Jahanara Imam (Bengali: জাহানারা ইমাম) (May 3, 1929—June 26, 1994) was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is most widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. She was popularly known as "Shaheed Janani" (Mother of Martyrs).
Biography
Jahanara Imam was born to a progressive Muslim family in Murshidabad, in West Bengal, India. She was the eldest daughter in a family of three brothers and four sisters. Her father Syed Abdul Ali was a Civil Servant in the Bengal Civil Service and she lived in many different parts of Bengal - wherever her father was posted. She had a very liberal upbringing and education and was an exceptionally spirited person. Her father recognized this and made sure she received the best possible education. Her mother Hamida Ali, who spent her entire life looking after her family and bringing up her children, also had high ambitions for her daughter. At that time there was a lot of social pressure against Muslim women pursuing further studies, but she was determined that Jahanara's education would not be constrained. Her parents' ambitions and their belief in education for women left a deep impression on Jahanara.
After finishing her studies in 1945 in Carmichael College in Rangpur, Jahanara Imam went to Lady Brabourne College of Calcutta University and in 1947 obtained her Bachelor's Degree. She was an activist even during her Lady Brabourne College days. After the partition of India, she joined her family in Mymensingh in what became East Pakistan and started teaching at Vidyamoyee Govt. Girls High School.
In 1948 she married Shariful Alam Imam Ahmed, a Civil Engineer, whom she met in Rangpur while studying at Carmichael College. They settled in Dhaka and she joined Siddheswari Girl's School as Head Mistress. She was instrumental in transforming the school from its humble beginnings into one of the top girls' schools in Dhaka.
She was the first editor of the monthly women’s magazine called “Khawateen”. It started its publication in 1952 and she ran it successfully for several years.
In 1960 she gave up her job as Head Mistress to concentrate on bringing up her two sons Rumi and Jami born in 1952 and 1954 respectively. She said to herself “I have given education to thousands of school children, now I should spend some time to bring up my own children”.
During this time Jahanara Imam finished her Master's Degree in Bengali Language and Literature and a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Dhaka Universityin 1962 and 1963 respectively. After that she went back to full-time teaching. From 1966 to 1968 she worked as a lecturer in the Teacher’s Training College in Dhaka. From 1970 she also taught for several years on a part-time basis in the Institute of Modern Language in Dhaka University.
She spent a significant part of her life in education. She visited the USA in 1964-65 as a Fulbright Scholar to San Diego University and again in 1977 under the International Visitor Program at the invitation of US Government.
War of Liberation
In 1971, following the Pakistan army crackdown on 25 March, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out. Many young men joined the liberation struggle. Jahanara's elder son Shafi Imam Rumi, 19, joined the Mukti Bahini to become a Mukti Joddha (Freedom Fighter). Remaining in Dhaka with no news about his whereabouts, Jahanara felt anxious about her son. During the nine months of war, she wrote a diary, detailing personal events as well as her own feelings about the struggle. This later became one of the most important publications about the War of Liberation.
Rumi took part in many daring actions against Pakistan army. Unfortunately, he was to be picked up by the Pakistani army, never to be seen again. Jahanara's husband and her younger son Jami along with other male members of the family were also picked up for interrogation and were tortured. Her husband Sharif Imam returned home a broken man only to die three days before Bangladesh became free on 16 December 1971.
Literary career
After Bangladesh achieved independence, Jahanara Imam started her literary career. During this time she also traveled extensively to Europe, USA and Canada. In 1986 she published her wartime diary “Ekatturer Dinguli” (The days of Seventy One). Publication of this book was a seminal event in the history of Bangladesh. It proved to be a catalyst for the renewal of faith in the destiny of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
Jahanara Imam's diary, in some respect like that of Anne Frank, was a very personal account of tragedy. Her simple style of writing touched many hearts, particularly those of the families who had lost members during the war. Former freedom fighters who had felt disillusioned in the aftermath of the war called Jahanara “Shaheed Janani” (Mother of Martyrs). “Ekatturer Dinguli” electrified Bangladesh as no other book ever did.
When you reflect on her life, you recall the glamour that once defined her being. It was the kind of glamour that did not come with the glitter one associates with it. It was indeed a way of sophisticated living that people aspire to. In her young days she was known for her beauty and elegance. She was known as Suchitra Sen of Dhaka, the famous Indian Bengali film star. After 1971 her life could never be the same again. The glamour that once defined her being disappeared and a new life started.
In 1981 she was diagnosed with mouth cancer. But the disease could not stop her activities. She continued to write stories, novels and diaries as well as continuing her involvement with the Freedom Fighters. She had to have several operations which made speaking difficult. She refused to let cancer destroy her spirit. She became the leader of “Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee” a political movement to try the 1971 war criminals.
Jahanara Imam died in Detroit, USA on 26 June 1994. She was buried in Dhaka as she had wished. To show respect to Shaheed Janani, nearly quarter of a million people attended her funeral.
Awards
Jahanara Imam was a prolific writer and made great contribution to Bengali literature. She was honoured and awarded several times. In 1988 she received an award from Bangladesh Writer’s Association. In 1991 in recognition to her literary works she received the prestigious honour in Bengali literature “Bangla Academy Literary Award” from Bangla Academy. Prestigious daily newspaper “Ajker Kagoj” hailed her as the Greatest Freedom Fighter of 14th century in Bengali Calendar. In 1997 and 1998 she received posthumously Independence Award and Rokeya Award respectively.
