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Tagore second to Mujib

22 April 2004, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By MAS Molla, BAAS, Dhaka
22 April 2004, 18:00 PM
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has arranged for a programme on the Greatest Bengalees of all ages. First, the BBC asked for naming five greatest Bengalees to the audience. I wished to question the very philosophy of asking for the names of the greatest Bengalees, because greatness cannot have a single factor or a few criteria to decide on. But I did not have the time to do that.

However, after receiving the entries, the BBC listed up to serial 20 and started broadcasting the names and their description from March 26 beginning from the last (20). The programme created interest and enthusiasm in many, though many others regarded this as a controversial attempt.

The BBC ranked Rabindranath Tagore second that was disclosed on April 13, 2004. On the next day, on April 14, which was the first day of the Bangla new year 1411, the BBC declared the first position that Sheikh Mujib occupied. As a Bangladeshi, I would be overwhelmed with joy to get our man in that position. But how is that? How a literary personality of the stature of Tagore can be second to a politician?

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The four national leaders who successfully conducted our War of Liberation are nowhere. Neither could any of the Beer Srestho (like the martyrs of the Language Movement occupying the 15th position) occupy any position.

Now it is the duty of the BBC to disclose the method of ranking the great Bengalees after receiving the entries.