‘It’s relevant to this day’

Professor Razzaq has not shown a single unnecessary statistic in his book.

— Professor Salimullah Khan

"It didn't read like a thesis. It read like a book," reminisced Prof Rounaq Jahan while speaking of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq's PhD thesis "Political Parties in India".

She said this while talking at the thesis' launch, as a book, at the capital's Bengal Shilpalay yesterday. Marking the launch, Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation and University Press Limited (UPL) also held a discussion on the book.

A student of Prof Razzaq at Dhaka University, Prof Rounaq was the one who first discovered the thesis, prepared in 1950.

"Publishing this book is a matter of great pride for us," UPL managing director Mahrukh Mohiuddin said in her opening remarks. "It will be of interest not only to political scientists, but also to historians and experts of our political and academic sphere."

Eminent citizens at the launch of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq’s thesis “Political Parties in India”, in the form of a book, at Bengal Shilpalay yesterday. During a discussion, attendants reflected on the significance and present relevance of the thesis. Discovered by Prof Rounaq Jahan, who was a student of Prof Razzaq, the PhD thesis, prepared in 1950, delves into how political parties of India operated at that time. Photo: Star

In her foreword for the UPL edition -- edited by Ahrar Ahmed, professor emeritus at Black Hills State University, US and director general of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation -- Prof Jahan offers a synopsis of the basic arguments presented in the thesis.

She observed that Prof Razzaq's basic hypothesis was that political parties of India at that time operated more in the form of political protests. He argued that they failed to align with the basic principles of democratic political parties -- that parties should operate as part of an economic programme -- as they were primarily working to dismantle colonial rule in India.

This means they left out major tenets of democracy, that politics must offer space for dialogue and peaceful adjustment of different opinions; that politics must have rotational power; that everyone must have equal opportunity to participate; and that no one party can become a permanent majority or minority.

"I mention these points because they are still relevant, because we still do not have these things in Bangladesh," said Prof Jahan, mentioning the book as provocative and passionate, reflecting Razzaq's tendency to treat any form of received wisdom by questioning it, rejecting it, and proposing alternative hypotheses.

CPD chairperson Rehman Sobhan said, "We have all been a part of the great adventure of Professor Razzaq's thesis at various stages in our numerous encounters with him."

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh Professor Salimullah Khan said, "Professor Razzaq has not shown a single unnecessary statistic in his book. It is evident that he has deeply studied economic history."

Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman said, "From the Language Movement to the struggle for independence to latter movements of protest, those who participated in and led these struggles, and those who have followed in the footsteps of Professor Razzaq -- our only objective is that we want to see this society becoming more tolerant. We want to live in harmony."

Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said, "He had the image of a scholar, a truly dedicated teacher, and we the students of Dhaka University were disciples of that myth. I thank Professor Ahrar Ahmad for the intellectual labour, dedication, and sincerity he has put into this project."

Looking back at the genesis of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation, Abul Khair Litu, chairperson of Bengal Group Ltd and member of the foundation's trustee board, said of his uncle, "Professor Razzaq taught us that if someone does you injustice or even writes against you, but if he is a good and educated human being, then accept him as he is."

The panel discussion also included theoretician, analyst and academic Badruddin Umar; former finance secretary and finance minister M Syeduzzaman; rights activist Hameeda Hossain, and founder trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque.

Though slated to be present, historian and writer Muntassir Mamoon could not attend due to ill health.