We need persons like Verrier Elwin, Annie Besant and Sir Hume

The Editor
New Age, Dhaka .

Dear Sir,
I’ve just had read your today’s wonderful editorial on the CHT peace accord. I also went through the news item on the CHT in yesterday’s issue. Undoubtedly, you’ve spoken our concerns very strongly, without any hesitation, the way you deliver your open and straight opinions in TV talk shows. When you raise your voice it values but when we do, it is considered as ‘biased’ or ‘communal’ and troubles come.

The CHT people need persons like Verrier Elwin, Annie Besant, Sir Alan Octovian Hume who stood by the people of Indian sub-continent and their freedom. Annie Besant, along with her theosophical activities, strongly participated and encouraged the Indian freedom. Sir Hume, who sailed to India in 1849 and joined the Bengal Civil Service and founded the Indian Congress in 1885 and made possible for Indians to organize themselves in preparation of self-government. Verrier Elwin, birth was in an evangelic family, education was at Oxford and theologist by training and pastor by profession, arrives in India in 1927 to spread gospel. He comes in contact with Mahatma Gandhi, goes to remote communities and becomes advocate of the Adivasis. His extraordinary observations and recommendations have helped Indian Government draw the tribal plan for India.

Similarly, we can see person like Dr. Kotnish who sailed to China with a team of doctors and shipload medicines, on behalf of the Indian Congress, to side with the Chinese people when Japan attacked them. We also can find person like Dr. Norman Bethune, a Canadian surgeon who sacrificed his life for the Chinese movement and their people. We can see Chairman Mao, with immense grip mourns for failing him give time for a courtesy call.

Similarly, the CHT indigenous peoples are badly in need of great persons like Annie Besant, Sir Hume and Elwin to help them survive in the CHT with dignity and their ethnic identities. Could you be such a great man and a protector? I had a chance to come across with you when you were City Editor. Venues of diplomatic functions were the rendezvous of my meeting with Mr. Enayetullah Khan, your predecessor and my respected one, who all most every time used to tell me “Rupayan, come to my office. I’ll give you a full page coverage.” Unfortunately, I never visited him and I wanted to visit him for saying ‘adieu’ when he left us.

I write this letter, despite my tremendous workload when I don’t have time even to die, to express my gratitude and say thank you, for writing the wonderful editorial and the excellent reporting. But, these are not enough; I want some concrete actions from you going beyond some occasional editorials and reportings.

With regards,
Rupayan Dewan
Rangamati, Dec. 4, 2008.