30 years of Dream
On September 04, 1983 I left Bangladesh for Moscow. It was for the
first time I left the country alone. Though I was already 18+, my father
always did everything so that somebody (relatives for friends) was
always with me, even in collage life I went to Manikgonj with some of my
classmates, took tea during the launch in their company. Only last few
days in Bangladesh, when I was attending the BUET as a civil engineer
student, I was allowed to go to Dhaka alone. Though I had a seat in
Ahsanullah Hostel, almost every day I came back Tara, my native land and
went to the BUET early in the morning. I knew that I have a good chance
to go to Russia for higher study with CPB scholarship, I was not happy
at all for that. We were supposed to fly on 22nd August, 1983, then on
29th, but for some reason unknown to me they were cancelled. And I was
the only one of the 10, who were flying to Moscow with CPB scholarship
became happy to stay one more week back home. And finally we flew from
Dhaka on 4th September 1983. Together with me were Shubho (now living in
the USA), Jalal (Quatar), Mufiz (Canada) and Anowar (USA). We were all
selected to study in Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University. I
remember Nurul Islam Naheed, now Education minister, and then the
Organizing Secretary of CPB briefing us about the Soviet Society. At the
end he called me and told, we are sending you for higher study and I
believe you will do that as I know it is what you like best. Since then
30 years have passed and I am still studying, learning the secret of the
origin of the Universe.
My brother Ratan came to see me off. We were all a bit nervous as during those days coming to the USSR for higher study with CPB scholarship was regarded as violation and we might be barred from coming. So everyone has to tell his own story about why he is going to the USSR. And everyone had some imaginary relation there. Finally we got the green signal and were waiting at the lounge. Suddenly I saw my brother who was knocking the glass and trying to say something. I also began to say, but realize that the glass is too strong to separate us for many years.
In the plane I was sitting next to Eqbal, now living in Canada. We flew to Bombay from Dhaka, where we were allowed to get down. Next stop was Karachi, but this time there was no getting down, we spent all the time sitting in the aircraft. Then we landed in Tashkent, the Capital of Soviet Uzbekistan. WE came to Moscow in the morning. Autumn had already come to this part of the world. From the plane we see the colorful forests, for the first time in life I realize how beautiful and colorful the forest might be. A handful of students came to meet us. I was looking for Salam Bhai and Sattar Bhai both of whom were from Manikgonj and Mintuda, brother of my room-mate in BUET. Many of those, who flew with us from Dhaka, were taken to other Institutes or cities. We in company with senior student went to PFU. On the way they wanted to know if we can sing as there was a cultural group, known as Choir Bangladesh. It was a pleasant surprise for me to meet those senior brothers. I am sure we were told about it, though I can’t recall it. When they introduced us with Malayda (Malay Dhar, a well known eye specialist in Bangladesh), then the president of PFU student association, I asked him how far it is possible to switch from Civil Engineering to Physics. It was shocking news for them, as everyone wants to be a doctor or engineer, while I wanted to take the U-turn. Fortunately I could do that and happy with what I am now. Shubho was an artist, so he was very excited to see the beauty of Russian nature. I came here with a FED camera and almost from then on I began to take photos.
During the Soviet Era we lived in the hostels, we had groupings as well. We, the followers of communist ideology lived like a family. Most of us had the dream to go back home and take active part in building a democratic, socialist Bangladesh. With the fall of the USSR many has changed their ideology. Even more decided to settle in other countries. I myself also settled here, working as a leading research fellow at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. During these 30 years there were ups and downs. There was love and hatred. Many of us lost the country of our love, country we were proud of. Many lost ideology, many - faith. We lost friends and gained new ones. With all its negatives Soviet life for me was and is one of the best periods of my life. Is it because it was the time of my youth? Not only. I know, many Soviet people were not happy with their fate. But we, foreign students, mainly those from third world countries, enjoyed the best of Soviet system. There were fantastic teachers, one of the best systems of education in place. And we had everything to acquire knowledge.
30 years have
passed like a day. 30 years of love and hatred, joy and sorrow,
friendship and enmity. The heat of the cold war crushed everything, many
bad things but even more good ones that the Soviet Society offered to
the mankind. In this tussle the Capitalist Society may gain something,
but mankind as a whole lost mush more, which we are yet to realize.
September 05, 2013
My brother Ratan came to see me off. We were all a bit nervous as during those days coming to the USSR for higher study with CPB scholarship was regarded as violation and we might be barred from coming. So everyone has to tell his own story about why he is going to the USSR. And everyone had some imaginary relation there. Finally we got the green signal and were waiting at the lounge. Suddenly I saw my brother who was knocking the glass and trying to say something. I also began to say, but realize that the glass is too strong to separate us for many years.
In the plane I was sitting next to Eqbal, now living in Canada. We flew to Bombay from Dhaka, where we were allowed to get down. Next stop was Karachi, but this time there was no getting down, we spent all the time sitting in the aircraft. Then we landed in Tashkent, the Capital of Soviet Uzbekistan. WE came to Moscow in the morning. Autumn had already come to this part of the world. From the plane we see the colorful forests, for the first time in life I realize how beautiful and colorful the forest might be. A handful of students came to meet us. I was looking for Salam Bhai and Sattar Bhai both of whom were from Manikgonj and Mintuda, brother of my room-mate in BUET. Many of those, who flew with us from Dhaka, were taken to other Institutes or cities. We in company with senior student went to PFU. On the way they wanted to know if we can sing as there was a cultural group, known as Choir Bangladesh. It was a pleasant surprise for me to meet those senior brothers. I am sure we were told about it, though I can’t recall it. When they introduced us with Malayda (Malay Dhar, a well known eye specialist in Bangladesh), then the president of PFU student association, I asked him how far it is possible to switch from Civil Engineering to Physics. It was shocking news for them, as everyone wants to be a doctor or engineer, while I wanted to take the U-turn. Fortunately I could do that and happy with what I am now. Shubho was an artist, so he was very excited to see the beauty of Russian nature. I came here with a FED camera and almost from then on I began to take photos.
During the Soviet Era we lived in the hostels, we had groupings as well. We, the followers of communist ideology lived like a family. Most of us had the dream to go back home and take active part in building a democratic, socialist Bangladesh. With the fall of the USSR many has changed their ideology. Even more decided to settle in other countries. I myself also settled here, working as a leading research fellow at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. During these 30 years there were ups and downs. There was love and hatred. Many of us lost the country of our love, country we were proud of. Many lost ideology, many - faith. We lost friends and gained new ones. With all its negatives Soviet life for me was and is one of the best periods of my life. Is it because it was the time of my youth? Not only. I know, many Soviet people were not happy with their fate. But we, foreign students, mainly those from third world countries, enjoyed the best of Soviet system. There were fantastic teachers, one of the best systems of education in place. And we had everything to acquire knowledge.
September 05, 2013
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