She

From Kurigram
Nandita's Bravery

Md. Nashir Uddin Shobuj

Nandita Chakraborty was born on 13 April 1946 in Jhoddharpara of Ulipur upazila under Kurigram district. She is the youngest of 6 brothers and sisters. She actively fought the problem of the dearth of schools and teachers in her locality. She had to fight for her own education as well. After passing her primary and secondary schooling, she sat for her SSC examinations as a private candidate in 1962. She passed her H.S.C in 1964 and completed her B.A in 1967 with great success from Kurigram Govt. College.

In 1968 she joined the Kurigram Model Town Girls High School as a volunteer teacher. Now the school is known as Kurigram Govt. Girls High School. In 1997 she was transferred to Ulipur Govt. Girls High School and got the post of Assistant Headmistress. Then, she was promoted to the post of Headmistress and held that post till 2000. At the time, about a half acre of land of the Ulipur Govt. Girls High School had been illegally occupied by the then Headmaster. She reclaimed the land from him and handed it to the school authority.

She was successful in her personal life as well. She was a good mother and took care of the household well. All her sons and daughters are well educated. Her first daughter Madhuchhanda Chakraborty, 35, completed her graduation in Botany from Rajshahi University. Arghya Chakraborty, 30, her second son, also completed his honors in Geology and Mining from the same university. Her next son Tarpon Chakraborty is also a graduate and is providing for himself. Her son Nirnalya Chakraborty, 28 is a BUET engineer, working in Australia.

Nandita was awarded the “Best Headmistress” prize of the district. She was also awarded by The Daily Star Reader's Club. She is the Vice-President of Bangladesh Mohila Porishod, Kurigram.

She likes to read, plant new trees and to write for the welfare of society. She argues that the syllabus for the school students should be changed. She thinks a shorter syllabus is necessary for the students. Adequate teachers are needed. At the same time, she comments that salary for the teachers should be increased. She is determined to establish equal right for women. She expects the teachers to help students find their gifts and realize their potentials. Jhorna Khatun, one of her students, says, “she was not only a favorite teacher but also a good friend of my school life. She treated us with affection. But she was very serious about our study.”

Masum, 20, another student of her school, commented, “She has no replacement. She is the best teacher and ideal of my life.”

Now, Nandita sees herself as being in the last stage of her life. She is still as strong willed as ever and wants to keep fighting. “I want to do something for the neglected women till the last moment of my life,” she says, unwaveringly.

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