In the words of Bangabandhu - "My Bengal, my culture, my civilization, my sky, my wind, my history is my Bengali nationalism." My Bengali struggle, my Bengali heritage and my Bengali nationalism with blood.” (From a speech to the Constituent Assembly on the Draft Constitution on 12 October 1972; see Dr. AH Khan 'Selected Speeches of Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation', Attar Prakashani, 2011, p. 97). Dhaka University is undoubtedly the birthplace of Bengali nationalism. Nationalism has been best practiced in Dhaka University. Here the children of the middle class families who came from the village were active in the development of modern education and culture by mixing with the children of the city dwellers after being touched by the urban culture.
The late academic Dr. Rafiqul Islam rightly said, "Most of the important events of Bangladesh's freedom struggle were organized in Dhaka University. And most of the heroes of this freedom struggle are students of this university. The tradition and spirit of Bengali language, literature and culture that gave birth to Bengali nationalism is Dhaka University. Not only culturally, but also economically and politically and the spirit of self-determination developed from this university.” (Rafiqul Islam, Contribution of Dhaka University in Bangladesh's Independence Struggle, 'Dhaka University-Special Paper published on August 15, 1975 on the occasion of the good fortune of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, p. 81). After the partition of Bengal in 1905, a positive environment was created for the development of the mainly Muslim middle class in East Bengal. However, the children of Hindu community in this region also get full opportunity to get education in Dhaka University. As a result regional consciousness developed in favor of social, cultural and economic development in East Bengal. But suddenly after the annulment of Bangabhanga in 1911, despair arose in the minds of the rising middle class of the region. Even though it was created to mitigate that disappointment, there is no way to deny the unique role of Dhaka University as a source of renaissance in society, culture, politics, economy, art, philosophy of the people of this region. Efforts to build a residential university like Oxford-Cambridge in East-Bengal were from the beginning among the teachers and authorities of Dhaka University. “Dhaka University's objective was to teach students to think independently by practicing analysis. .... They showed students in Dhaka the way to think in their own way and keep their goals in front of them.” (Alkananda Patel, 'Walking the Path of the Earth', Bengal Publications, 2017, pp. 85-86).
Alkananda Patel, the daughter of Professor Amiyakumar Dasgupta, a freshman student of Dhaka University and a teacher in the Department of Economics, after hearing from her father and his colleagues and researching the picture she paints about Dhaka University is, in a word, 'different'. In her words, "Music, drama, painting, literary practice, politics, above all chats - all were part of education or living in Dhaka." (Alkananda Patel, 'Walking the Path of the Earth', Bengal Publications, 2017, p. 88).
Quoting the autobiography of her father's friend Parimal Roy, she also wrote, “Every evening something is happening somewhere in the university, sometimes a debate, sometimes a drama, somewhere a seminar, somewhere or a lecture. .... I thought what a great arrangement for our teaching. .... It is like a celebration of Halkhata in the market of knowledge.” (Alkananda Patel, 'Walking the Path of the Earth', Bengal Publications, 2017, p. 92). There is no denying that the period 1921-47 was the golden age of Dhaka University. After partition, many teachers left Dhaka, but after the temporary setback, there was a trend of attraction of brilliant teachers. Still very much there. But the trend is fading.
It is not surprising that the students and teachers of such universities would play a leading role in the movement to end the misrule of the British colonial power and later the partisan misrule of the Pakistani ruling class. Therefore, after the establishment of Dhaka University, a significant part of the students chose the revolutionary struggle for the liberation of their homeland. ('Bangladesh Liberation War: Contribution of Dhaka and Kolkata Universities', compiled and edited by Rangalal Sen et al., UPL, 2018, p. 15).
Many students were associated with Anil Roy's 'Sri Sangh' and Leela Roy's 'Deeprali' in this university. It is needless to say that many teachers of this university had the patronage of their revolution. Moreover, this university was also the birthplace of the 'Buddhir Mukti Andolan'. Contemporary 'education' was the mouthpiece of this movement. The movement of 'Shikha' group has played an outstanding role in liberating the judicial mind from blind reformation and scripturalism in making the Muslim youth a part of the inquiring and kind hearted community.
Later, this renaissance-style movement, which gave inspiration to join the Bengali language movement and the democratic movement, played a role as a pioneer for the students and teachers of Dhaka University. That tradition of political Ñcultural spirit of the liberation party inspired the students and teachers of Dhaka University to join the language-movement, six-point movement, eleven-point movement, independence movement, liberation war and other democratic movements.
