AHMED ILIAS
In Pursuit of Cultural Pluralism in Bangladesh
Last week marked the 80th birth anniversary of Ahmed Ilias – poet, rights activist, researcher and social commentator. His has been a life worth spent.
Born in 1934 in Kolkata Ilias lost his mother within hours of his birth. He endured another tragedy when his foster father died in a road accident within a few years. It was from a tender age that Ilias faced the brute realities of unending challenges of life.
Some of the poet’s accolades and works. Photo: Prabir Das
Mistreated by his step-mother, the young boy escaped his house and had to learn to fend for himself. He worked as a hawker for three years at the Hogg Market (now New Market) and subsequently as salesperson at a bakery in Free School Street, Kolkata. His efforts to continue his studies faltered as working hours became more demanding. Eventually with the help of his friends this meritorious boy maintained his subsistence through tutoring and got enrolled in the Islamia High School of Kolkata.
Soon Ilias's penchant for poetry became evident. He actively participated in the mushaiara (poetry sessions). It was at an annual poetry festival that his ghazal drew appreciation of the renowned Urdu poet Allama Jameel Mazhari. Ilias retained a life-long interest in poetry, and, over the years, became a leading light in the Urdu literary circles of the subcontinent. Critics have noted that his collections of poems 'Ainey Rezey' (Broken Mirror) and 'Harfe Darida' (Torn Letters) are in a way reflections of a person who is 'in exile in his own country' and 'universal cry of all the refugees and the exiles the world over'.
From his Kolkata days Ilias became interested in the language movement of 1952. He came to Dhaka immediately after the movement. He served as a night guard in Johnson Road. Harsh reality of the new land forced him back to Kolkata within a few weeks. He subsequently migrated to East Pakistan in 1953. Within a short time he sat for matriculation examination and secured 7th position in the merit list of the private candidates. In Dhaka he was drawn to progressive thinking and activism. His interest in social and political issues made him quit a comfortable job at the Geological Survey of Pakistan and opted to serve as manager of the National Press Club.
It was at this important hub of liberalism Ilias came in touch with torchbearers of the democratic movement against the Ayub regime. With his writing skills further honed he joined the Urdu newspaper Pasban in 1964. In 1970 eminent Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz inducted him into the editorial board of the Karachi based weekly Layal O Nahar. Faiz did so to ensure that the Bengalees' struggle for autonomy would get adequately and properly reported in the weekly.
Ahmed Illias, poet and activist. Photo: Prabir Das
Like most other members of the Urdu speaking community Ilias faced a challenging time in the period soon after the independence of Bangladesh. His loss of job was further compounded by illness of his son. After a brief stint in Kolkata where he went for treatment of his ailing son, Ilias returned to Bangladesh in 1973 and joined Heed Bangladesh, a NGO working with the camp based Urdu speaking community. In 1981, he established Al Falah Bangladesh.
Ilias's is steadfastly committed to promotion of rights and welfare of the members of the camp dwelling Urdu speaking community. In the post liberation period in the face of discrimination and disenfranchisement when almost all leaders of that community concluded that migrating to Pakistan was their only choice, Ilias was unwilling to surrender his community's rightful claim to citizenship of Bangladesh. He refused to share the view that an entire community should be punished for the crimes committed by a section of its members. From day one of independence Ilias argued for trial of all war criminals, Urdu speaking or Bengali, to ensure justice and bring a fair closure for the families that endured brutalities; but he doggedly opposed blanket branding of the entire community for the misdeeds of some.
Ilias devoted the rest of his life driven by the passion to serve his community. On the one hand, he provided leadership to engage in what turned out to be a long drawn out struggle to re-claim Bangladeshi citizenship rights. On the other, he had to counter the pressure and dirty tactics of those who were pushing the barrel of repatriation to Pakistan. Needless to say, it was a daunting task, as an overwhelming majority of stranded camp dwellers opted and registered to go to Pakistan. Ilias realised that a community deprived of education and other basic entitlements of civic life was most susceptible to manipulation by interested quarters. It is in this context that his Al Falah continued to render education and health services for the camp dwellers.
