The epic story of her life is no less than a fairy tale. Yes that is how it is. What is missing in Oshitipor’s life? The stories that she heard as a little girl in school about the tortures of landlords is still burning inside of her with pity and rage. Her family’s practice in politics, her studies on different politicians and all the revolts against the British created an effect in her childhood as the violent tides of a river. It is as the constant breaking and building story of a river. Yes, we are talking about Hena Dash, the women who was a sincere and hard working leader and who struggled all her life. Socialism is still her life’s only lesson, the story of her education.
Hena Dash was born on 12th February 1924 in the Puran lane of Sylhet on the bank of Shurma. Her father Shatish Chandra was a respected lawyer and her mother Monoroma Datta was a housewife. Hena Dash’s father’s house is in Lakhai of Habigang district. Hena is the yougest among seven brothers and sisters. When she was supposed to be engaged in children‘s games and a tension-free life, she was consumed in politics. Back then she did not have the age to understand all the trickeries of politics as she was only studying in class seven. She became rebellious as she heard the stories of tortures on the Nanka girls and her rage only increased day by day. She started to think about how to participate in the war of indipendence. In the tiffin periods she would go on secret discussions with her friends, so that the british dominators don’t notice it. In her heart was the intense desire for patriotic acts. In her small group there would be many lectures. The arresting and cruelty on the congress that were against the british and for the war of independence was an everyday story. The stories seen and heard from sir Jouharlal Neheru in 1937 in Sylhet is embedded with her political life.
In her school life she joined the student’s federation. She was then seen in rallies and in processions as a volunteer. Once the revolutionary Lila Nag went to Sylhet from Dhaka on a rally of the congress women’s association. It was a large gathering. Listening to her fierce speech and meeting Lady Baden Paul, the founder of girls guide life association, in Culcutta is still a golden treasure on her memory book.
The Second World War started when Hena Dash was studying in class ten of Sylhet Sharkari Girls School. It was a frightful situation everywhere. Student politics was becoming more active. People’s protection committees were growing up in every neighbourhood. Publicity against hanging, training for self protection and forming a volunteering team was all included in the committees. At that time she went to Shilong on a students rally. There she met with Hemango Biswash, a communist poet tortured by the british dominators. He was taking treatment for Jokkha in Shilong. Hena Dash gave her Matric examination during the war and passed with first division. She got admitted in Intermediate in Sylhet Mohila College the same year.
On 20th december 1941 the first bomb was dropped on Culcutta. Fear of war was everywhere. The country was suffering from critical food crisis. Student processions and education both was going on. She passed intermediate in that situation, and also with first division once again. She got admitted for BA in the same college. But her mind was always into politics. She left her studies as soon as she got orders from her party and went into women agitation.
The year was 1942. A memorable year in Hena Dash’s life. She gained a position on the communist party. She was ecstatic, and started working at a full enthusiasm. Her first attempt was to bring awarness among the female farmers of Monipuri. She posed as a labour in the tea garden and slowly builds the trade union procession. This is not her only treasured memory. In the forties she became a delegate of the student communists of Asham and went to the head quarters of Bombay; she met with the parties’ secretary Pc Joshi; joined in all india student federation, and in many other processions. Three years later she admitted herself for BA and passed on the year 1947. The next year as she returned from rallies in Bombay and Mymensingh her father arranged for her to get married. She married a leader of the party, Rohini Dash of Sunamgange. She had a registry marriage with the man she wanted to marry. It was an unceremonious wedding in Culcutta because she was living an underground life. Some tough days those were!
Her first child was born on 13th June of 1949. It was a boy. But the baby died six hours after its birth. Her elder daughter Dipa was born in 1952 and her younger daughter in 1965. But being chased by police she could not have a moment’s peace. Al last she took refuge in Dhaka. Back then Dhaka was completely unknown to her.
Thus her struggle in Dhaka started. She started looking for a job staying at her sister’s house. Within a few days she got a teaching job in Gendaria Moniza Rahman Girls School in old Dhaka. Then in ‘52 she again came into the police after taking part in a teacher procession. She was in a position to lose her job. In 1960 she passed B Ed with first class from Mymensingh teachers training college. Then she worked in Narrayangange Morgan School, Narrayangange Girls High School, Mohakhali Girls Adorsho Balika Biddaloy, and also in Kalabagan Lakecircus Girls High School. She took teaching as her life’s vow. Many times there were complaints against her for taking part in political gatherings, and for making contact with banned communist parties. At one point she also passed MA from Dhaka University. Then the mass revolt of sixtynine started. She lead the teachers procession in Dhaka. As the war in seventy one started she took shelter in India. Through many problems she arrived at Kokata. There she contacted the head quarters of communist party. Other than working for the party she also worked for ‘Bangladesh Mahila Parishad’ and teachers committee for the liberation war. With foreign financial help she opened schools for children in 50 refugee camp. She looked after the adminstration of the schools. After the war she returned to her own country on 11th January of 1972 and again joined in teaching. She was also a member of Kudrat E Khuda education commission. From 1978-92 she was the general editor. In ’92 she became the chairman and was so till 2001. She served time in jail twice for taking part in teachers processions in ’77 and ’86.
Hena Dash sacrificed her life for women’s procession. After the death of Sufia Kamal, another glorious female poet, she became the chairman of women’s association and lead them from 2000-2008.
Rabindra lover Hena Dash’s favourite autoress is Selina Hossain. She likes films by Uttom and Shuchitra. Her favourite colour is white and favourite flower is Gandharaj. She has seen many countries of the world. Seven of her books have been established of which most considerable are ‘Amar shikkha o shikkhogota jibon’, ‘Sritimoi dingulo’, ‘Sritimoi ekattor’, ‘Pancham purush’, ‘Char purusher kahini’ etc.
Sincere worker Hena Dash is also a successful mother. Both her daughters are highly educated. Elder daughter Dipa is a doctor. She studied in Morokko of Russia. Dipa’s husband is a professor of Buet, Dr. Najrul Islam. Their only daughter is Nobornita Islam. She’s an architect teching in a private university of Dhaka. Nobornita’s husband Shaon is also an architect. Hena Dash’s younger daughter is Champa. She completed her electrical engineering in Japan and now is working there. Her husban is Akhtar Uz Zaman also living in Japan. They have a school going son, Anik.
In her eighty five years life Hena Dash has received many awards and respect. In 2001 she received National award ‘Begum Rokeya Padak’. But most importantly she has received people’s undying love.
This glorious women who has devoted her life to the well being of others, now dreams of a non-communal society without indifference and torture. And she wants to see her favourite, birthland Bangladesh at the peak of success. To show respect to such a remarkable women is the ‘National Ekushey Padak’ or ‘Shadhinota Dibosh Puroshkar’ too much to ask for?
Motin Raihan
Poet, reporter
matinraihan@yahoo.com
Picture by Rumana Jabish