In a stark contrast of actions, while authorities in Dhaka moved to erase the name of Bangladesh's founding father from a university hall, students in Kolkata, India, have mounted a vigilant guard to protect his physical legacy. The focus is on Baker Hostel near Maulana Azad College, where a young Sheikh Mujibur Rahman once lived.
Erasing History in Dhaka, Preserving It in Kolkata
The incident that sparked this protective fervor occurred at Dhaka University. Late on Saturday, a crane was brought in and workers painted over two graffiti of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Subsequently, the nameplate of 'Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall' was covered with a poster declaring it 'Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi Hall'. This act of renaming has sent ripples across the border to Kolkata, where Bangabandhu's early years are etched in memory.
At Baker Hostel on Smith Lane, off Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, the response has been one of determined preservation. Rooms 23 and 24 on the first floor, which house a museum dedicated to Mujibur Rahman, have been turned into a high-security zone. The hostel, home to around 400 boarders aged 18-21, has seen its residents become voluntary sentinels.
A Student-Led Vigil for a Hero's Memories
The students have pledged to safeguard every artifact related to Mujibur's stay from 1945 to 1946, when he studied at Islamia College, now Maulana Azad College. The collection includes his bed, chair, table, books, photographs, and crucial documents detailing his political journey and the Bangladesh independence movement.
"It's a matter of pride for us to walk the corridor where Bangabandhu once walked," said Sazzadur Rahman, a Maulana Azad College student residing on the same floor as the museum. He emphasized that the boarders actively ensure no unauthorized person gains entry, reinforcing the restrictions set by the hostel superintendent and college authorities.
Another boarder, Sayed Junaid Anjum, highlighted the personal responsibility felt by the students. "Our parents can only access the ground floor. It is our responsibility to preserve his last memories with his alma mater," he stated.
Protocols and Sealed Memories
The museum itself has a complex access protocol. College officials confirmed that the museum has been sealed for nearly two years, coinciding with the worsening political situation in Bangladesh. Visits are now bound by strict protocol, requiring prior permission from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.
Only after such a formal request, specifying the purpose of the visit, will the security personnel on the ground floor grant access to the first-floor museum. A college official clarified that the room remains locked unless the Deputy High Commission initiates the request. The security staff at the gate are diligently carrying out their duty to enforce these rules.
This student-led vigil in Kolkata stands as a poignant counterpoint to the events in Dhaka, showcasing a deep, cross-border emotional connection to the legacy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, preserved within the walls of a humble hostel in North Kolkata.
