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     Volume 1 Issue 12 | December 23 , 2006 |



  
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She
From Khulna
Deepa: A freedom fighter

Insight Desk

The 1971 liberation war was a struggle for the freedom of a people. It was a fight for the identity of a nation- Bangladesh. When war broke out, most people did not know how to fight back. They hardly had any means to go into war with the well armed Pakistani army and yet they were driven to not only fight, but to win. It was the love for their soil and the passion to free their country that made them fight back. Thousands of “Bangalees” went into direct confrontation with the Pakistanis. Others contributed to liberating their country in their own individual ways.

One such individual is the daughter of an eminent dramatist of undivided India, Deepa Bandopadhya who had taken part in the liberation war of 1971 in her own way.

She played a praiseworthy role in inspiring freedom fighters through her write-ups which were broadcasted live from the Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. She also worked actively on reviving and inspiring the war-torn people of Bangladesh for not to give up hope by singing patriotic songs. These songs which were broadcasted live from the Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.

Being a B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. degree holder in English Literature she joined the Boyra Government Girls' College as lecturer in English Literature on December 9th, 1972.

After working there, Shatkhira Government College, Narail Victoria Government College and Khulna Government Pioneer Girls' College, in 2001, Deepa was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. She then joined the Department of English at Daulatpur Government B.L. College as the departmental Head.

Deepa sings the songs of Tagore and has been recognized as a Tagore song artist by the Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television. Having participated in many cultural functions at home and abroad, she has been applauded for being an apt singer everywhere. Apart from being a member of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad, she is the principal of the Altaf Mahmud Sangeet Bhaban. Her father, Late Lohit Kanti Bandopadhya, she says, was the main source of love and inspiration for her to become a professional vocalist especially in Tagore songs. “My teaching carrier was never an obstruction to my goal of becoming an eminent singer”, she says.

She retired from the position of the head of the Department of English at the Government B.L. College at Daulatpur, Khulna in January, 2004. Still unmarried, this unique contributor to the liberation of our country, continues to charm people with her singing.

Deepa Bandopaddhya is one of the countless people who have, in their own ways, made it possible for us to have an independent Bangladesh of our own. We applaud and salute them all.

 

 

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