Good work needs only will

Swatirtha members moving door to door and collecting books. PHOTO: STAR

The Swatirtha Sanskritik Sangathan set up by them is now well known in the town.

Mubin, Malek, Sanjay, Muid, Rajib, Sarwar, Razzak and Kuddus-- all HSC students of Syedpur College-- were lazing on the railway ground on March 6 afternoon in 2001.

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They talked about the low rate of literacy in the town with a large population of labourers and workers who can not afford education for their children.

They decided to set up a library so that poor students can get free textbooks and reduce the financial burden on parents.

Syedpur houses the country's biggest railway workshop, employing a large number of workers who did not send their children to school. Their small initiative has changed the scenario.

Initially, they formed a committee with Sarwar Rahman as convenor and Sanjay and Saju as joint convenors. They donated their old books and also collected some from others. The number stood at 300. The collection also included novels and books on science, fiction and history.

Abdur Razzak, a member of the committee, offered a room at his house at Shaheb Para Mahalla for use as library.

As all the friends were of the same level (HSC) at college, they named the library 'Swatirtha Grantho Kutir. (In Bangla Satirtha means students of the same teacher.)

They then went to different schools and colleges in the town and told poor students about their small library.

At this, many made fun and thought it was their whim.

They did not lose heart. They knew that their task was not easy. They thought the library would not attract readers unless they get entertainment. So they added music, drama, recitation and literary competitions.

They renamed it "Swatirtha Sanskritik Sangathan" but the motto remained how to spread education. This time it drew many readers.

Its members then began collecting books from different areas in the town. They sang songs and went door to door with rickshaw vans and urged people to donate books. This worked well.

Within a month the number of books rose to 1000 and 100 students of different schools and colleges became its 'registered' readers, who studied at the library or borrowed textbooks.

Enthused, the members contacted the town's elite. Syedpur Press Club Secretary MR Alam Jhantoo donated 100 books.

In January 2002, the then UNO of Syedpur Selina Shahadat visited the library and donated 40 books and Tk 10,000 to buy more for SSC, HSC and Degree students.

Local ruling party MP Amzad Hossen allocated rice worth Tk 11,000 to buy books, chairs, tables, shelves, almirahs, register books and other materials.

Within two years, the number of books reached 3000 and the 'registered' student readers to 500. Besides, several hundred unregistered readers started going to the library regularly.

As the number of books and readers grew, the accommodation problem became acute.

So, they shifted the Swatirtha Sanskritik Sangathan to the house of Dr Ataur Rahman at Zikrul Haq road and then to the house of Awami League leader Zobaidul Haq Sarkar.

They then leased an abandoned railway quarter at Shaheb Para, where the library is situated now.

Now it has a collection of about 5000 books, 70 per cent of which are textbooks, Sarwar Rahman told this correspondent.

The library remains open from 4 pm to 7 pm, attracting a large number of readers.

In over three years, the library benefited many students who passed SSC (Secondary School Certificate) and HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) examinations. Many of them are now admitted to different educational institutions in the country for higher education.

Musa Ahmed, now a Degree student at Syedpur College, is among the many beneficiaries.

"My father died and my mother is a master roll employee of Syedpur Municipality. I passed HSC with books from the library", he told this correspondent.

"I still borrow books (from the Swatirtha)" said Shelly, daughter of a day labourer and now a Degree student. "I could not have passed SSC and HSC if I did not get books from the library", she said.

Now its has 80 permanent members. They include representatives from its founders' families.

A new committee has been formed with Nargis Banu, a popular teacher of Syedpur College, as its president and Honours student Abdul Malek as secretary.

It has also an advisory committee which includes Press Club President Aminul Islam, physicians Nazrul Islam and Shamim Ahmed, railway workers' leader Anwar Hossain and lawyer Mahboob-e-Rasul.

Swatirtha also organises cultural programmes and is involved in social development activities. In June this year, it launched a campaign against vulgar films. It also publishes a monthly magazine styled 'Tirth'.

Its members also participate in tree plantation in the town and villages around.

"We respect all political opinions but are not involved with any one though we receive assistance from all," said its organising secretary Abdur Razzak

BBC of London telecast a documentary on 'Swatirtha' and lauded its achievements, its secretary Abdul Malek said.

Talking to this correspondent, local ruling Party lawmaker Amjad Hossen said Swatirtha helps to build a society with moral values. The Syedpur Municipal Chairman and Awami League leader Aktar Hossen Badal said Swatirtha had proved that money is not a factor when there is sincerity and dedication.

Its finance secretary Sonjoy Saha said they did not seek any help from the government or any NGO.

On August 14 this year, Swatirtha launched a Bangla language programme for Urdu speaking children. About half of Syedpur town's population is Urdu-speaking.

The programme has been launched to help Urdu-speaking children learn Bangla so that they can attend Bangla medium schools. Around 100 such children learn Bangla at the library. Swatirtha members teach them.

Its general secretary Abdul Malek said they will expand the library facility to some rural areas in the upazila next year.