Forquan Begum
 

Work for Prosperous Today and Better Tomorrow: Forquan Begum

Interview by Parvej Khan Rupok and Aminul Islam 

‘I have worked in various fields in the previous days and will work in future in the same way if God allows me; and accordingly I will call upon all to work for prosperous today and better tomorrow,’ said Forquan Begum in an interview with The Guardian.

Forquan Begum is less known to many by her works have caused to bring new spirit among the millions may be at home or abroad. She is a woman of works and actions. Even there is not a single arena of life where her presence is not marked. She was student leader, a freedom fighter, a social worker, a teacher and is now a writer and a public servant. In our Liberation War she played key role both as a freedom fighter and an organizer. One of her books ‘Shadhinata Sangram O Muktijuddhey Nari’ is an extra ordinary work which expresses a vivid picture of our woman community in the Liberation War and where remains uncountable traces of proof what ever the contribution she made.  

In Bangladesh many people even lowering the quality of her or even making less contribution than her have been awarded with state level awards, but this woman yet remains to be awarded. She is also committed development personality for man, woman, young, adult, humanity and nature. In her first life she made a notable contributions to the different arenas of life. She played role in establishing various socio cultural and educational organizations within the best of her capacity and level. She involves in thinking of the development of the mankind as a whole. Her other books already published on relevant aspects are “Narir Odhikar O Marjada”. “Ami Pradhan Montri Hole” and “Nabi Mohammad (Sm.) er Pabitra Quraner Pratichchabi”. Marking her contributions to the different fields. American Biological Institute has already endowed her with the prestigious title “Women of the Year – 1996” and her life sketch has also ben published in “Marquis Who’s Who in the World” in its 11^th, 12^th and 13^th editions respectively in 1992, 1993 and 1994.  

Genius in her early hood, a Postgraduate in Physics from the University of Dhaka. Forquan Begum comes of a respectable Muslim family of the village of Putina under the Police Station of Rupgonj in district of Narayangonj. Her Father is Later Tamijuddin Bhuiyan and Mother is late Alhaj Rokeya Begum. 

We from The Guardian offered her interview and accordingly she replied to several questions. Here are the excerpts:

Q: You are a well- know writer. Would you inform us when you first started writing and on what field you usually like to write ?

A: When I was a student of class five I started writing poem and rhyme (nursery rhyme). My first rhyme was “butterfly and its beautiful decoration, and ‘Jhingaful’. But teachers discouraged me to write poem and rhyme because they thought it would hamper my study. As I was the first girl of class and the Dhaka Board, my teachers were my friend, guardian and well-wisher. So they were very much concerned about my study and future. Finally I had to stop writing. I always feel to write something about birds, beast, domestic animal, and nature, I like to sing as well. But I am introvert in nature so I don’t like to talk about my demands and wishes to my friends, colleagues and to others.  Again I started writing in my college life and continued writing in “Begum” – a renowned women’s weekly edited by Nurjahan Begum, daughter of eminent Journalist Nasiruddin. Then gradually my articles, poems, rhymes were published in the Dailies and Weeklies like the Ittefaque, Dainik Bangla, Sangbad, Khabar, Janata, Azad, Bangladesh Observer, Bangladesh Times, Agrapathik, Swachitra Bangladesh, Rupashee, Protirodh, Detective, Muktibanee, Janakantha, Inqilab, Shangram, Jugantar, Ajker Kagaj, Bangla Bazar, Surjadaya, Abarta, Ganoshikha, Shukhiparibar, Akhanisamay, Dainik Desh, Tonger, Dinkal, Bhorer Dak, Ganajagoran, Chaiyan, Banalata, Al Forquan, The Guardian etc.

About two hundred articles and one hundred poems and rhymes published in those papers for the last few years. 

My main theme of writings are a) protest against unjust, illegal and uneven works and evils in the society, nation and world, b) encourage, guide, sensitize people to do good, work for better human life, practice justice, humanity, peace etc. c) different developmental aspects such as woman development, youth development, health, hygiene, family planning, family well-fare, nutrition, cleanliness, woman-children labor rights, economic development, communication, pollution and environment, self-reliant, swanirvor movement and other different current development affairs.  d) education aspect e) religion and Islam f) independent movement and liberation war g) human rights and peace process h) modern technology, psi-culture  and agriculture etc. i) labor force, globalization, and International labor trade j) poverty alleviation k) animals and nature l) motivate, encourage, activate youths towards self development and nation building activities, m) to ensure people participation in the mainstream of development, n) encourage new generation – love people, love animals, love nature, love green, love all and work for all. 

Q: In this aspect, would you inform us about the total number of books you have already published ?

A: I have published four books and ten other manuscripts are ready for publications.

Q: Would you also inform us whether you are still continuing writing and if so on what fields ?

