TWO GIANTS

LT COL ABU TAHER (1938-1976)

“I am proud of everything whatever I have done. I am not afraid. Mr Chairman, my final word is that I love my country and my nation. I have become a part of the spirit of this nation. Who dares to part us?”

– Lt Col Abu Taher, in his final statement before the military tribunal.
* Abu Taher was born in Badarpur, Assam on November 14, 1938. After the Indo-Pak partition he settled in Sylhet with his family.
* During July 1971 the then Captain Taher, an officer of Elite commando force defected from Pakistan army and reached India through an audacious escape to join the liberation war.
* Taher fought heroically under Z- force of Ziaur Rahman and became the sub sector commander of Mahendraganj. During a hand to hand fight on November 2, Taher lost his leg due to a grenade blast and was sent to Pune, India for treatment.
* For his bravery in the battlefield he was awarded Bir Uttam, the second highest award for gallantry in Bangladesh.
* After the country's liberation, Taher was promoted to Lt Colonel and joined the Bangladesh army. Later he resigned from the army and joined Jatiyo Shamajtantrik Dal.
* During the crisis followed by assassination of Bangabandhu he played a significant role in tackling the politico-military crisis.
* After General Zia's take over, Taher was arrested on November 23 and was charged in a military tribunal for high treason and murder and causing indiscipline in the army.
* The military tribunal sentenced him with capital punishment through a controversial trial and he was executed on July 18, 1976. In the history of Bangladesh he will be remembered forever for his courageous role and as a symbol of patriotism.

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SIR MUHAMMAD IQBAL (1877-1938)

"Nations are born in the hearts of poets; they prosper and die in the hands of politicians."
* Allama Iqbal was born on November 9, 1877 in Punjab of British India.
* He obtained Bachelor of Arts degree from Cambridge University, did his masters in contemporary philosophy and literature from Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich. He also completed Bar at Law from Lincoln's Inn.
* He shaped the philosophical foundation of Pakistan by publishing the first political, religious, cultural journal of Muslims of British India named Tolu E Islam.
* Iqbal contributed to the world literature with his literary works in three languages: Persian, Urdu and English.
* His famous poetical works are Rumuz-i-Bekhudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Zabur-i-Ajam, Bang-i-Dara, Bal-i-Jibril, Zarb-i-Kalim.
* For his Urdu poetry Shikwa (Complaints) he was declared a murtad (heretic) by the Mullahs but after publishing Jawab E Shikwa (Answer to the Complaints) all problems went away and he was praised for his poetical contribution.
* In 1922, he was knighted by King George V.
* Six of his famous lectures have been published in a book titled Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam which made revolutionary impacts in progressive Islamic practices.
* He is also revered in India for the popular song Saare Jahaan Se Achcha.
* This famous poet, philosopher and thinker died on April 21, 1938.

-MSKC