Bangladesh: History of Illiterate

[Robi]

Our national identity

Last few years I was itching by one thinking about the our long history and prosperity. I could not get any solution of a lots of questions. Here in alochok group have a lots of highly educated persons who knows much much better than I know about our history and culture. I may have chance to achieve some knowledge about my question from some of them.

Now I will talk about Bangladesh only. But all my comments is not only for Bangladesh, but I want to mean whole the sub-continent also. As Bangla was integrated part of Indian sub-continent for thousand of years in cultures and lifestyles.

If we see whole of the world at a glance, we will see that the world is ruled by the Europe or the Generations(USA, Canada, Australia etc) of Europe in almost every sector. Technology, Food, Politics, Economics, Media and sometimes law of other country - everything is dominated by them directly or indirectly. We are one of those country who have no other choice, but to be dominated by them. West is continuously dominating us directly for 244 years and we were under direct British colonization for 190 years. I will not mention how British sucked us during those days. All of you know it better than me.
My question is why we could not educate ourselves before British invade us?? If you look into the last 500 years history, you will not find any symbol of educated generation in this country. There was some educated persons, but their knowledge was limited with religious books and some mythical literature. Perhaps people didn’t know what the education is.

Why things were like that?? We were so poor that we couldn’t have education? I don’t think so. History also don’t say that. From the ancient time this area was rich of food and other resources. People never had to beg to other country for anything. Also because of the high fertile soil and comfortable weather many people from this sub-continent started living in the small area of Bangla which causes high density population later. That’s why we always had to face invasion from European robbers.

Our Raja, Banshah or Ameers were not so poor that they were unable to spend money for the education of people. Rather I can say either that they didn’t have intention to do anything like that or they didn’t know how to educate people.

On the other hand if we see European history, they have a long educational history. They learned, applied and developed. Industrial revolution took place in Europe end of eighteenth century. But they have education system before the revolution also. I have no idea how their system was. Only I can see that most of the great scientific invention was done in Europe, most of the great literature written in European language, most of the great philosopher born in Europe.



I ask myself, what is Europe’s speciality? What was the lacking of Bangla or India? Our ancient history was much glorious than Europe. We have 4000 years old history. But Europe don’t have that. So, why we fell behind Europe in last few centuries.

Our Raja and Badshah fought each other to show their power and increase their dominance. They build some expensive palaces to achieve fame. But didn’t do anything to educate mass people. Some of them was pious, some of them was crazy and some of them was good for nothing.

Some of us feel proud of the Pir, Faqir & Sufis from Arab in the mid-age. I also respect them who was really good person. But except religious duties what they did for this subcontinent? What knowledge they bring and spread to the mass people? Arabs conquer east and they spread out religious thoughts to the people. But Arabs conquered a part of Europe also. They spread religion, science and knowledge together. Europe enriched.