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THE FUTURE BELONGS TO OUR CHILDREN

Shila Momen talks to The Daily Star

Zahangir Alom
I had witnessed the mass upsurge of 1969. Humiliated by the razakar, al badr, al shams of Pakistani army, we crossed 80 miles on foot to reach India where I joined "Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha" at 144, Lenin Sarani, Calcutta (now Kolkata). I along with a number of artistes helped raise the morale of Bangladeshi Freedom Fighters by taking part in different training camps and people's struggle during the Liberation War of 1971.
It was a thrilling experience for me. I noticed freedom loving people of all ages in the camps. We fought for the country with our music. We performed music in a programme on Free Jessore Day. When India recognised Bangladesh on December 6, we, the artistes of "Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha", rendered the national anthem in a programme arranged by the Bangladeshi Mission in Calcutta. The honourable cabinet members of the Mujibnagar Government, including Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed, spoke on the occasion. It remains a memorable day of my life.
For me, independence has not brought about a change as yet. It is our duty to hand over the legacy of independence to the new generation so that they can accomplish the unfinished tasks or unfulfilled promises of the Liberation War. We want the new generation to add to the dimensions of independence and so
make freedom really meaningful.
The younger generation must know the answers to several basic questions, including what the Liberation War was and why it was inevitable. Faults were on our part too. If we, the guardians and the teachers, can make the younger generation understand the real picture of Liberation War through stories, films and music, they will not get confused about the fact.
In 1971,1 was a first year student
of the Department of Economics of Dhaka University. I was a resident of Rokeya Hall. There was a slaughter house beside Shamsunnahar Hall. If we remember those martyrs by placing floral wreaths every year, the new generation will develop a clear perspective about the war.
As the principal and one of the initiators of Fulki, a model school of Chittagong, I have undertaken the task of training young minds. Fulki
is the brainchild of noted Tagore exponent, poet and bureau chief of ProthomAlo (Chittagong) Abul Momen. Founded in 1976, the school has been offering education of an enlightened sort to its students for the last 36 years.
Teachers of different schools receive training from our school. Nalanda, a school of Chhayanaut, has adapted our comprehensive educational-cultural activities. Aroni School of Tangail has also accepted our syllabus module. Our education trainers regularly take classes at more than 60 schools in nine districts of the country. We hope to increase the pace in the days ahead.
Apart from providing basic education to our students, we offer them eight topics, including Music, Fine Arts, Keertikatha, that give them confidence, Manishikatha that gives them inspiration, Rhymes and Poetry, Story Telling, Science, and Rights consciousness.
My suggestions for the generations centre around the idea that they must stand upright in the world knowing and holding the opulent history of thousands years of Bengal in the heart. Everyone is yet to have the taste of independence. All must benefit from freedom. I am also urging them to understand the inner meaning of the excerpt "Manush Haw Manush Haw Bishwa Manob Hobi Jadi Shashshoto Bangalee Haw" by Gurusaday Dutt.