Manik Mia: Portrait of modern journalism
Badrul Huda Sohel :
The history of the emergence of independent Bangladesh always recalls a man who, even today, brings us back for his unwavering contribution to our mass-uprising, independence, freedom and journalism. He has penned throughout his life to let our people knowto establish our rights from the shackles of subjugation.
It is Manik Mia who is, in true sense, an embodiment of a strong resistance to Pakistani occupiers as he ownedsuch a pen that voiced against injustice of all kinds inspiring people with the real meaning of patriotism.
That the pen is mightier than the sword-is conspicuously right if his impeccable roles are flashbacked.
Today is June 1. It is the 56th death anniversary of legendary journalist Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, the founding editor of popular newspaper the daily Ittefaq.
Born in 1911 in the village of Bhandaria in Pirojpur district, Manik Mia lost his mother in the very prime of his life. In his infancy his intellectual faculty is noticed in his school life and, therefore, from then he was regarded as a small leader and guide to his classmates.
As a student, Manik Mia proved his academic excellence by obtaining BA degree from Barisal BM College with distinction in 1935. After completing his studies, he got acquainted with the then Muslim League leader Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy due to his job in Pirojpur District Civil Court. At one point he joined the Calcutta Provincial Muslim League as office secretary through several job changes.
He probably discovered an attempt to involve himself in journalism at that time in order to bring political issues to the doorsteps of the people and from his own initiative he published the daily Ittehad in 1946 under the editorship of Abul Mansur Ahmed. After partition, he tried to bring this very newspaper to Dhaka, but failed due to impediments from the then Pakistani regime.
The weekly Ittefaq emerged as the political mouthpiece of the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League formed in 1949. On 14 August 1951, Manik Miah took over the helm of the paper and after a successful run for several years; he changed Ittefaq from a weekly to a daily one in 1953.
Through his charismatic power in writing, the paper played a significant role in the movement against Ayub Khan’s military rule. He was arrested and imprisoned several times for writing against the exploitation and torture of the Pakistani regime.
Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia contributed to making unity of opinion among the people of the country, including the Six-point Movement and all the movements for independence and freedom of Bangladesh.Manik Mia has worked to disseminate the right message through newspaper to unite the peace-loving people in the shadow of liberation.
Manik Mia’s friendship with Bangabandhu was such that they used to consult each other to solve their personal and political issues. As Manik Miah was older than Bangabandhu, the latter often had his spirit, credence and reliance from Manik Mia.
It is learned that when Hoseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was leaving for Pakistan due to illness, there was considerable anxiety among the other leaders and workers. To allay the concerns of his followers, he said, “I am leaving the field and the pen for you.
Mujib is in charge of the field and Manik Miah is for the pen. As long as these two great men survive, the liberation and movement for rights will continue.”
By writing columns under the pseudonym ‘Mosafir’, Manik Mia tried to teach the common students and people to realize their rights and the necessity for mass movement, which is why if the history of politics and journalism of Bangladesh are discussed, the name Manik Miawill come to the fore.
In theLanguage Movement of ’52, the United Front of ’54, the Students’ Movement of ’62 and the Mass-uprising of ’69, Manik Mia galvanizes the spirit to make the events successfully happen.
Manik Mia was driven neither by political ambition nor by a desire for power. Thus, keeping to remain beyond the tumult of politics, he devoted himself to unearthing the truth and awakening the conscience of the people.
Sadly, unlike him, in the name of democracy today, some media’s sacred duty to inform the masses has too often been overshadowed by the drive to fulfill political ends. However, inspired by Manik Mia, many others still continue their tireless efforts to cleanse a decaying society of corruption and injustice.
Transcended through his active roles before our war of liberation, Manik Mia’s cry for establishing a corruption-free society introspectively sheds lights on today’s the student-led mass uprising, as the very uprising is a result of unbridled discrimination and injustice in the society.
Tofazzal HossainManik Mia was married in 1937 to Majeda Begum, daughter of Khandaker Abul Hasan of an aristocratic family in Faridpur district. Manik Mia’s two sons Barrister Mainul Hosein and Anwar Hossain Manju have been immersed by their father’s norms and values but who knows – following his father, Barrister Mainul too departed this world in 2023, leaving all in tears.
He was also awarded Ekushey Padak for his outstanding achievement.
On this day (June 1) in 1969, before our real victory, he breathed his last in Rawalpindi. The man who worked relentlessly for the freedom of mass people all throughout his life did not get real tastes of liberationor freedom. A man of honesty and integrity like him is rarely born in the world of today’s press and journalism. Two and a half years after his death, our beloved motherland became free. After 54 years of independence, today we would like to express our deepest honorand gratitude to him on his 56th death anniversary.
(The writer is Assistant Professor and Head, Department of English, Ishakha International University).