The failings of Bangladeshi NGOs may be put on record here. While a number of them were securing international accolades for rendering education, health care, skills training and upholding of human rights of various groups of under-privileged, no national NGO or rights organisation worth the name was ever engaged with the camp dwelling Urdu speaking community. Likewise, while the mandated international agencies were engaged in futile protracted debates about the nomenclature of this community (refugees, internally displaced or nationals of Bangladesh or Pakistan) and determining their status, the development partners remained oblivious of the human security and basic needs of the community. The government of Bangladesh in its turn was happy to affix the label of 'Stranded Pakistanis' to the community and felt contented by providing them irregular supply of basic relief with endemic 'system loss' and power supply to camps. It also made half-hearted attempts for their repatriation to Pakistan.
It is in such bleak conditions that ten members of the Bihari youth under Ilias's guidance moved the higher judiciary for confirming their Bangladeshi citizenship. With astute Senior Advocate MI Faruqi leading the case, they secured the verdict in their favour in 2003. Although the Election Commission was forced to enroll the applicants as voters on court's directive, it refused to apply the same principle to enroll other members of the community. It was only in 2008 an unequivocal directive of the Court made the Election Commission register all members of the community as voters, if they chose to. Ilias's contribution was immense in this legal battle of the camp dwelling Urdu speaking community.
Ilias's struggle for the establishment of rights of his community members took a new turn after gaining of citizenship rights. Rehabilitation with dignity became the cornerstone in this phase.
Ilias is acutely aware of the need to document the history and achievements of the Urdu speaking community of Bangladesh. His 'Biharis: the Indian Emigres in Bangladesh' is a seminal work that traces the movement and struggle of the community. His two recent works on Urdu literature and literary practice in Bangladesh will serve as important reference on the subject.
In his struggle to revitalise Urdu language and literature in Bangladesh Ilias was fortunate to count on the support of a few national figures. Included among them are poet Asad Chowdhury and freedom fighter Kamal Lohani. While sharing Ilias's vision, these individuals have endured disparagement from a section of mainstream intelligentsia and the establishment, many of whom are still guided by prejudice and chauvinism.
The Bangla-Urdu Shahitya Foundation organised an event to celebrate the life and achievements of Ahmed Ilias on the eve of his 80th birthday. It was heartening to note Prof Harunur Rashid, former Director General of Bangla Academy, poet Asad Chowdhury and president of Jatiya Kabita Parishad poet Habibullah Shirazi paying glowing tributes to this Urdu poet along with jurist MI Faruqui and Prof. Niaz Zaman. It is hoped more will join Ilias and his associates in their pursuit for a culturally plural and tolerant society in Bangladesh.
C R Abrar teaches International Relations and coordinates the Refugee and MigratoryMovements Research Unit, University of Dhaka.
Some of the poet’s accolades and works. Photo: Prabir Das
Mistreated by his step-mother, the young boy escaped his house and had to learn to fend for himself. He worked as a hawker for three years at the Hogg Market (now New Market) and subsequently as salesperson at a bakery in Free School Street, Kolkata. His efforts to continue his studies faltered as working hours became more demanding. Eventually with the help of his friends this meritorious boy maintained his subsistence through tutoring and got enrolled in the Islamia High School of Kolkata.
Soon Ilias's penchant for poetry became evident. He actively participated in the mushaiara (poetry sessions). It was at an annual poetry festival that his ghazal drew appreciation of the renowned Urdu poet Allama Jameel Mazhari. Ilias retained a life-long interest in poetry, and, over the years, became a leading light in the Urdu literary circles of the subcontinent. Critics have noted that his collections of poems 'Ainey Rezey' (Broken Mirror) and 'Harfe Darida' (Torn Letters) are in a way reflections of a person who is 'in exile in his own country' and 'universal cry of all the refugees and the exiles the world over'.
From his Kolkata days Ilias became interested in the language movement of 1952. He came to Dhaka immediately after the movement. He served as a night guard in Johnson Road. Harsh reality of the new land forced him back to Kolkata within a few weeks. He subsequently migrated to East Pakistan in 1953. Within a short time he sat for matriculation examination and secured 7th position in the merit list of the private candidates. In Dhaka he was drawn to progressive thinking and activism. His interest in social and political issues made him quit a comfortable job at the Geological Survey of Pakistan and opted to serve as manager of the National Press Club.
It was at this important hub of liberalism Ilias came in touch with torchbearers of the democratic movement against the Ayub regime. With his writing skills further honed he joined the Urdu newspaper Pasban in 1964. In 1970 eminent Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz inducted him into the editorial board of the Karachi based weekly Layal O Nahar. Faiz did so to ensure that the Bengalees' struggle for autonomy would get adequately and properly reported in the weekly.
