The spirit of Neelima Ibrahim
June 18 was Neelima Ibrahim's first death anniversary. The occasion was observed with due fervour by Neelima Ibrahim Bangladesh Study Centre. A memorial meet was arranged at the VIP Lounge of the National Press Club with Nurjahan Begum, Editor of the reputed weekly Begum, as the chief guest. The occasion also saw the launching of a Memorial Book on Neelima Ibrahim.
The programme started with a Tagore-song--Kon alotey praaner pradeep jaliye tumi dhoraatey aasho--performed by Mita Haque. Earlier one-minute silence was observed in honour of Neelima Ibrahim's memory. Professor Biswajit Ghosh read out the biography of Neelima Ibrahim.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Dr. Neelima Ibrahim was born in 1921--the year Dhaka University was founded. Remarkably she received the first ever Ph.D. from the institution's Bangla department. She later joined the department as a teacher.
Besides her career in teaching, she also earned a name in writing and organising. Especially her endeavour in rehabilitating and honouring the female victims of our Liberation War will always be remembered with gratefulness. 'Neelima Ibrahim's Ami Birangona Bolchhi is an integral part of the history of our Liberation war,' said Professor Anisuzzaman while paying his tribute. The book relieved the nation of its debt to those fateful woman warriors who had to pay the highest for the cause of our independence. She also founded organisations for adopting war children. Neelima Ibrahim helped identify the dead bodies of many martyred intellectuals like Munir Chowdhury who had been killed on December 14 night.
In his tribute, actor Ramendu Majumder informed that Neelima Ibrahim had immense love for theatre. In the post-Independence Bangladesh, she founded a theatre group named 'Rangana'. She was the key-influence behind the introduction of a course on drama at the BAFA. And it was Neelima Ibrahim who founded the Mohila Samiti, one of the country's reputed theatre auditoriums.
As a writer Neelima Ibrahim paved all major genres of literature. Nurjahan Begum informed that Neelima had also contributed to her magazine. The first story published in Begum was Marongami Shurjo. Afterwards a number of short stories like Shaswata Nari, Petticoat Government, a few essays and two novels--Pathsranto and Bish Shataker Nari--were published in the magazine.
Neelima Ibrahim's husband Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim also spoke on the occasion. While recollecting the deceased life partner, Dr. Ibrahim became emotional. The whole audience felt the sadness created by the vacuum when someone like Neelima Ibrahim who was meant to guide others in the light of everything that is good. The tribute to Neelima Ibrahim ended with a song performed by Lina Taposhi Khan.