“Students Don’t Know Who Fazlul Huq Was”: Bengal Scholars Lament Erasure of Sher-e-Bangla’s Legacy
Speakers said Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq’s politics of justice and equality still hold lessons for a Bengal where the marginalized face new forms of exclusion and historical memory itself is under erasure
Kolkata: “In many colleges and universities, students and even teachers are unaware of who Fazlul Huq truly was,” said Sabir Ahmed of the Pratichi Institute and Know Your Neighbour initiative, as Bengal’s iconic Coffee House resonated with reflection and resolve on Sunday. “We will include Sher-e-Bangla’s life and contributions in our outreach activities to ensure greater public awareness of his vision and work,” he added.
The occasion was the 152nd birth anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq, Bengal’s legendary statesman and people’s leader, organized by the Bhumiputra Unnayan Morcha of India (BHUMI) in the historic “Boichitra” hall of the Indian Coffee House on College Street. The programme drew an audience of social workers, educators, writers, students, researchers, and journalists, and was gracefully moderated by Dr. Abu Sayed Ahmed.
The event began with floral tributes to Sher-e-Bangla’s portrait, followed by impassioned discussions on his life, vision, and his far-reaching role in Bengal’s political, educational, and social awakening.
“The Partition of Bengal Was Not the Fault of Muslims”
Retired teacher and essayist Alimuzzaman delivered a thought-provoking address, revisiting the 1940 Lahore Resolution and the complex politics surrounding the partition of Bengal. He argued that Fazlul Huq’s call for autonomy in Muslim-majority provinces stemmed from the principles of political justice, not separatism.
“The Lahore Resolution was distorted by the politics of its time,” he said. “The partition of Bengal was not the fault of Muslims but the consequence of the upper-caste Hindu leadership’s unwillingness to accept a Muslim-majority Bengal and their desire for dominance through division.”
Drawing parallels with the present, Alimuzzaman added, “Even today, poor Muslim workers in Bengal are branded as ‘Bangladeshis’ and subjected to humiliation. Sher-e-Bangla dedicated his entire life to uplifting such marginalized communities, fighting for their dignity and rightful place in society.”
Fazlul Huq’s Early Life: “Education Was a Right, Not a Privilege”
Renowned doctor Kazi Mohit shared two defining anecdotes from Fazlul Huq’s youth that revealed his determination and egalitarian spirit.
He narrated how a young Huq, upon learning that sitting on the front bench required passing a test, immediately asked to take it—and passed the same day. Later, during his Presidency College years, Huq was told that Muslims were weak in mathematics. He took it as a challenge and topped his class within six months.
“These stories show how deeply he believed that education was not a privilege for a few but a right for all—an idea that shaped his educational reforms as Education Minister of undivided Bengal,” said Dr. Mohit, whose words drew warm applause from the audience.
“Fighting Brahminical Domination, Standing with the Working Class”
Essayist Gautam Ray rejected the communal label often attached to Fazlul Huq, stressing that “advocating for one’s community’s rights does not make one communal.”
Advocate Shamim Ahmed placed Huq’s ideology in the context of today’s India. “What the BJP and RSS seek today is a revival of Brahminical domination, while Fazlul Huq envisioned the liberation of the working class. He fought for those whose lives are now being made unbearable by such forces,” he said, earning nods from the audience.
“Politics of Emancipation, Not Power”
At the end, Dr. Ramiz Raja, convenor of BHUMI, reflected on Sher-e-Bangla’s enduring relevance: “Fazlul Huq’s politics were the politics of emancipation. His lifelong struggle on behalf of farmers, laborers, and the marginalized continues to inspire us. He proved that the essence of politics lies in human development.”
Other distinguished speakers—Dr. Suranjan Midde, Dr. Nurul Islam, and Jane Alam—added intellectual depth with their insights into Huq’s social and educational philosophy.
The commemoration ended with a collective pledge to uphold Sher-e-Bangla’s principles of equality, justice, and inclusive progress, with organizers vowing to celebrate his legacy on an even larger scale next year.
