In memory of my student…
It is about six months that we sought blessings for an ailing student Fowzia Sultana Tumpa, who was suffering from cancer at a hospital in Bangkok. Everyone prayed for her, as she was too young to leave the earth. Moreover, she was a person with rare kind of qualities at the campus. Yes, it is about our student, a sixth semester student of English Language & Literature, at Premier University who has died young. Tumpa succumbed to the deadly cancer and passed away on the 17th October 2008. It was heart-rending news on that day for us to receive, for Fowzia was a moderately healthy girl with an indomitable spirit to perform her duty as a human. She was friendly to all, gentle, meek and mild. She had a mind that was always sympathetic to all her friends. At the campus, she made frequent appeals to the authorities to extend free studentship to the students from poor backgrounds. The other side of her versatility was as unique as she was: she was the founder member of the Drama Club at PU; she formed the debate club too. And the spirit in her was so kicking that she did not sit idle afterwards: she was an active performer of drama on stage, she was a debater and on top of all she was a great organizer of such events. Tumpa's acting performance on stage as the Prince of Aragon from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, and as Isabella's encounter with her brother (which she did just prior to her departure for Bangkok for treatment) in the prison scene in Measure for Measure was outstanding. None, at that time, however, could anticipate a disaster of such a catastrophic height --- her getting infected by the deadly cancer which ultimately led her meet such an untimely and shocking demise. I, like her other friends and teachers, find no words or thoughts of respite as the recurrent thought that she is no more keeps haunting the mind. I had a communication with her through Facebook and e-mail. And as I reckon today, with a grief-stricken mind, how depressive was her tone while talking about the torments of the super cyclone SIDR affected people; and at that very moment I saw an exhilarated mind busy running for forming a fund - raising enterprise to help them. They managed a modest amount of money and some other essentials as well. We will always miss Fowziaa sprightly spirit full of enthusiasm and life, self-effacing person with love for all my versatile student. May the Almighty grant her grand soul eternal peace.
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