Effort to try war criminals
As Bangladesh's ruler, President Ziaur Rahman (1975–1981) enacted several controversial measures, ostensibly to win the support of Islamic political parties and opponents of the Awami League. In 1978, he revoked the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, which was widely believed to have collaborated with the Pakistani army and committed war crimes against civilians.
Ghulam Azam, the exiled chief of the Jammat-e-Islami, was allowed to come back in July 1978 with a Pakistani passport on a visitor's visa, and he remained in Bangladesh following its expiry. But he stayed back with the blessings of President Zia and started organize the hitherto banned Islamic fundamentalist: Jamaat-e-Islam. He was not brought to trial over his alleged role in committing wartime atrocities, and to make it worse eventually other Jamaat leaders were appointed in ministerial posts. Zia also rehabilitated Shah Azizur Rahman, a high-profile opponent of the creation of Bangladesh.
In 1991 December Ghulam Azam, was elected the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islam. Despite nationwide protest against Golam Azam's officially chairing the political party, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s government ignored the constitutional violation on the part of the Jamaatis. These shameless acts were insults to the very essence of Bangladesh liberation and brought huge condemnation from the people of Bangladesh and the freedom fighters who were getting disillusioned with this type of immoral politics.
During this time Jahanara Imam was leading a relatively quiet life busy with her literary works, but she could not take it any more. Never a political person, she came into political forefront of Bangladesh. She organized the Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee (Committee to exterminate the Killers and Collaborators), and became its public face. The committee called for trial of people who committed crimes against humanity in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War in collaboration with the Pakistani forces. In a highly symbolic act, Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee set up mock trials in Dhaka in March 1992 known as Gonoadalot (Court of the people) and sentenced war criminals. This was a symbolic verdict. Jahanara Imam and 24 other intellectuals were charged with treason. This charge was, however, dropped in 1996 after her death by the Chief Advisor Mohammed Habibur Rahman of the Caretaker government of that time.
The total activities of the "Ekattorer Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee" led by Jahanara Imam was accused as illegal and unlawfaul by the Government of Bangladesh. Jahanara Imam and her associates were charged for anti-patriotic acts for several killing, raising unrest, agitation and dividing the whole nation by such this activities. Besides, Government arrested Golam Azam on 25 March 1992, charging him for unlawful staying in Bangladesh. But after two years long trial, the High Court and finally The Supreme Court declared Golam Azam as a Bangladeshi Citizen by birth and freed from all charges against him. The Government and "Ekattorer Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee" have failed to prove any allegation against him.
Though Jahanara Imam and her associates were seeking to try crimes 20 years old at that point, their acts caused deep reverberations in the political arena of Bangladesh. Imam's cancer was getting worse. Even as physical infirmity claimed her, she went round the country to campaign for the cause. During her campaign she received great help from Awami League. It was understood that if Awami League came to power they would take up her cause. Awami League did come to power in 1996 under the Premiership of Sheikh Hasina but unfortunately they struck a political deal with Jamaat-e-Islam and nothing was done. In the end there was no difference between Khaleda Zia or Sheikh Hasina.
Last message
Jahanara Imam’s last message to the nation written from her deathbed:
My Appeal and Directives to the people of Bangladesh (From Shahid Janani Jahanara Imam)
My fellow warriors,
You have been fighting the evil forces of Golam Azam and his war criminals
of 1971, along with the detractors of a free Bangladesh for the last three
years. As a nation of Bangalees, your unity and courage has been
unparallel. I was with you at the start of our struggle. Our resolve was
to remain in battle until we had achieved our objective. Stricken with the
fatal disease of cancer, I am now facing my final days. I have kept my
resolve. I did not leave the battle. But I cannot stop the inevitable
March of death. Therefore, I once again remind you of our resolve to fight
until our goal is attained. You must fulfill your commitment. You must
stand united and fight to the very end. Even though I will not be among
you. I will know that you--- my millions of Bangalee children---- will
live in a free Golden Bengal with your sons and daughters.
We still have a long and arduous road ahead. People from all walks of life
has joined this battle. People from different political and cultural
groups, freedom fighters, women, and students, and youths have all
committed themselves to the battle. And I know that there is no one more
committed than the people. People are power. So I commit the
responsibility of the fight to bring Golam Azam and the war criminals of
1971 to justice and to continue to champion the Spirit of the Liberation
War to you--- the people of Bangladesh. For certain, victory will be ours.
Literary works
- Anya Jiban (1985) (Other life)
- Ekattorer Dingulee (1986) (The days of 1971)
- Jiban Mrityu (1988) (Life and death)
- Buker Bhitare Agun (1990) (Fire in my heart)
- Nataker Abasan (1990) (End of drama)
- Dui Meru (1990) (Two poles)
- Cancer-er Sange Bosobas (1991) (Living with cancer)
- Prabaser Dinalipi (1992) (Life abroad)
- Early in her career, Jahanara Imam also translated several books from English into Bengali, including some of the popular "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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