Shobdokar : An abandoned community

Shobdokar : An abandoned community
Tithe Farhana

"A paragon of other nomenclature

Made from bits of sorrows

/ As if they were shocked dear ones of grief

/---- fragmented fossil". (Poet Dilwar , Shodokar er Matir Jogotay, Translated by Professor Suresh Ranjan Basak)



Shobdokars are a marginalized community of Bangladesh where death rate is higher than birth rate in this 21 century. That's why Poet Dilwar accurately term them fossil of our civilization. Shobdokors are regarded as inferior or schedule cast in the social formation of Hinduism. This cast is incorporated with features and traits of ancient aborigine of anthropological history of Indian Subcontinent. Dr.Otul Prosad Surr acknowledged in his book "Introduction of Indian Anthropology" about existence of Astral and Dravir in this region. Contemporary history and documents have assured the civilization of Astral in this region before Aryanization. This civilization was contemporary with Egyptian and Summereo civilization. According to Researcher Ahmed Siraz "Shobdokors are descendant of Astral. They are extreme poor and poorer then poor. In the last centuries, they progressively more struggled against marginalization, harassment, denial of human rights and lack of resources."

History of Sobdokars' culture and traditional facts recommends them as "a colorful and highly cultural community". Worshipping is central code of conduct of their life style. Silla Puza, Lingo Puza, Chrok Puja, Gajon Festival are religious rituals and festivals of this community. Though they are nurturing traditions and festivals of Bengali Hinduism, they have divergent and separate anthropological identity. Song and devotional songs are essences of their festivals and rituals. Even they are very family tilting so they have many songs for performing in family festivals. Fire walking song, Gaja song, Song of receiving son in law, marriage song, child birth song, Tinnath song are their conventional songs. Ahmed Shiraz comments "Songs are performed for celebrating festivals and rituals. Even though, they are performing these for overlooking misfortunes and dejections."

Most of Shobdokors continue to exist in greater Sylhet division .Mujibor Rahman Runju, Local Correspondent of Prothom Alo, Kamolgonj Thana says " Most of them lived in Sylhet and they have no record of migration and have been living here from prehistoric periods". Rosmoy Kantho researched on the anthropological existence of Shobdokor and found out that Shobdokors are obliviously the most aborigine community in bengal

Ahmed Siraz further comments "the people of this community are dispossessed from fundamental rights. They can not go to school, mix with people and take food in hotel with others only for their cast identity. People mull over them untouchable. Children can not mix up and educate for this Gordian knot. Consequently, they are grudging of citizen rights. Such kind of social disorder and discrimination strictly has transformed their existence in to unenthusiastic approach and horrendous circumstances". Correspondingly, the rate of higher education is very stumpy. Most of them are uneducated .Elder person can not calculate normal numerical numbers. Nevertheless, a few persons have completed secondary and higher secondary label.

Prothap Shobdokor who has completed SSC expresses his experience "while I was child, I saw the social and economic prejudice on our community. I put up with shilly-shallying to mix up with other children. Even my teachers abandoned me for cast identity."Upendro Shobdokor remarks "many people of our community get married another cast by hiding cast identity, Aftermath they head off the community eternally." Shobdokor consider that their life is cursed by God's wrath. But it is not factual and valid. They are regarded them selves as citizens of Bangladesh and Bengali nationalism. They took part in independence war in 1971.

Most of people are day labour or working in farm land of others. They have no cultivation land. Young generation who are knowledgeable also engaged in small and medium business. But most of the people are living under the line of poverty. Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith states in one of his article on this community as a "degenerated cast".

Indian government has taken a regenerating initiative to restore rights of Shobdokor. In the Indian constitution, they are now considered Back ward class and benefited from fundamental rights like other citizens. While Bangladesh government has paying attention on constitutional rights to tribal people and initiated many programs to empower them. But this community is far from all. Even NGOs are also silent to take any program or come forward to give any support in socio-economic up gradation of Shobdokors. Since they are most aborigine community of Bangladesh and putting into practice customs and traditions of this nation, it is our special accountability to provide them proper reorganization and rehabilitation .Ahmed Siraz expects "As present Government emphasizes on charter of change, the change would also happened on life of Shobdokor"

Notwithstanding all obstructions they are trying to loud their voice with the help of some caring people of our society. They have formed an organization "Shobdokor Shomaj Unnoyan Shangram Parishad". Now their core demand or appeal to the government is to declaring instantaneously them as "Backward Class" so that they could get benefit from the government. Protab Shobdokar General Secretary of SSUSP says that "we demand special quota under backward class for govt. job, colleges & universities". They urge not only to govt. but also all conscious citizen of the country to come forward and join with their movement so that they could enjoy their basic rights as a citizen and the most aborigine community of our region.



Note: Poet Dilwar Ekushey Award Winner in literature -2008.

Professor Suresh Ranjan Basak, renowned critic and writer and Dean of School for Art and Humanities of Metropolitan University, Sylhet .

copy right @ the financial express