Joy of childhood Eid still makes me nostalgic

Of the two universal festivals of joy for Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr claims superiority in any consideration. Eid-ul-Fitr brings the joy of breaking the fast after a month of strict fasting. Every devout Muslim man and woman eagerly waits for Eid-ul-Fitr. Islam is founded on five essential fundamental pillars. These are kalima, prayer, fasting, hajj and zakat. Among these, hajj depends on physical and financial capacity and zakat depends on financial capacity. The other three pillars are related to the physical capacity of the devotee. The literal meaning of the word 'Eid' is joy. Fasting was observed even before it became obligatory in Islam. However, it was not so blessed. Eid is the joy of breaking the fast after a month of strict fasting by the Muslim community.

Fasting is not just a simple act of worship. Through it, the rich are properly made to understand how painful the suffering of the hungry is. Fasting brings the rich and the poor together. The ultimate purpose of each of the religious rituals of Islam is to establish a human welfare society by establishing mutual harmony among the believers. A golden opportunity for great unity is created among the people of an area through Eid prayers. Those who live outside the area all year round also try to visit the area at least during Eid to meet their relatives and friends. Those who live far away from the area go to their village homes during Eid whenever they get the opportunity.

Every Muslim man and woman has various happy memories centring Eid-ul-Fitr. In my life too, there are many memories of joy and sorrow surrounding Eid-ul-Fitr. These Eid memories move me during my free time. Sometimes I think how good it would be if I could get that joy of my childhood Eid back again. I was born on September 14, 1942, in the village of Dhonashadda, near Feni, amidst the turmoil of World War II. I would not have been more than two years old when bombs were dropped on the then sub-district town of Feni. At that time, my mother and grandmother took me under the bed several times to protect me from the bomb blast. I have heard this many times. I was the eldest among my siblings.

My father was a lawyer and my mother a housewife. My father was a man with a very strict personality. He loved all of us very much but his love was rarely expressed. We respected him. I saw my father cry only three times in my life. The first time I saw my father cry was in 1960 when my grandmother died. The second time was in 1971 when I crossed the border to India to participate in the Liberation War. That time, my father cried while bidding me farewell. The third time, when I entered Feni on January 5 after the country became independent, I saw my father crying that day too. My father was a man of very strong character. He would not tolerate any injustice. He himself would not commit any injustice.

Our village was quite large and full of natural beauty. As per the rural custom, my primary education began at home under the supervision of a house tutor. My formal education began when I was admitted to the third grade. The school was located in the heart of Feni town. In January 1952, I was admitted to the primary school adjacent to Feni High School. After admission to the school, we started living permanently in Feni town; but my grandmother was not willing to leave her husband's house and come to Feni town.

As a child, I was in very poor health. Due to physical limitations, I did not get the opportunity to participate in any sports. Therefore, I was never rewarded for doing well in sports. However, almost every year I was rewarded for good results. Books by famous authors were given as prizes. Every year I did well in the annual examination, but despite this, school life was dull and boring for me. There were no co-curricular activities in school. Therefore, I found joy in reading books outside the textbooks. Thus, at that early age, I read most of the literary works of all the famous writers in the Bengali language.

Our family situation was quite good. We were hereditary talukdars. The zamindari system was prevalent in the eastern part of the border at that time. Similarly, the talukdar system was prevalent in the western part. Every year on a specific day, the subjects used to come to our house to pay the annual revenue. At that time, a very joyful atmosphere was created. After the partition of India, when the zamindari system was abolished in then Pakistan in 1950, our talukdar also went away. Although we received compensation for this, after the talukdar went away, a major source of our income stopped. Although the zamindari system was abolished in the then East Pakistan in 1950, the zamindari system remained in West Pakistan. Most of the zamindars who were in East Pakistan were Hindus. After the partition, they migrated to India. And the Muslim zamindars who were in this region were relatively weak. As a result, it was not very difficult for us to abolish the zamindari system here.

Our time in rural life was spent in a very joyless environment. The family emphasised religious rituals and ceremonies. Special importance was given to fasting and regular prayers. My father used to advise us to observe religious rituals but never forced us to do so. I was discouraged from fasting because of my poor health. This made me very sad. Because my peers fasted but I was not allowed to fast.