A: Presently I am writing in various fields as below:

a) Poverty Alleviation and self-employment.

b)  Gender Issue and women development.

c)  Glimpse of Islam-Justice, equality, brotherhood, law and order, right and honor, humanity and peace.

d)   The national integrity and development

e)   Animal Kingdom – birds and nature, their rights and preservation

f)   Different development aspect of the family, society, nation and the International aspect and

g)    Current affairs

My thinking and writing mainly on the basis of justice, progress, humanity and peace. My slogan is Love people and love nature, love all creature, love green and love all. Born as human being, leave and act as human being and die as human being. Work for happy prosperous today and better tomorrow.

Q: It is also learned that you’ve worked sometime as a teacher, sometime as a social worker and now working as a public servant. Would you please tell us in detail the reasons of choosing different professions and also say what is your ultimate goal ?

A: I have worked in various fields in the previous days and will work in future in the same field if God allows me.

My ultimate goal is to give leadership and develop leadership of our people to build better nation, strong and patriot nation and better world. In this time I have published the book, ‘If I am the Prime Minister’. To develop human quality, human aspects, act as human being work as responsible, civilized member of the society and the globalization. So that they can establish justice, peace, happy-prosperous-meaningful today and better tomorrow.

American ‘Might is Right’ policy, aggression, invasion, destruction, looting, killing, misleading, torturing, cheating etc. is prohibited in all respects for the sake of justice, humanity, mankind and civilization. I like to gather knowledge and experience in working at different fields that’s why I work whatever my mind wants. I am very much independent in nature. I am ‘Jack of all trade but master of none’. My honorable  teacher Head Mistress Begum Lutfunnessa Chowdhury, Kitty apa didn’t allow me to be a singer. But I was very much interested in singing. If I could sing I would rather make the world’s people made with love and justice to all creature.

Q: It is also learned that due to your numerous activities you’ve already visited many countries of the world and gained sufficient experiences in different aspects. Would you tell us something about all these ?

A: I have visited few third world countries i.e. South East Asian countries, some of them are highly modernized and mechanized countries. They are developed with buildings, roads, highways, transportations and materialistic aspect not in humanitarian ground. But still most of those people are like us that is unfortunate. Due to modernization and mechanization economic pressure and depression are their day-to-day friends, and everyday increasing innumerable sufferings. Eighty percent of the people of those countries want to work-earn and want to lead better human life but they can’t get work-earn facilities. So they are very unhappy. Lead frustrated and unsecured life without food, cloth, shelter, education and other facilities. Society, government, state – none think of them, none work for them, so their lives are very careless. Unemployment, drug addiction, prostitution, woman-children trafficking, family distortion, divorce, killing, looting, dacoity, terrorist activities etc. are growing in faster rate. They are facing untold suffering, which can’t be expressed by me. As human being and God’s best creation I feel very much ashamed of it and also suffering in my mind.

In the name of modernization and mechanization oppression, suppression, tax load etc. running on mass people. Most of the modern facilities and amenities are not for poor but for very few and limited fortunate people, not for poor helpless, distressed people. Hence for their survival we must do something. Establish justice in all sphere of lives and ensure “work-earn” policy for them. Human rights and ensure fundamental right for them.

Q: It is also learned that you have been contributing a lot to the development of the women communities and also to inspire the younger people in different forms. In this context, would you inform us about the number of organizations you are still involved ?

A: I love to work for women and youth development. 

Q: It is also learned that for your outstanding contributions both as a writer and as a humanist activist you have received a good number of recognitions and awards. Would you tell us something about all these ?

A: for my outstanding contribution as humanist activities I have received a good number of recognition and awards from the international organizations; but I am sorry to say that my country and nation neither recognize my noble works nor awarded me for my notable contribution in the Liberation War in 1971. But for my nation and the people I am always working as a patriot, as lover of the countryman.

The awards I have received:

a)   American Biographical Institutes (ABI) Award “ Woman of the Year 1996”

b)   “International Woman of the Year 2001” by International Biographic Center (IBC), Cambridge, CBZ, 3QP, England.

c)   Best Trainee Award by Bangladesh Jaycees (JCI) Dhaka, 1985

d)   Marquis “Who’s Who” in their special 18^th edition published biography of me in December 2000. In this “Who’s Who World Book” includes 45000 of dignitaries of different countries and society for their noble deeds to society and the global sphere in various fields.

Q: To the end, would you give your message for your next generation ?

A: My message to the next generation is ‘love for all’

v      Love people, love creatures, love nature

v      Do justice to the people, creature, humanity, mankind and civilization

v      Good deeds are religion, good deeds are lives

v      Work for self-survival and do for others survival

v      Your born as human being, work for human being, all other creature and nature, lead a life as human being, die as human being, live and act as mankind.

Courtesy: Leena Shahid, Adhunika Bangladesh Society