Enlightening souls for 35 yrs
As past members flocked to Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) to join its 35th anniversary celebrations yesterday, it became apparent just how many of the society's most accomplished persons had their lives impacted by it.
Faces like eminent academician Prof Anisuzzaman, adviser to a caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman, eminent architect Jamilur Reza Choudhury are some of the few who had frequented the Kendro for knowledge and spiritual fodder.
Even more directly involved were Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, writer Anisul Hoque, magician Jewel Aich, and presenter Abdun Noor Tushar as members of the Kendra or students of its founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed.
In the opening ceremony, the education minister described Prof Sayeed as someone who crafts humans.
"So many of the intellectuals and established service holders of this society were students of the Kendro," said eminent cultural personality Ramendu Majumder.
Abdun Noor Tushar, who has been under the tutelage of the Kendro for the last 31 years, said he first stepped through its gates at 14.
"The Kendro teaches how to dream. It inspires children to be creative, innovators who go beyond just a regular nine to five job. When I came in and found myself surrounded by intellectual people engaging in an enlightened discourse, I learnt to dream," he told The Daily Star.
Enamul Haque, the founder director general of the National Museum who had first upgraded the museum from a five-roomed exhibition centre to the behemoth it is today, sat lounging in the Kendro's café space.
"The Kendro played an important role in making people more focused on culture and literature," he said, in a conversation with this correspondent.
With its mission, “Alokito Manush Chai” (We want enlightened people), BSK has been helping enrich lakhs of souls since 1978 through its library, and knowledge dissemination programmes.
A mobile library project takes books to the doorstep of the readers in 250 upazilas, especially impacting those who otherwise will not be able to access those.
At least 8 lakh children compete against each other to see who can read the highest number of books. Four lakh more are to be added to the programme next year.
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Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, former secretary to the social welfare ministry, said he owed it all to Prof Sayeed. "I was a village student who came to get admitted to Dhaka Science College with big dreams only to find that the admission was over. However, Prof Sayeed was most generous about still taking me in."
Editor and publisher of literary review publication Boiyer Jagat Ahmad Mazhar had a similar story to tell. "I was not born in an environment where I could come in contact with intellectual thinking, yet here I am today," he said.
The celebrations took place at the Kendro's new nine-storey building that was inaugurated yesterday. It offers a wide expanse of space for knowledge dissemination.
An auditorium on the first floor is flanked by a gallery space for airing movies. A library containing 1.45 lakh books take up most of the space in the building.
A patio-turned-café on the fourth floor gives a breath of fresh air, while the rooftop was converted into another gathering space to share food and bond.
A gallery space for art was opened up to provide a holistic knowledge, while a large collection of music can be accessed on the eighth floor.
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