Women's emancipation was Sufia Kamal's mission

She was born in a dark age when female education was nearly impossible but she fought dauntlessly and overcame all barriers, paving the way for women's education. Throughout her life, she worked for women's emancipation and establishment of a secular state.

Speakers made the comments at a commemorative meeting yesterday, about Sufia Kamal on the poet's 104th birth anniversary today. Kendrio Kochi Kachar Mela, a cultural organisation for children, organised at its office in the capital.

Recounting her works, adviser of Kochi Kachar Mela Shamsul Huda said her bravery came to the forefront during the crisis between then east and west wings of Pakistan.

Once Gen Ayub Khan, then military ruler of Pakistan, commented at a meeting with social elites of Dhaka that the general people were like animals, he said, adding that Sufia Kamal stood right way and retorted, "...then you are president of the animals."

Huda said, "Her writing was not for any particular group rather than for all. She fought against repression of people."

The poet's daughter, Sultana Kamal, also executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, called upon parents at Kochi Kachar Mela to inculcate Sufia Kamal's ideals into their children. "To become a good human being, one has to nurture good qualities from childhood," she said.

Journalist Abed Khan and former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled also addressed the discussion, followed by a cultural show put up by children.