Inspirations behind joining DU
The University of Dhaka, better known as Dhaka University (DU), played a pivotal role in creating many intellectual minds and charismatic leaders of our country, giving rise to monumental student movements that led to the independence of Bangladesh. The institution, with a vibrant cultural environment surrounded by historical landmarks, has always attracted young minds. As July 1, 2021, marked the centenary of DU, we caught up with current and former DU students to find out about teachers who have inspired them, and what drove them to join the university.
"The legacy and tradition attached to its name drove me to join DU. In the past few years, the effort that all my teachers put behind us inspired me to pursue new heights in my academics," shares Musharrat Amin Maisha, a fourth-year student of International Relations. "Most notably, Dr Niloy Ranjan Biswas, my thesis supervisor, believes in me. The way he supports me to face my academic adversities makes me believe that I can do anything. I was always enthusiastic about learning new languages and I could satiate my passion by getting enrolled in the Spanish Language programme in Institute of Modern Languages of DU. I am currently pursuing my Diploma in Spanish Language at the Cátedra Inditex de Lengua y Cultura Española, and it has been a highlight of my undergraduate life."
"A huge part of my childhood was spent in the campus of DU, strolling around TSC and Aparajeyo Bangla. A campus that has preserved the Mughal architecture of Curzon Hall, along with Muzharul Islam's brilliant Nipa Bhaban gave me a beautiful environment to grow up in," says Adity Imtiaz, a master's student of Anthropology.
Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan's elders always told him about DU's history, and the life-changing experiences it provides. "Although after enrolling in the university, all of my expectations had not been fulfilled, it did propel me to think critically about the inconsistencies in the society and go after my creative pursuits," says the fourth-year Economics student. "My Macroeconomics teacher, Kamrun Nahar ma'am, inspired me immensely to relate my studies to the current world."
Rashid Abid Dhrubo realised in college that all of his teachers who studied in DU had a different appeal to them. He was inspired by their perspectives and mannerisms to eventually enroll in the university himself. Now, he is a second-year Marketing student at DU. "My affiliation with the student clubs and organisations made my DU experience more exciting. In my first year, I joined Podium, a public speaking platform that groom students through crash courses and interactive sessions which instigated a sense of belonging in me," he shares. "On the other hand, being a member of the FBS music wing for more than two years, I had the chance to perform in many shows at the campus, especially during Pohela Falgun and Pohela Boishakh. One of my teachers, M D Ashraful Harun, saw my enthusiasm for playing the guitar. He encouraged me to keep learning, and to nurture my talent."
Aniqa Noshin, a graduate of Tourism and Hospitality Management, shared her fond memories of DU. "When I enrolled in the university, I was soft-spoken and shy. I slowly took part in club activities," she says. "My first photography project for the university was on different types of street food sold around the campus. I went on tours where my friends and I bonded over campfires, sunrises, and sunsets."
The author is a master's student of Political Science at Dhaka University, and a freelance journalist.
Email: [email protected].
Comments