4. My parents

4. My parents

My grand father wanted his eldest son to be a clergy. My father turned it down. He went to a new scheme high school to learn English and go for higher studies. As the father and son was not in good terms he denied to pay for education. Furthermore, my father got married after completing the high school exam without taking any dowry which was never liked by my grandma.

Three out of four of my Phuphas ( Father’s sister in laws ) were Moulavis. A ll of them had limited capabilities to support their own families. So my Phuphies stayed most of the time in our home. Gradually it became impossible for my grand father to maintain. So, as eldest son of the family my father had to take the entire liability. For long three years he tried to make any break-through in Noakhali but failed. At last in June 1940 he left for Kolkata ( Then Culcutta ) to earn bread for two families. One of my grand parents and the other of his own.

All his hopes to seek higher degrees under the University of Kolkata ended in seconds. He began to walk about the streets of Kolkata seeking a job. By that time guns began to roar at the door steps . The Japanese forces had captured many countries and began to hit the Burma (Now Myanmar). Poverty and famine gradually gripped India. All economic activities began to collapse. Unemployment began to rise that forced hundreds of youths join the British army when the Indian leaders thought it’s another step towards independence, but these helpless people know it a part of attempt for ensuring bread for their respective family.

Believe it or not when my grand father used to get Tk.5/- a month as a head master, my father got Tk. 120/- as a sepoy of the British Army. He did not hesitate to sent hundred Taka a month that threw the entire family into a catastrophe. A new house was built. Lands were purchased and my only uncle began to pose himself as the boss of the village. My Phuphas began to live here for months together and continued meddling in the domestic affairs of the father in law. My mother had to painfully digest all these pinches. She had to work from sun rise to mid night and tolerate ugly comments for not becoming a mother.

My father’s long eight year service in the Army was the most happy time for everybody excepting my parents. On two occasions he was likely saved from certain death in the war front and was taken as a Prison’s of War by the Japanese in the far East, but he along with some friends managed to escape. For this heroic job they all were decorated with medallions.

Most the war lords of the Indo-Pak subcontinent fought in the Burma front. Gen. Karriuppa, Gen. Chowhury, two India Army Chiefs later and Field Marshal Ayub Khan of Pakistan all served in the Burma front. Most of recruits were from Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and passed very hard time. In my father’s long eight year service he was once allowed one month leave.

A train carry a battalion of solders on leave came to Chittagong from Assam on a winter afternoon. Moments before the passengers had disembarked Japanese fighter –bombers began to hit Chittagong for the first time. The were allowed to disembark after a while and go for respective destinations with a notice that they might me recalled anytime.

My Words

I like to read valuable word of distinguish authorities which enable me to think better though I don’t know how my readers will take. As I have right to be criticized so I shall place them in every part of my blog.

Two
The most successful business ( ! ) in a poverty stricken country is begging.
A K MINTOO