I was born in Ajparagaon of Jamalpur district. We had to go to a town 14 km away on foot or in Sa.
Ride alone. My uncle Mofizuddin was the only metric pass in the whole village. My father is a very poor landless farmer. We are five brothers, three sisters. We used to spend our days without eating.
My grandfather's financial situation was fair. But he did not let my father stay in his house. We had so many siblings and parents living in a hut a short distance from my grandfather's house. The mother received a small portion of the grandfather's property from her father's house. Three bighas of land were bought in it. In that land which was unsuitable for cultivation, what my father used to grow with great difficulty, he used to gather food for 5/6 months in a year. What poverty is, I have come to realize - there is no food, no clothes to wear; What a situation!
My mother was little educated. He is the key to my studies. Then I was admitted to the primary school next to my house. But my family was so deprived that when I got up to the third grade, I did not have the opportunity to continue my studies. The elder brother left school earlier and went to work. I also had to leave school to earn a living.
We had a cow and a few goats. I grazed them in the field from morning to evening. In the afternoon I would go to the market and sell cow's milk. In this way, the two brothers were spending their days on what they used to earn. After a while, I went to a pan-bidi shop with eight rupees saved from the sale of milk. I used to sit in the shop every day from morning till evening. Study tobandhai, I will do at all - that was not a dream!
One afternoon the elder brother said, there will be a drama on the school field today. I clearly remember, I didn't have any clothes to wear then. After Khaliga and Lungi, I went to see the drama with my brother. Arriving at school, I was shocked! All around is such a colorful and wonderful environment! I thought I could be like everyone else. I decided that what I really needed to do was learn how to do it right.
On the way home after watching the drama, I told my elder brother, can I not come back to school? My brother remembered what I was saying, whether it was because of the way he spoke or because of his sad look or for some other reason. He said, "Okay, I'll talk to the headmaster tomorrow."
The next day the two brothers went to school again. The older brother made me stand outside the headmaster's room and went inside. I can hear clearly from outside, the brother says that I should be given the opportunity to participate in the annual examination. But the headmaster said in a contemptuous manner, what is studied with everyone! My head went down when I heard Sir's words. As much as I went to school with hope, all fell to dust in one word of Sir. However, my elder brother insisted on getting permission to give me the exam. There were only three months left for the exam. When I returned home, I told my mother that I had to take three months off. I will not stay here. Because there is no food in the house, no clothes to wear - I don't have any books, but I have to pass the exam.
Mother said, where to go? I said, I will go to the house of my one-time classmate and now the first boy of the class, Mozammel. I have an acquaintance with his mother. In the few days I've talked, I've been a very good person. I believe he can't bring me back.
I went to Mozammel's house in a daze. Khalamma gladly agreed to open everything. My food and shelter were gathered; A new life began. I started studying anew. I immediately remembered the contemptuous words of the headmaster, as if he had acted stubbornly; Let's study better.
The test started on time. I'm finishing one test at a time and I'm getting more and more excited. My confidence is also increasing. On the day the results were announced, I went to school and sat in the first row. The headmaster brought the results. I noticed that he was hesitant to read. He is looking at me sideways. Then announced the results. I was the first! Hearing the news, the elder brother cried with joy. I'm just impassive - as if that was supposed to happen.
On the way home he saw an unprecedented scene. My brother and I are walking proudly. And in the back, a group of children are shouting slogans at us. The whole village responded! My illiterate father, to whom the first and the last are the same, is also overjoyed; He just realized that the boy had done something special. When he heard that I had gone upstairs to buy a new boila, he took the khasita of the house to the market the next day and sold it for 12 rupees. Then he went to Jamalpur with me. I bought a new book from Nabnoor Library there.
My life has changed completely now. I go to school every day. I do household chores in my spare time. I have already fallen in love with Sir. Fayez Maulvi Sir began to look after me like his child. Everyone's caress, care, affection, I was the first to rise to the fifth grade. Uncle Mofizuddin, the only metric pass in the village so far, looked for me. I took refuge in his house.
After completing my primary education, I was admitted to Dighpait Junior High School. Uncle is the teacher of that school. Other teachers also spoke of my struggle. So I got extra caress and love from everyone.
When I passed the seventh grade and went to the eighth grade, one day my uncle cut an advertisement and showed it to me. That was the advertisement for admission in cadet college. I filled the form and sent it in time. Needless to say, my name was Ataur Rahman. But on the admission form of the cadet college, the headmaster of the school wrote my name Atiur Rahman and told my uncle that something big would happen to this boy one day. There are many Ataurs in the country. His name needs to be a little different; So I did Atiur.
I woke up at night to study and prepare. I went to take the test with my uncle on the appointed day. That was the first time in my life to go to Mymensingh. Go and see everything in the eye charakagacha! Out of so many boys, I came only in pajamas and sponge! I thought it was better not to come. I suffered unnecessarily. I took the test anyway; I didn't think so. But after two months of correspondence, I was elected. Now I have to go to Dhaka Cantonment for the final exam.
Everyone is very happy; Only I am disappointed. I don't have any pants, I'll go later. At the end, I borrowed the full pants of the school clerk Kanai Lal Biswas. I got another shirt. Uncle and I left for Dhaka. Uncle taught me to take the oral test and stand at the door and say: Ma I come in sir? That's right. But I spoke so loudly that everyone present laughed out loud.
Mirzapur Cadet College principal M. one of the examiners. W. Pete stared at me from head to toe. He sat me down with absolute affection. In a moment he became very close to me. I thought, I have no fear if he is. Pete Sir looked at my written test book. Then he talked to other examiners in English. Although I didn't understand everything, I could guess that I liked them. However, they did not say anything. The next day I returned home after visiting Dhaka city. I concentrated on my studies as usual. Because I have assumed, I will not have a chance.
Suddenly the letter came three months later. I was finally elected. It will cost 150 rupees per month. Of this, 100 rupees will be given as scholarship, the remaining 50 rupees will have to be provided to my family. I was heartbroken after reading the letter. Where my family can't afford to eat three meals a day, I'm living in my uncle's house, I can't even think of paying 50 rupees a month!
When this was the case, for the first time, my grandfather became vocal. After so many years, he looked for his grandson (me). He took me to another uncle and said, "Can't my grandson study even if I have such a good opportunity?" But their condition was not very good. They said, I will collect 50 rupees at least once, but it is not possible every month. Grandpa also understood the matter.
I did not see any more light of hope and went to that Fayez Maulvi Sir. He said, I will not worry about staying. The next day he went to the market with two more colleagues and me. He went to the shops to get towels. He asked everyone for help. Everyone gave eight annas, four annas, one taka, two takas as much as they could. In all, it was 150 rupees. And the uncle gave 50 rupees. With this little money I was admitted to Mirzapur Cadet College. Excluding travel expenses, I paid three months salary at 150 rupees. Another life began.
M. on the first day. W. Pete Sir came to see me. I said everything openly. I also informed that since I could not afford the salary, I had to leave the cadet college after three months. After hearing all, Sir took my matter to the board meeting and arranged a scholarship of 150 rupees. Since then I have not had to look back. In the SSC examination, I got the fifth position in the Dhaka board and many more successes were added.
My life is full of donations from ordinary people. Later I went to school and college in my area. When we help as much as we can, we also cooperate. But 150 rupees taken from that market; That debt has not been repaid even today. Even if I sacrifice my whole life, that debt will not be repaid!
Dr. Atiur Rahman
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