In the 1960s, the impact of the language movement on mainstream politics continued. The student teachers of this Dhaka University formed a movement against regional discrimination. These students intensified the eleven-point movement from six points. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested in the false Agartala conspiracy case, a mass uprising took place under the leadership of the students of Dhaka University. Sheikh Mujib was freed by the student leaders of Dhaka University who awarded him the title of Bangabandhu through DUCSU VP Tofail Ahmad.
After this the Ayub government fell. Military ruler Yahya Khan announced national elections.
In that election, students of Dhaka University took part in the campaign in large numbers and helped raise the tide for the Six-Point Program. Bangabandhu won a huge moral victory by getting a single majority in that election. This acceptance later came in very handy during the Liberation War. But the Pakistani ruling class could not accept a landslide victory with…. Therefore, the Constituent Assembly called and suddenly adjourned. Non-cooperation movement started. Bangabandhu was the uncrowned king in that movement. During this time he performed the duties of the undeclared head of government with the moral strength to win his election on the one hand and on the other hand talked about preparations for the liberation war.
On March 7, he basically declared independence. Dhaka University students and young people are asked to prepare for guerilla warfare. These young people understood him rightly. So immediately after the genocide started, he jumped without hesitation after officially announcing the liberation war. Teachers were not far behind. In addition to India, he created public opinion in favor of his liberation war in the United Kingdom, the United States and various European countries. Apart from the then and former teachers of Dhaka University, former students participated in the liberation war in large numbers. In other words, the entire Mujibnagar government was occupied by former students of Dhaka University. The Minister, Secretary, Advisor, Planning Committee were all former students and teachers of Dhaka University. And their contribution in field war is undeniable. How many students who gave their lives in the liberation war, how many students became heroes - the countrymen still do not seem to know the full information of that time.
On the night of March 25th, teachers, students and staff members gave their lives in Dhaka University. Before the end of the liberation war, many teachers and intellectuals were martyred. Throughout the seventies, some teachers and students of Dhaka University have participated in the brutal act of taking the lives of our beloved teachers as associates of the Pakistani invading forces. Even though they were identified, appropriate punishment could not be given. A few traitors managed to escape abroad. This black chapter will surely be in the history of Dhaka University. At the same time, all the teachers, including National Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam, were detained by the Pakistani forces and subjected to brutal torture. Their contribution will also have a bright place in the history of this university.
The teachers and students of Dhaka University have contributed enormously to the work of nation building since 1971 and continue to do so. The Planning Commission which was formed soon after independence was headed by the teachers of Dhaka University. Almost all the secretaries were alumni of this university. Almost all the governors of Bangladesh Bank were former students of Dhaka University.
The student teachers of Dhaka University are still making an important contribution in the process of building our beloved Bangladesh. The success story of Bangladesh is actually the success story of entrepreneurs. Most of these entrepreneurs are alumni of Dhaka University. Many times the former has built large-scale institutions in the field of social development. These alumni are now providing important financial and moral support to Dhaka University through the Alumni Association. This section needs to be strengthened. Our Alumni from all over the world can participate massively in Dhaka University's research fund formation, online distance learning activities.
There is no denying that the standard of education in our universities has fallen. Our research funding is very small. But if our policy makers (almost all of whom are our alumni), teachers, parents, students and alumni want to, we can surely develop the image of this university of our soul more brightly. We can help in achieving world class ranking. We can increase linkages between higher-education and industry. In our journey of development, Dhaka University has all the potential to be a source of national competence.
Hopefully, our current Vice-Chancellor is an academic, advanced researcher himself; who thinks far-reaching about this university. He has already started the work of making Dhaka University a unique research-based university. We are also making strategic plans to make this university a prosperous university in the future. A group of senior faculty members of the university has also formulated a strategic plan. And to this end we are working closely with the Vice-Chancellor on strategic planning. Hopefully, if we proceed according to this plan, it will be possible to take Dhaka University to a more glorious place in the future.
It is also necessary to mention here that four emeritus professors are working in the committee which has been formed in Dhaka University called Academic Development Committee. What kind of university do we want - where Dhaka University can be taken to the past tradition of providing 'inclusive moral leadership' or 'inclusive moral leadership' - the university authorities are going to accept it. Through all these efforts, we hope that this university will become an inspiration to other universities. At the same time.