was often reflected in his traditional
attire: a dhoti, a white shirt with three pockets, and an umbrella in the
summer, and a buttoned-up coat in the winter. He would walk slowly and
solemnly, without looking left or right, covering the approximately 3 km
distance from his waterlogged house to the school. When bus drivers offered him
a ride out of respect, he would refuse.
Every day, precisely at 9:30 AM, he
would enter the school slowly and with great solemnity. The moment he was seen, a profound silence
would descend upon the school. All the students would become silent in their
classrooms. The teachers also adhered to his disciplined schedule. Manikya
Chandra Nath Lasker was a strict disciplinarian and did not hesitate to
administer corporal punishment when necessary. However, his methods were
respected by the parents, who saw his discipline as the path to their children's
success. Many students who experienced his strictness went on to become
accomplished professionals. Despite his strictness, Manikya Chandra Nath
Lasker's affection for his students was evident, and the students deeply
respected him. He addressed his daughter-in-law as "Mother" and would
say, "Just as I call you Mother, may hundreds of my students also find
that motherly figure in you."
He played a crucial role in building
the educational foundation of his students. He taught English grammar and
pronunciation in the lower classes. Students of BNMP School realized their
proficiency in the English language only after reaching college. At school, he
would explain the importance of accent, pause, and emphasis in English
pronunciation.
Manikya Chandra Nath was not given a
farewell from Bam Nityananda Vidyalaya. No one could bid him farewell from the
school premises. Subsequently, a farewell reception was organized at his
residence under the supervision of the second teacher and the second pundit.
Religious and Moral Values
Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker was an
honest and religious person who respected the religious sentiments of his
students. He believed that religion played a vital role in shaping the moral
character of the students. Besides the usual Saraswati Puja, the school
occasionally organized religious programs, such as the lecture by Radharaman
Goswami in 1959. In some programs, devotional and patriotic songs were
performed by Bauls (wandering minstrels). Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker often
narrated anecdotes of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to impart moral lessons.
He always encouraged his daughter-in-law to follow the ideals of
"Sarada" Ma. His son and daughter-in-law later upheld his ideals and
traditions. When the limited number of Muslim students studying at the school
wanted to organize a Milad (a religious gathering), Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker
would arrange for a clean, washed room for them to hold the ceremony. After the
school's Parsi teacher, Maulvi Abdul Razzak Chowdhury, returned from performing
Hajj in Mecca in the late 1950s, Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker arranged for the
Maulvi to share his pilgrimage experiences with the students. He also
distributed dates and dried fruits brought from Mecca to the students.
Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker
earned a doctorate degree from Sylhet Ayurvedic College and prepared Ayurvedic
medicines at home. He was a pulse diagnosis physician. He could diagnose many
diseases by examining the pulse. He served the poor with this treatment,
charging only a nominal price for the medicines. Later, his worthy son,
Karunamoy Nath Lasker, also carried forward his philanthropic work.
Conclusion: The people of
Bam entrusted Manikya Chandra Nath Lasker with the responsibility of educating
their children, and he fulfilled that responsibility with unwavering dedication
and honor. For 37 years, Manikya Chandra Nath dedicated his life to nurturing
Bam Nityananda High School and devoted himself to the development of the
school. Besides teaching, he donated 2 bighas and 8 kathas of land to the
school.
Despite his significant
contributions, his sacrifices have not yet received adequate recognition. The
school recently celebrated its centenary. This is an opportune time for the
people of Bam and the alumni of Bam Nityananda Multipurpose Higher Secondary
School to pay tribute to his memory and ensure that he is remembered by future
generations. The United Kingdom would not be what it is today without Oxford
University. Similarly, Bam would not be as educationally advanced as it is
today without Bam Nityananda Multipurpose Higher Secondary School. Manikya
Chandra Nath Lasker established the very foundation of this school. He is a
person worthy of everyone's respect. Author: Sadullah Chowdhury, Rajghat,
Retired Senior Lecturer, D.I.E.T, Udharband. Assisted by: Shubhana Nath,
daughter of Karunamoy Nath.
…………………………………………………………………………………
Mohiuddin Ahmed
The history
of the initial spread of education in Bam is inextricably linked with the name
of the late Mohiuddin Ahmed, although his birthplace was not Bam. Mohiuddin
Ahmed was born in the village of Sonai's Kajidahar. His father's name was Asaid
Ali Lasker and his mother's name was Zebun Nessa Lasker. Mohiuddin Ahmed was
the eldest of four brothers. He began his education in 1940 at the Shivtila
Lower Basic School. After completing primary school, he enrolled in Sonai Nitya
Gopal Higher Secondary School. He passed his matriculation examination from
that school in 1953.
