It can be called a
story. The life of this school is full of various tales. But not seven tales.
Like a fairy tale, that story is always delightful.
It was more than half
a century ago. In the middle of 1957 of the last century. I was working in the
Cooperative Department of the Assam government. I had been transferred to
Silchar. I had come to see the cooperative bank in Bhagabazar and the cooperative
societies scattered in the villages. Most of them were in tribal areas. As soon
as I finished my work, I would wander along the footpaths of the hilly
settlements. My heart was filled with joy. I understood that this place was
fertile ground for the successful realization of the youthful ideal of public
service through the spread of education that I cherished in my heart. One day I
confided my thoughts to my companion, Elias Ali Master. Happy to have found
what he desired; he took me to the Bhagabazar Middle English School. There, in
a single-roomed hut, sat teacher Harbhajan Namashudra with four or five boys
and one girl. The story of Bhagabazar High School, or Bam Vidyapith, began on
that very day. It was the beginning of November, 1957. I quit my job and got to
work, with eyes full of dreams and a heart full of courage.
An application was
submitted requesting permission to open the school. I was the headmaster,
Harbhajan Namashudra was the assistant teacher, and Hafez Abdus Salam was the
Persian teacher. Harbhajan Babu himself would teach Sanskrit. He was a Matric
Normal graduate, an idealistic young man with a simple heart. The school
inspector of South Assam at that time was Mr. Nurul Islam. A former professor
of Cotton College. Fortunately, he recognized me as a former student. A few
days later, in the first week of January 1958, one afternoon he himself came to
the outer house of Haji Mosahid Ali Chowdhury, the secretary of the school
committee, in Bhagabazar. He held the necessary public consultation and gave
verbal permission in front of the public. The permission letter arrived the
following month: Permission for opening of classes VII & VIII w.e.f. 1st
March 1958.
Something must be
mentioned here. It would have been difficult to obtain government permission to
open the school without Mr. Nurul Islam. Because a high school had already been
established in the nearby Howaithang market. Later, when the question of departmental
recognition arose, a tug-of-war ensued. The school inspector at that time was
Mr. Shahabuddin, and the assistant inspector was Ramkumar Das. Mr. Ramkumar
showed an Educational Survey report and said that the high school could be in
Howaithang, not in Bhagabazar. Because the Assam government's report mentioned
Howaithang as the location for the school; Bhagabazar was not mentioned. School
Inspector Shahabuddin then took the report in his hand and wrote on it,
"Under Changed Circumstances, the High School should be located in between
Bhagabazar & Howaithang." After signing below the comment, he told the
headmaster, "Here, Shahabuddin has written it." And he told me,
"Son, move your school building a little closer towards Howaithang."
The location was
selected as the Bongram grazing land, the current location. And that's when the
sincere interest, genuine love, and initiative of the local people regarding
the school became evident. Without any objection, everyone signed the donation
deeds. Following the proper procedure, the Governor's permission arrived within
a year – "Six bighas of land allotted to Bhagabazar High School from
Bongram V.G.R." And then there was no stopping us; a settlement was
established by clearing the forest. A school building was constructed in a
place that was once the habitat of sparrows and jackals, a place where people
wouldn't even go during the day due to fear of ghosts. It was a कच्चा
(temporary) building made of bamboo and thatch, one hundred and ten feet long.
That was at the beginning of 1959. Assistant Inspector Mr. Gupta came for a
school inspection. Due to our merit, departmental recognition was granted very
soon. And we never had to look back. The ninth grade was opened in '59 and the
tenth grade in 1960. For the first year, the students appeared for the exams
privately. From 1962 onwards, we didn't have to wait long to receive regular
government aid. From 1964, i.e., 16/1/64, we received the Deficit grant, and
consequently, at the first opportunity, on 1/10/77, we attained provincial
status. It might sound like effortlessly enjoying a honey pot obtained with
one's own hands. But no. Behind this achievement was undoubtedly tireless
effort, and the source of strength behind this effort was the unwavering support
and genuine love of the people, and the firm resolve to preserve the school,
which was intertwined with regional pride.
The story of the
school does not end here. Our main objective was to foster mutual harmony and
goodwill among people of different communities and ethnic groups. Because in
the first decade of independence, the people of the region were devastated by
the partition of the country and communal riots. That task was very difficult
and sensitive. Fortunately, the teachers we had from the very beginning of the
school's inception, with their pure character, sincere and selfless efforts,
made this difficult task fruitful. They all lived together in the school
premises. In their free time, they would go out in groups to connect with the
community. Among them, notable figures include Mr. Muzammil Ali Lasker, Mr.
Niresh Das, Girindra Kumar Mallik, Kutub Ahmad, and many others. The rare
cosmopolitan spirit that was born through their inspiration still exists today.
Standing in the middle of the century, we will certainly evaluate the
achievements of this school. That will be a superficial assessment of how many
passed, how many established themselves in the country and society. But in
today's world, driven by violence and madness, the ideals and education of
mutual tolerance that originated in this school, and which still flows like an
underground stream, revitalizing the social fabric of this region, is the real
education, the real great achievement. We pray that this spirit remains
eternal.
However, amidst all
this success, a sense of disappointment pains everyone's heart: why did Bam
Vidyapeeth not get upgraded to a higher secondary school? That story is deeply
shameful. Despite having full qualifications and departmental approval, we were
deprived due to the biased wishes of some government officials and ministers.
But the people of Bhagabazar, empowered by the education and inspiration of Bam
Vidyapeeth High School, did not give up in the face of this injustice. They
protected their rights by establishing a college, whose directors and
professors are also products of Bam Vidyapeeth. Thus, we see that the success
of Bam Vidyapeeth is not limited to education and cultural pursuits alone; it
has also carved out a significant place for itself in the massive development
efforts of the area.
………………………………………………………………
About the
author: Mohiuddin Ahmed was the founding headmaster of Bam Vidyapeeth High
School. This article was published in the Golden Jubilee souvenir of Bam Bidyapeeth
High School.
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