As a family, we tried to follow Islamic ideals. I remember that when I was very young, Eid prayers were held in our village mosque. People from the area used to go in groups to offer Eid prayers. It is still vivid in my memory that in 1952, when I was in the third grade, I went to offer Eid prayers for the first time holding my father's hand. I cannot remember whether I had gone to offer Eid prayers before that. At that time, I was staying at our house in Feni town. I cannot comment on the feeling of offering Eid prayers for the first time. Because at that time, I did not really understand what Eid was. For me, Eid was just an occasion of joy. However, I remember that I was quite happy when I went to offer Eid prayers for the first time. The joy of Eid was different in my childhood.

Delicious food was cooked at every house. Everyone would eat the food with great joy. The day before Eid, small children would gather in groups to see the Eid moon. Whoever saw the moon first would feel as happy as if they had conquered the kingdom. After seeing the Eid moon, the formal preparations for Eid would begin. New clothes and shoes would be bought as Eid gifts for everyone in the house. We would hide the Eid clothes. On Eid day, we would take a bath in the morning, wear new clothes and go to the Eid congregation with the elders. Women would stay at home and prepare various types of food. During Eid, there is a tradition of giving ‘salami’ to children in different areas. Although the tradition of giving Eid salami was not widespread in our area. Some families would give Eid salami. I still remember clearly that I received salami; but I do not remember exactly how much money I received. However, I remember quite well that I did not receive a paper note.

On the morning of Eid, my father would rush me to get ready and go to the Eid field to offer prayers. There was a big field in our area called Mizan Maidan where an Eid congregation was held every year. We used to participate in the Eid congregation there. The dignitaries and top officials of the administration of Feni city used to participate in the congregation. I remember that the Principal of Feni Alia Madrasa, Wabdul Haque Sahib, used to lead the Eid congregation. Every year, a huge Eid congregation was held in Mizan Maidan. The munajat was held for a very long time. In the munajat, prayers were offered for the progress of the Muslim Ummah and the country.

The Eid rituals left a deep impression on my mind. We used to visit the houses of our relatives. Others also used to visit our houses. All in all, a joyful atmosphere was created on the day of Eid. From the third grade to the tenth grade, I used to go to the Eid congregation holding my father's hand every year. Even now, when I go to the Eid congregation, I feel like my father is holding my hand. Now I usually offer Eid prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. My son and the house manager accompany me to the congregation. After I went to college, I didn't go to Eid congregations with my father that much.

My father was involved in various philanthropic works in the area. Both my parents were very religious but not fanatical. They were people of a liberal mindset. We were very free in terms of observing religious rituals. As a Muslim, we now have to observe religious rituals. However, I once got involved in leftist politics. I am liberal in terms of observing religious rituals. It is good to reminisce about the past. The family's liberality in observing religious rituals has contributed greatly to my path in later life. Some behaviors cannot be learned in school. These have to be learned from the family. If there is a liberal mindset in me, it has come from my family. My parents were very liberal people. Perhaps some of their generosity has been transmitted to me.

I would like to mention a memory from my university days. At that time, I and many others like me were involved in progressive politics. At that time, we were not very interested in observing religious ceremonies. Once, on the day of Eid, I went to a friend's house and did not find him. I learned that he had gone to offer Eid prayers. When I returned, I met him near New Market. I asked him which congregation did you attend? He replied, I was at the congregation here. That is, he did not attend the congregation. He had walked around the New Market area. Everyone in his house knows that he had attended the Eid congregation. In fact, he had gone to the New Market. He said that the Eid ceremony was not very important to him. Because what is the point of celebrating Eid in a country where people do not get food? I was quite surprised by his statement. Earlier, I used to enjoy one kind of Eid while living in the village. Now I am enjoying a different kind of Eid.

If I want to talk about my Eid joy or experience, I cannot fail to mention Bahrain. I served as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bahrain from 2003 to 2006. The experience I gained during this time of celebrating Eid will forever remain in my memory. While I was the Ambassador in Bahrain, a special reception programme was organised on the initiative of the embassy every Eid. The reception programme was divided into two parts. In the first part, VIPs were entertained. On invitation, ambassadors of different countries in Bahrain would come to the Bangladesh Embassy on Eid day. They were entertained with Mughlai Paratha and sweets. The second part was open to everyone. Bangladeshi people from different classes and professions working in Bahrain used to join it. At that time, a joyful atmosphere would be created. It seemed as if the embassy had become a mini-Bangladesh. In this way, through the Eid programme, we tried to portray a positive image of Bangladesh in the international arena. I still celebrate Eid, but I can't find the joy of Eid like I did when I was a child anymore.

Dr. Anwarullah Chowdhury: Former Vice-Chancellor, Dhaka University & Former Ambassador, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Copywriter: MA Khalek