The man who dreamt of a joyous future

Charam Patra, meaning an 'ultimatum', was one of the items with which Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra started its historic journey on 25 May 1971. The first episode of the programme presented an overall sketch of the ongoing war. The programme finally ran 170 episodes in the next seven months broadcasting the last one on December 16, the day Bangladesh achieved victory in the nine-month-long Liberation War.

Composed and performed by MR Akhter Mukul alone, Charam Patra was a series of ultimatums pronounced against the barbaric Pakistani armed forces by the character Chhokku Mia.

Asked why he chose the name, Mukul says that the name Chhokku was a common addressing term among the Old Dhakaites. Also, the name has an air of jovial mischief about it. Mukul, however, modelled his character on a real-life person named Asadullah living in Bakshi Bazar of Old Dhaka.

Chhokku's deliveries were so full of dialectical and humiliating slangs that it acquired an irresistibly funny effect. The ridicules, aimed at the Pakistani forces and their collaborators, would, in turn, give immense amusement to the brave Bangali freedom fighters. Moreover, it served the purpose of a news bulletin as it often contained information from all parts of the country.

The character of Chhokku Mia, the persona of its creator, is very optimistic just like the creator Mukul himself. And he passed on this optimism through his oration among the fighters.

What would Chhokku Mia say about the present situation of Bangladesh? Mukul says in confidence, 'I believe this bad time is a temporary one. This will pass over one day, for it will not be possible to keep the history away from the young generation for long.' The youth will of course mark the anomalies and question their ancestors. 'They will seek the truth themselves and build the nation according to their dream', the creator of Chhokku Mia concludes.