Jahanara Imam (3 May 1929 – 26 June 1994) was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist.
She is known for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...
to trial. She has been called "Shaheed Janani" (''Mother of Martyrs'').
Biography
![Jahanara Imam 1957](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Jahanara_Imam_1957.jpg)
Imam was born on 3 May 1929 in
Murshidabad
Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district.
During ...
,
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
in the-then
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
.
She was the eldest daughter in a family of three brothers and four sisters. Her father Syed Abdul Ali was a Civil Servant in the
Bengal Civil Service
The Indian Civil Service (ICS), officially known as the Imperial Civil Service, was the higher civil service of the British Empire in India during British rule in the period between 1858 and 1947.
Its members ruled over more than 300 million p ...
. She lived in many different parts of Bengal – wherever her father was posted. Her mother was Hamida Ali. At that time there was a lot of social pressure against Muslim women pursuing further studies, but Hamida was determined that Jahanara's education would not be constrained.
After finishing her studies in 1945 in
Carmichael College
Carmichael College is an educational institution in Rangpur, Bangladesh. It was established on 10 November 1916 and was named after Thomas David Baron Carmichael of Skirling.
The college is situated in Lalbag, to the south from zero point of ...
in Rangpur, Imam went to
Lady Brabourne College of
Calcutta University
The University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University; CU) is a public collegiate state university in India, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Considered one of best state research university all over India every year, C ...
and in 1947 obtained her bachelor's degree.
[ She was an activist in Lady Brabourne College.] After the partition of India
The Partition of British India in 1947 was the Partition (politics), change of political borders and the division of other assets that accompanied the dissolution of the British Raj in South Asia and the creation of two independent dominions: ...
, she joined her family in Mymensingh in what became East Pakistan and started teaching at Vidyamoyee Govt. Girls High School.
In 1948, she married Shariful Alam Imam Ahmed, a civil engineer, whom she met in Rangpur while studying at Carmichael College.[ They settled in ]Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
and she joined Siddheswari Girls School as Head Mistress. She was instrumental in transforming the school one of the top girls' schools in Dhaka.[
She was the first editor of the monthly women's magazine called "Khawateen".][ It started its publication in 1952 and she ran it successfully for several years.
In 1960, Imam gave up her job as the head mistress to concentrate on bringing up her two sons ]Rumi
Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī ( fa, جلالالدین محمد رومی), also known as Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (), Mevlânâ/Mawlānā ( fa, مولانا, lit= our master) and Mevlevî/Mawlawī ( fa, مولوی, lit= my ma ...
and Jami born in 1952 and 1954 respectively. She said to herself "I have given education to thousands of school children, now I should spend some time to bring up my own children".
During this time Imam finished her master's degree in Bengali language and literature and a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...
in 1962 and 1963 respectively. After that she went back to full-time teaching. From 1966 to 1968 she worked as a lecturer in the Teacher's Training College in Dhaka. From 1970 she also taught for several years on a part-time basis in the Institute of Modern Language at the University of Dhaka.
Imam spent a significant part of her life in education. She visited the US in 1964–65 as a Fulbright Scholar
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...
to University of San Diego
The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Roman Catholic research university in San Diego, California. Chartered in July 1949 as the independent San Diego College for Women and San Diego University (comprising the College for Men and Schoo ...
and again in 1977 under the International Visitor Program at the invitation of US Government.[
]
1971 Liberation War
In 1971, following the Pakistan army crackdown on 25 March, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out. Many joined the liberation struggle, including Jahanara's elder son Shafi Imam Rumi, who joined the Mukti Bahini
The Mukti Bahini ( bn, মুক্তিবাহিনী, translates as 'freedom fighters', or liberation army), also known as the Bangladesh Forces, was the guerrilla resistance movement consisting of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary ...
, the guerrilla resistance movement
A resistance movement is an organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to withstand the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability. It may seek to achieve its objective ...
. During the war, she wrote a diary on her feelings about the struggle. This later became one of the most important publications about the War of Liberation.
Rumi took part in many actions against Pakistan army. Unfortunately, he was to be picked up by the Pakistani army, never to be seen again. Jahanara's husband and her younger son Jami along with other male members of the family were also picked up for interrogation and were tortured. Her husband Sharif Imam returned home a broken man only to die three days before Bangladesh became free on 16 December 1971.
Literary career
After Bangladesh achieved independence, Imam started her literary career. During this time she also travelled extensively to Europe, USA and Canada. In 1986 she published her wartime diary Ekatturer Dinguli (The days of Seventy One).[ Imam's diary, in some respect like that of Anne Frank, was a very personal account of tragedy. Her simple style of writing touched many hearts, particularly those of the families who had lost members during the war.][ Early in her career, Jahanara Imam also translated several books from English into Bengali, including some of the popular "Little House" books by ]Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, mostly known for the ''Little House on the Prairie'' series of children's books, published between 1932 and 1943, which were based on her childhood ...
.