That same
year, he enrolled in the I.Sc. program at Cotton College in Guwahati and passed
his I.Sc. in 1955. Later, he returned to Silchar and enrolled in the arts
department at Gurucharan College, graduating with a B.A. in 1958. That same
year, he secured a job as a cooperative inspector, and his first posting was in
Ramkrishna Nagar.
Subsequently, Mohiuddin Ahmed's path changed, which is related to the expansion and progress of education in the Bhagabazar and Bam region. After being transferred from Ramkrishna Nagar, he came to Bhaga in 1958 as a cooperative society inspector and felt the lack of education in the area. Not only did he feel this lack, but he also made a firm decision to overcome it and expand education. He decided to leave his secure government job and resigned. In 1958, he took on the responsibility of the founding headmaster of the newly established Bam Vidyapeeth High School. This year became a milestone in the history of education in Bam. The Bam Vidyapeeth High School, which he founded, is today a well-known educational institution in Bam with many achievements.
Mohiuddin Ahmed
He became
forever etched in the memories of education-loving people as a pioneer in
initiating higher education in the Bam region by playing a leading role in the
establishment of M.A. Lasker Junior College in Bhaga-Rajghat in 1994. Mohiuddin
Ahmed was the founding president of the managing committee of this junior
college (now a senior secondary school), established in 1994, and remained in
this position until his death. The senior secondary school, established on 10
bighas of land donated by the late Tabarak Ali Lasker and Mobarak Ali, now
stands as a provincialized institution, thanks to the immense efforts of
Mohiuddin Ahmed during its founding.
Besides being
an ideal teacher, institution builder, and efficient organizer, Mohiuddin Ahmed
was also a high-caliber literary figure and storyteller. He was well-known in
the literary circles of the Barak Valley. Unfortunately, however, numerous
stories he wrote, except for one or two, are no longer available. Mohiuddin
Ahmed, a lover of pure culture, along with his colleagues Shri Niresh Chandra
Das, former minister Girindra Mallick, Siraj Uddin Borbhuiya (Second Sir),
Sanskrit teacher Sharma Sir, and Harendra Sir, created a vibrant cultural
environment at Bam Vidyapeeth High School. Rabindra Jayanti, Nazrul Jayanti,
Teachers' Day, Sharadiya Utsav, and various other cultural programs were
regularly celebrated. It goes without saying that a beautiful environment was
created due to the active role played by a creative and cultured headmaster.
In 1993, Mohiuddin Ahmed retired from his job. After
retirement, he purchased a plot of land near the school he had founded at the
southern end of Bhagabazar, built a house there, and lived there. A few days
before his death, he sold that house and moved to Silchar. On October 26, 2019,
this great educationist passed away due to a heart attack. He was buried in
their family graveyard in Kajidahar, under the Sonai police station.
Many of his former students and guardians traveled
from Bam to Kajidahar to attend his funeral prayer. There, they announced that
they would publish a commemorative book in honor of Mohiuddin Ahmed. The
grateful former students and guardians of Bam Vidyapeeth High School published
a memorial book titled "Aloker Jhornadhara" (Fountain of Light) in
2021. This memorial book is dedicated to Mohiuddin Ahmed, the founding
headmaster of Bam Vidyapeeth High School, and was published by the Hafsa Foundation.
Before that, in 2019, Mohiuddin Ahmed was honored for
his contribution to the spread of education in South Bam at a meeting held at
M.A. Lasker Junior College, organized by the Barak Sahitya Sanskriti Unnayan
Parishad. Although belatedly, his former students and guardians honored him for
his contributions to the field of education. He passed away a few months after
being honored.
Author: Sabir Ahmed Chowdhury
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brajmani Singh
When the region was
illuminated by the light of education, the school that first emerged with the
vow to spread the light of knowledge in the area was "No. 157 Ram
Prasadpur Model Thambal School." Established in 1895, its founding teacher
was Radha Charan Raha. The school was run under the regional education board.
At that time, it was not a model school. Later, the No. 329 Girls' School,
established subsequently, merged with this school in 1951, and the school
became a 'Model School'. At that time, the headmaster of the school was the
renowned educationist Brajmani Singh. The school was then a third-grade
examination centre.
Brajmani Singh, a
worthy son of Ram Prasadpur village, passed his primary school from this very
school in his village. His father was Bakul Singh and his mother's name was
Kaboklei Devi. After passing primary school, he completed his teacher training
from Silchar Normal School and joined a primary school in Kajidhar village as a
teacher with a monthly salary of 8 rupees. His active professional life began
in 1932 when he joined his own village school, the school where he had received
his education, as an assistant teacher. Along with teaching, he also became
involved in social activities. He dedicated himself to the overall development
of the area. In 1938, he took over the responsibility of the headmaster of the
school.