Ahmed Illias, poet and activist. Photo: Prabir Das
Like most other members of the Urdu speaking community Ilias faced a challenging time in the period soon after the independence of Bangladesh. His loss of job was further compounded by illness of his son. After a brief stint in Kolkata where he went for treatment of his ailing son, Ilias returned to Bangladesh in 1973 and joined Heed Bangladesh, a NGO working with the camp based Urdu speaking community. In 1981, he established Al Falah Bangladesh.
Ilias's is steadfastly committed to promotion of rights and welfare of the members of the camp dwelling Urdu speaking community. In the post liberation period in the face of discrimination and disenfranchisement when almost all leaders of that community concluded that migrating to Pakistan was their only choice, Ilias was unwilling to surrender his community's rightful claim to citizenship of Bangladesh. He refused to share the view that an entire community should be punished for the crimes committed by a section of its members. From day one of independence Ilias argued for trial of all war criminals, Urdu speaking or Bengali, to ensure justice and bring a fair closure for the families that endured brutalities; but he doggedly opposed blanket branding of the entire community for the misdeeds of some.
Ilias devoted the rest of his life driven by the passion to serve his community. On the one hand, he provided leadership to engage in what turned out to be a long drawn out struggle to re-claim Bangladeshi citizenship rights. On the other, he had to counter the pressure and dirty tactics of those who were pushing the barrel of repatriation to Pakistan. Needless to say, it was a daunting task, as an overwhelming majority of stranded camp dwellers opted and registered to go to Pakistan. Ilias realised that a community deprived of education and other basic entitlements of civic life was most susceptible to manipulation by interested quarters. It is in this context that his Al Falah continued to render education and health services for the camp dwellers.
The failings of Bangladeshi NGOs may be put on record here. While a number of them were securing international accolades for rendering education, health care, skills training and upholding of human rights of various groups of under-privileged, no national NGO or rights organisation worth the name was ever engaged with the camp dwelling Urdu speaking community. Likewise, while the mandated international agencies were engaged in futile protracted debates about the nomenclature of this community (refugees, internally displaced or nationals of Bangladesh or Pakistan) and determining their status, the development partners remained oblivious of the human security and basic needs of the community. The government of Bangladesh in its turn was happy to affix the label of 'Stranded Pakistanis' to the community and felt contented by providing them irregular supply of basic relief with endemic 'system loss' and power supply to camps. It also made half-hearted attempts for their repatriation to Pakistan.
It is in such bleak conditions that ten members of the Bihari youth under Ilias's guidance moved the higher judiciary for confirming their Bangladeshi citizenship. With astute Senior Advocate MI Faruqi leading the case, they secured the verdict in their favour in 2003. Although the Election Commission was forced to enroll the applicants as voters on court's directive, it refused to apply the same principle to enroll other members of the community. It was only in 2008 an unequivocal directive of the Court made the Election Commission register all members of the community as voters, if they chose to. Ilias's contribution was immense in this legal battle of the camp dwelling Urdu speaking community.
Ilias's struggle for the establishment of rights of his community members took a new turn after gaining of citizenship rights. Rehabilitation with dignity became the cornerstone in this phase.
Ilias is acutely aware of the need to document the history and achievements of the Urdu speaking community of Bangladesh. His 'Biharis: the Indian Emigres in Bangladesh' is a seminal work that traces the movement and struggle of the community. His two recent works on Urdu literature and literary practice in Bangladesh will serve as important reference on the subject.
In his struggle to revitalise Urdu language and literature in Bangladesh Ilias was fortunate to count on the support of a few national figures. Included among them are poet Asad Chowdhury and freedom fighter Kamal Lohani. While sharing Ilias's vision, these individuals have endured disparagement from a section of mainstream intelligentsia and the establishment, many of whom are still guided by prejudice and chauvinism.
The Bangla-Urdu Shahitya Foundation organised an event to celebrate the life and achievements of Ahmed Ilias on the eve of his 80th birthday. It was heartening to note Prof Harunur Rashid, former Director General of Bangla Academy, poet Asad Chowdhury and president of Jatiya Kabita Parishad poet Habibullah Shirazi paying glowing tributes to this Urdu poet along with jurist MI Faruqui and Prof. Niaz Zaman. It is hoped more will join Ilias and his associates in their pursuit for a culturally plural and tolerant society in Bangladesh.
C R Abrar teaches International Relations and coordinates the Refugee and MigratoryMovements Research Unit, University of Dhaka.
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