Committee for Eradicating the Killers and Collaborators of '71
As the ruler of Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman
Lt. General Ziaur Rahman (19 January 1936 – 30 May 1981), was a Bangladeshi military officer and politician who served as the President of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981. He was assassinated on 30 May 1981 in Chittagong in an army coup d' ...
(1975–1981) enacted several controversial measures, ostensibly to win the support of Islamic political parties and opponents of the Awami League. In 1978, he revoked the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, which collaborated with the Pakistani army. The formed the paramilitary Al-Badr
Al Badr is a village in Mecca Province, in western Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making ...
, Al-sham
Syria (Hieroglyphic Luwian: 𔒂𔒠 ''Sura/i''; gr, Συρία) or Sham ( ar, ٱلشَّام, ash-Shām) is the name of a historical region located east of the Mediterranean Sea in Western Asia, broadly synonymous with the Levant. Other s ...
, and Rajakar; and members of which had committed war crimes against civilians.
Ghulam Azam
Ghulam Azam ( bn, গোলাম আযম; 7 November 192223 October 2014) was a Bangladeshi Islamist politician. He was the former leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh.
Azam was arrested b ...
, the exiled chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami, was allowed to come back to Bangladesh in July 1978. In 1991 December Ghulam Azam, was elected the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami. Subsequently, Jahanara Imam organised the ''Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee The Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee is a pressure group founded to demand the trial of war criminals from Bangladesh Liberation War. It advocates for secularism in Bangladesh.
History
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee was founded on ...
'' (Committee for Eradicating the Killers and Collaborators of '71), and became its public face. The committee called for the trial of people who committed crimes against humanity in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War in collaboration with the Pakistani forces. The Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee set up mock trials in Dhaka on 26 March 1992 known as Gono Adalat
Gono Adalat (people's court) was a mock trial held to Bangladesh of those responsible for the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide. It was not an official trial and did not have any legal basis but was widely popular. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party led gover ...
(People's Court) and 'sentenced' persons they accused of being war criminals. Imam and others were reportedly charged with treason during the government of Bangladesh Nationalist party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( bn, বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল, Bangladesh Jātīyotābādī Dol; BNP) is a centre-right to right-wing nationalist, political party in Bangladesh and one of the major ...
. This charge was, however, dropped in 1996 after her death by the Chief Advisor Mohammed Habibur Rahman of the Caretaker government.[ However, Bangladeshi writer and filmmaker ]Humayun Ahmed
Humayun Ahmed (; 13 November 1948 – 19 July 2012) was a Bangladeshi novelist, dramatist, screenwriter, filmmaker, songwriter, scholar, and professor. His breakthrough was his debut novel ''Nondito Noroke'' published in 1972. He wrote over 200 ...
, disagrees that she was charged and commented that her movement was part of a "stage-managed game."
Death and legacy
In 1981, Imam was diagnosed with mouth cancer, and operations caused her to have difficulty speaking, she continued to write and continued her involvement with the freedom fighters. She died on 26 June 1994 in Michigan, U.S.[ She was later buried in Dhaka.
]
Her death anniversary is observed in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Nationalist Party Member of Parliament Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi has criticised Imam. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed ( bn, আলী আহসান মুহাম্মদ মুজাহিদ; 23 June 1948 – 22 November 2015) was a Bangladeshi politician who served as a Member of Parliament and as the Minister of Social Welf ...
was found guilty over the murder of her son in Bangladesh Liberation war by International Crimes Tribunal. Nuran Nabi wrote a book on her titled "the last days of Jahanara Imam in America".
Awards
* Award from Bangladesh Writer's Association (1988)
* Bangla Academy Literary Award
The Bangla Academy Literary Award ( bn, বাংলা একাডেমি সাহিত্য পুরস্কার; ''Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar''), is given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius i ...
(1991)
* Independence Day Award
The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by t ...
(1997)
* Rokeya Padak (1998)
Literary works
* ''Anya Jiban'' (1985) (Other life)
* ''Ekattorer Dingulee'' (1986) (The days of 1971)[
* ''Birshrestha'' (1985) (The Bravest)][
* ''Jiban Mrityu'' (1988) (Life and death)]
* ''Chirayata Sahitya'' (1989)[
* ''Buker Bhitare Agun'' (1990) (Fire in my heart)][
* ''Nataker Abasan'' (1990) (End of drama)][
* ''Dui Meru'' (1990) (Two poles)][
* ''Nihsabga Pine'' (1990)][
* ''Nay E Madhur Khela'' (1990)][
* ''Cancer-er Sange Bosobas'' (1991) (Living with cancer)][
* ''Prabaser Dinalipi'' (1992) (Life abroad)][
]
References
External links
A short biography at International Coalition of Historic Site Museums of Conscience
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imam, Jahanara
1929 births
1994 deaths
People from Murshidabad district
Bangladeshi women writers
Bangladeshi writers
Lady Brabourne College alumni
University of Calcutta alumni
University of Dhaka alumni
20th-century Bangladeshi women writers
20th-century Bangladeshi writers
Recipients of Bangla Academy Award
Recipients of the Independence Day Award
Carmichael College alumni
Fulbright alumni