Binod Bihari Chowdhury - The Last Symbol of Real Freedom!

Sri Binod Bihari Chowdhury may be a man of small stature, but he is one of immense ambition. Even at the age of 99, nothing tires him out. He has fought against injustice and oppression throughout his entire life. The 10th of January 2009, he stepped on the 99th year of his life. Amongst numerous revolutionaries of Bangladesh of his time, he is the only one still alive and still thriving. Most have passed away naturally or met with fatal ends in the fight against injustice.

Biography:
The aging revolutionary Sri Binod Bihari was born on the 10th of January 1911, in Boalkhali Thana of Chittagong district. His father, the Late Kamini Kumar Chowdhury, was a well-reputed lawyer. His attended Rangamati Board School in Fotikchori Thana of Chittagong District for primary education. From there, he went on to attending Coronation Uccho Biddalay, P C Sen Saroatoli Uccho Biddalay of Boalkhali, Chittagong College, and University of Calcutta for his secondary and higher studies. Sri Chowdhury Rai Bahadur was awarded a scholarship, after his brilliant performance in Secondary School Certificate examination in 1929. In 1934 and 1936, while a detainee at the Rajputnar Deuli Detention Camp of the British Raj, he completed his I.A and B.A examinations with first class distinction results. Later on, he completed his B.L degree as well.

As a teenager of only sixteen, when he joined the group of revolutionaries, Jugantor, he became a very close subordinate and follower of a number of revolutionaries. Namely, they were Mastarda Shurjo Sen (martyred by hanging), Tarkesshor Dostidar (martyred by hanging), Modhushudon Datta (martyred at war of Jalalabad), and Ramkrishno Biswas (martyred by hanging). This marked the beginning of his life as a revolutionary. He took active part in the Youth rebellion movement of Chittagong set in motion by Mastarda Shurjo Sen in 1930 from 18th April to 20th April. As a part of the rebellion, on the 18th of April, he overtook the police armory by force and after taking the British flag down, lifted the flag of the Indian government. He was under the command of Anonto Shingho and Gonesh Ghosh. As a result of the rebellion, Mastarda Shurjo Sen was given the title of President and a temporary state of emergency rebel government was declared. He was severely injured in the battle of Jalalabad, where he and other members of the rebellion faced the British Army under the leadership of Mastarda on the 22nd of April of the same year.

In the life pursuit of eradicating all subjugation and tyranny from the face of the general people, and in the journey for freedom of the people, Sri Chowdhury has had to face starvation and hibernation. He had to make himself a prisoner at his own home and sometimes behind actual bars. In 1930, after the Youth rebellion movement, the British government not only released a warrant for his arrest, but also declared a prize of 500 taka for his arrest-- either dead or alive. After going into hiding in 1930, three years passed peacefully; but the British forces captured him in 1933 and threw him in prison. After spending almost 5 years in Chittagong jail, Calcutta Presidency Jail, Deuli Detention Camp, and Bahrampur Jail he was released in 1938. But he was not released yet for good, he was on house arrest for another whole year. He gained freedom in 1939. But soon after, in 1941, he was recaptured and put back behind bars in Chittagong Jail, Hijli Bondi Shibir, Dhaka Jail, and in Khokshi Bondi Shibir. In the Pakistani rule of Aiyub Khan, he spent one year in prison again, from 1965 to 1966.

When he was a prisoner in British-Indian jail, Sri Chowdhury became a follower of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and in 1939, after his release he joined the Indian Congress. While he was a member of the Foreign Congress from 1940 to 1946, he simultaneously became the General Director of the political party of Chittagong District Committee. After India broke up into parts in 1947 due to religious divide, he did not leave his motherland like a lot of other people; instead, he became one of the foundation leaders in the establishment of The National Pakistani Congress. In 1948, he was elected as the candidate of Congress in the Law Commission election. It was in the same year that Dhirendronath Datta (martyred in the Liberation War of 1971) placed a formal bill, for the first time in the Law Council, to make Bangla the official language of the country. This gave rise to the Bangali Jatiotabadi Andolon (Bengali Nationalistic Revolt) that led to the famous Language Movement of Bangladesh of 1952.

Sri Chowdhury became an avid participant of the event leading up to the movement and was actively engaged in spreading the news of the revolution. Needless to say, he was one of the most influential workers of the language movement of 1952. Under the leadership of Dhirendronath Datta, his aim was to make the language movement more rapid and to create a responsible government system for the nation. He was also a part of the Joint-Election movement.

He joined the anti-autocratic rebellion in 1969 and was one of the many players in the planning of the Liberation War of 1971. After the country was liberated, he retired from active political duty in the free nation and became a leader in many social welfare and humanitarian movements.

Sri Chowdhury started his career in 1939, as the Assistant Editor of The Daily Pangojonno. In 1940, he also practiced as a lawyer in The Chittagong Court. But, as destiny had decided for him, he lastly chose teaching as his life-long career. Until the demise of Srimoti Neli Sengupto, leader of the Indian National Congress (spouse of nation-loved barrister Jatindro Mohan Sengupto), he continued in the post of Secretary.

Workaholic philanthropist Sri Chowdhury has been awarded much praise and respect for his work from institutions in the country and abroad. The government of Bangladesh has awarded him with the Shadhinota Podok for his epic role in the movement towards liberation.

The daily newspapers Bhorer Kagoj and Jonokontho have paid him respects by awarding him the title of being the nation's greatest child. He donated all financial benefits received from such ovations and awards to the University of Chittagong to arrange public speaking ceremonies in remembrance of political leader Mastarda Shurjo Sen.

Sri Chowdhury, a pride of the nation, is still engaged in the emancipation of helpless people from the face of torment, poverty, prejudice and disrespect and at the age of 99. He is still devoted to the construction of a free civil society, which is pious and inspired.

We pray good health & long life of this great and ever green personality.