The nine-month long Liberation War (1971) that resulted in the independence of Bangladesh cost three million lives. Numerous stories of valour during the war remain unknown. One such act of courage by Professor Mojibar Rahman of Rajshalii University, who deliberately changed his name to 'Debdash,' protesting the brutality of the occupying Pakistani army during the war, came to light many years after the war.
In 1971 Professor Mojibar Rahman was a teacher at the Department of Mathematics, Rajshahi University. After the war broke out, the Pakistani military set up a camp at the Zoha Hall on the university campus and started mass executions of civilians. Professor Rahman protested these heinous crimes through an official letter to the university authority, where he signed as 'Debdash.' The Pakistani army came to know about his letter. Along with many others, they detained Professor Rahman and carried out inhuman torture on him. The torture left Professor Rahman traumatised and has been haunting him every moment over the last 38 years.
After the war, Professor Rahman returned to the campus. He was a wreck physically and emotionally.
When he wanted to rejoin, the university authority surprisingly rejected him on the grounds that he had changed his name. He cleared out the issue through formal affidavit of his name but the authorities once again denied his application, this time saying that his psychological state was not fit for the job. A frustrated, dejected 'Debdash' left his beloved campus.
Many years after the incident, in 1990, publisher and trustee of the -Liberation War Museum, Mofidul Haque came to know of Rahman's bravery and felt that something should be done.
Recently Mofidul Haque made a documentary on Debdash titled "Kaan Petey Roi." The film shows a day in the life of Rahman aka Debdash now.
At present, the 81 -year old Rahman leads peaceful life at his village Mahurul in Jaipurhat.
The 35-minute documentary narrates Rahman's daily activities — artenthusiastic and 1^ yiockwork. RaHrfiah always has lunch at noon and wherever he goes, he is back home by 6 in the evening, according to his relatives. Along with the relatives, the documentary features Rahman's
former colleagues Professor Sanat Kumar Saha and Professor Subrata Majumdar speaking on him.
Maqsudul Bari is the cinematographer, while Syed Shabab Ali Arzu is the music director of the documentary.
"Kaan Petey Roi" was screened at the Ramesh Chandra Dutta Memorial Auditorium, Chhayanat Shangskriti Bhaban on May 2. The screening, was part of Chhayanat's regular lecture series. Dr. Sanjida Khatun welcomed Mofidul Haque prior to the screening. Haque shared different aspects of the documentary with the audience.