Brajmani Singh, a
man of progressive ideas, had an innovative approach to teaching. Every Monday,
the cleanliness of the students' teeth, nails, and clothing was checked. Every
Saturday, the students of the second and third grades had to work in the flower
garden. The height of the students was measured every three months. If any
abnormality was detected in any student, the guardians were called, and efforts
were made to address it. To teach the students how to manage these tasks
systematically, the teachers formed a "Council of Ministers" among
the students. The council included ministers for class management, sanitation,
water supply, etc. As a system for providing purified drinking water, there was
a "pitcher filter." The filter, made of four pitchers placed one on
top of the other, was attractive to the children. They were fortunate enough to
have access to pure drinking water. The highly skilled Kirtan singer Brajamani
Singh participated in Kirtan performances and, during these gatherings,
discussed the importance of education for the welfare of the country and the
community. As a result, the number of students in the school increased. Every
year, the school received multiple scholarships; some years, there were even
four or five scholarships. Three to four months before the scholarship
examinations, the selected students had to go to the headmaster's house for
special tutoring. However, no fees were charged for this. The sole objective of
this selfless effort was the school's reputation and the welfare of the
students.
During this time,
when the school reached the pinnacle of its success, the assistant teachers
were also deeply devoted to their students. The students' progress was their
main goal. These benevolent teachers included Kushendra Pal, Satish Chandra
Nath, Bhubaneshwar Sinha, Nirmala Devi (Nath), Surabala Pal, and Sarala
Namashudra. Inspired by the headmaster's ideals, they also played a significant
role in the development of the school and the spread of education in the area.
Brajamani Singh's worthy student and later colleague, the late Satish Chandra
Nath, following his ideals, introduced Sanskrit verses into the school's daily
prayer assembly, which remained a rare practice in the region for a long time.
A central committee
meeting was held at this school every month. In addition to the teachers of the
schools under the central committee, a teachers' association titled
"Shikshak Sammilani" (Teachers' Conference) was formed with the
cooperation of the teachers of Bam Nityananda M.E. and High School, under the
initiative of Brajamani Singh. The renowned educationist Manikyachandra Nath
Lasker was the editor. Through the efforts of this teachers' association, a
handwritten quarterly magazine called "Asha'r Alo" (Light of Hope)
began publication in 1926. The handwritten letters in this magazine were in no
way inferior to printed letters. Many described this endeavour not only as a
light of hope for the teachers' association but for the entire Bam region.
Brajamani Singh was also a member of the managing committee of Bam Nityananda
High School. In recognition of Brajamani Singh's outstanding contributions to
the field of education, the Central Education Department awarded and honoured
him as a "National Teacher" in 1963. He received the award on
November 22, 1963, from the then-President of India, Dr Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan. His tenure was extended by six years. In 1967, he was also
awarded the Provincial Teacher Award by the state government.
Brajamani Singha receiving National Teacher Award from the
President of India in 1963
After receiving the President's Award, a grand ceremony was organised
at the school thanks to the generosity of the school inspector and the enthusiasm
of the local people. In the presence of the school inspector and a large number
of enthusiastic people from the area, the school students presented dance,
songs, recitations, and drawings, and also added a unique dimension to the
event with a science exhibition. The young students amazed everyone by
presenting small scientific demonstrations, such as showing how clear lime
water in a glass can be turned milky white by blowing carbon dioxide into it
through a pipe. Such a demonstration by primary school students in a remote
rural area so many years ago is truly astonishing. This was possible due to the
tireless efforts of an erudite personality like Brajamani Singh and his
dedicated fellow teachers. Their combined
efforts enabled the school to attain a special status. Many students of this
school have later brought fame to themselves and the country in various ways,
making the Bam region proud. Many accomplished students, such as Kulchandra
Singh (Navy Commander, later Deputy Director, ONGC) and Karunamoy Nath Laskar
(Principal, BNMP School), openly acknowledged the contributions of the
respected Brajamani Singh in their lives. His worthy son, Upendra Singh, was a
renowned footballer and a skilled employee of the Health Department of the
Arunachal Pradesh government. Dr Indrajit Pal was also a student of this
school.
After teaching with distinction for a long 48 years,
Brajamani Singh, the only teacher from the Bam region to receive the
President's Award, retired on January 1, 1971. Even after retirement, he
remained engaged in social welfare work until his death. Through his
dedication, skill, honesty, and a mindset of universal welfare, Brajamani
Singh, the pride of the Bam region and a universally respected figure,
glorified his own name and the name of Ram Prasadpur School No. 157.
Writer: Kanan Nath Majumdar
Information:
• Ashwini Singh - Nephew of the late Brajamani Singh
• Sachindra Sinha - Head Teacher, 157 Ram Prasadpur Thambal
LP School
• Amit Kumar Singh - Teacher, 157 Ram Prasadpur Thambal LP
School
• Sulata Roy - Teacher, 157 Ram Prasadpur Thambal LP School
• Ashar Alo - Magazine, 1997
In addition, the report writer herself was a student of this
school. Therefore, her personal experience and unwavering respect have enriched
the presentation.
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