Protibha Mutsuddi, Photo Courtesy: Leena Shahid, Adhunika Bangladesh Society “I would have died in peace if I could have left behind a Bangladesh that was non-communal, democratic, happy, and, prosperous”: Language freedom fighter Protibha Mutshuddi is still dreaming of that Bangladesh.

Although originally from Chittagong; Protibha Mutshuddi is better known as the dear friend of the people of Mirzapur. In 1963, she started working at the prestigious Bharoteshwari Homes as a lecturer of Economics. Starting in 1965, she was the acting principal of Homes for the next two years. From 1967 to 1998 she was the principal of Bharoteshwari Homes and retired after that. She received the prestigious ‘Ekhushay Podok’ in 2002 for her contributions in the educational field. Currently, she serves as an Educational Advisor for the Kumudini Trust Foundation. Aside from the ‘Ekhushay Podok’, she is the recipient of numerous other prestigious awards. Some of those are- Annanya top 10 Award, Lion Nazrul Islam Award, Rotary Foundation Award, Buddhist Academy Award, and, Chittagong Lions Club Award in 1995 and Bishudananda Gold Medal in 2006.

While chatting with Samokal, the language freedom fighter said,

“I opposed against Zinnah’s announcement of “Urdu will be the only official language of Pakistan” as early as in 1948.” Thanks to her cousins involved with left wing politics at the young stage of eighth grade students, she understood the underlying meaning of Zinnagh’s announcement during his infamous speech. She was actively involved with the united agitation towards the road to Bangla becoming the other official language of undivided Pakistan. She participated in the student movement lead by late Mahbub-Ul Alam in Chittagong as a second year student of Chittagong College right after 21st February 1952-the day the Pakistani army opened fire at the student procession and killed many students.

Now, she is saddened by the unrealized dream of the language martyrs of a non-communal and democratic Bangladesh. The failure to adopt Bangla in courts, offices and other levels of administration further deepens her gloom. She is anguished by the education system favoring the rich and creating more unemployed. Protibha Mutshuddi dreams of an education policy that would cultivate humanity and teach how to earn one’s bread at the same time.

Despite all of these disappointments and negativities around her, the selfless Protibha Mutshuddi continues to live with hope for the future: ‘her expectation from the future generation is a peaceful Bangladesh for all people’. She says, “I hope they grow up to be responsible human. I hope they are with vision, generous and progressive.”

(Link to the original interview at Shamokal, translated by Nandini Roy of Adhunika)