Abdul Matin (language activist)
Encyclopedia
Abdul Matin is a language activist of the Bengali Language Movement that took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan
(currently Bangladesh
) to make Bangla one of the state language of Pakistan
. He was one of the leading student leader and organizer of the movement. His contribution to the movement was hailed by the other activists and students as he was popularly known as Rashtrabhasha Matin meaning Matin for state language.
. Later that year he was admitted to Rajshahi College. According to him he had no political consensus before getting into the college. He was graduated in 1947.
Government decided not to include Bangla as one of the official language. As a result student protested on March 11, 1948 where Matin joined for picketing.
On March 24, 1948 after Mohammad Ali Jinnah made his speech at Race Course Maidan (currently Suhrawardy Udyan
), he came to Dhaka University for convocation. Abdul Matin was also presented at the ceremony to receive his degree. But when Jinnah repeated his position about language policy he stood up at the chair and shouted, No. It can not be. Other students also supported him during that time.
On mid September 1951, in a meeting at the central building of Dhaka University, Abdul Matin said that they have no complain about Urdu
. But he want Bangle’s status with Urdu.
Abdul Matin was present at the meeting on January 30, 1952 and became a member of the Shorbodolio Rashtrabhasha Kormoporishod .Earlier on 11th March 1951 a rally was held at Dhaka University, organised by the then East Pakistan Chatra (Student League). Mr. khaleque Nawaz khan veteran student leader and President of the then Chatra League presided over that meeting.In that meeting Mr. matin was selected as convener of the Dhaka University Language Action Committee.
as it’s chairman, he was immediately sacked from the committee.
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
(currently Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) to make Bangla one of the state language of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was one of the leading student leader and organizer of the movement. His contribution to the movement was hailed by the other activists and students as he was popularly known as Rashtrabhasha Matin meaning Matin for state language.
Early life
Abdul Matin was admitted to Darjeeling School in 1932. After passing the matriculation in 1943 he came back to East BengalEast Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
. Later that year he was admitted to Rajshahi College. According to him he had no political consensus before getting into the college. He was graduated in 1947.
Involvement in Language Movement
Abdul Matin was hugely active during the language movement. He is considered as the most influencing student leader of the 1952 language movement.Government decided not to include Bangla as one of the official language. As a result student protested on March 11, 1948 where Matin joined for picketing.
On March 24, 1948 after Mohammad Ali Jinnah made his speech at Race Course Maidan (currently Suhrawardy Udyan
Suhrawardy Udyan
Suhrawardy Udyan formerly known as Ramna Racecourse ground is a national memorial located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Once known as ‘‘Bagh-e-Badshahi’’ during the Mughal rule, it is named after Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. Originally it served as the military club of the British soldiers stationed in Dhaka...
), he came to Dhaka University for convocation. Abdul Matin was also presented at the ceremony to receive his degree. But when Jinnah repeated his position about language policy he stood up at the chair and shouted, No. It can not be. Other students also supported him during that time.
On mid September 1951, in a meeting at the central building of Dhaka University, Abdul Matin said that they have no complain about Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. But he want Bangle’s status with Urdu.
Abdul Matin was present at the meeting on January 30, 1952 and became a member of the Shorbodolio Rashtrabhasha Kormoporishod .Earlier on 11th March 1951 a rally was held at Dhaka University, organised by the then East Pakistan Chatra (Student League). Mr. khaleque Nawaz khan veteran student leader and President of the then Chatra League presided over that meeting.In that meeting Mr. matin was selected as convener of the Dhaka University Language Action Committee.
Other political involvements
Abdul Matin joined with the 4th class clerks at one of their procession. There he was arrested and spend two months in prison. Coming back from jail, the Vice Chancellor of the university asked him for a bond. But after his refusal he was immediately sacked for three years which according to him was the turning point of his political carrier. On March 27 and 28, 1951 on a meeting in Dhaka Purbo-Pakistan Juboleague (East Pakistan Youth League) was formed with Abdul Matin as the Joint Secretary. Matin was also a member of the central committee of Chatra League, the students’ league that was patronized by Awami League. But after protesting the decision of selecting Sheikh Mujibur RahmanSheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
as it’s chairman, he was immediately sacked from the committee.