Abdul Matin (language activist)

Abdul Matin (Bangla: আব্দুল মতিন) is a language activist of the Bengali Language Movement that took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) to make Bangla one of the state language of Pakistan. He was one of the leading student leader and organizer of the movement. His contribution to the movement was hailed by the other activists and students as he was popularly known as Rashtrabhasha Matin meaning Matin for state language.

Early life

Abdul Matin was admitted to Darjeeling School in 1932. After passing the matriculation in 1943 he came back to East Bengal. Later that year he was admitted to Rajshahi College. According to him he had no political consensus before getting into the college. He was graduated in 1947.

Involvement in Language Movement

Abdul Matin was hugely active during the language movement. He is considered as the most influencing student leader of the 1952 language movement.Government decided not to include Bangla as one of the official language. As a result student protested on March 11, 1948 where Matin joined for picketing. On March 24, 1948 after Mohammad Ali Jinnah made his speech at Race Course Maidan (currently Suhrawardy Udyan), he came to Dhaka University for convocation. Abdul Matin was also presented at the ceremony to receive his degree. But when Jinnah repeated his position about language policy he stood up at the chair and shouted, "No. It can not be". Other students also supported him during that time. [cite book
title=Ekusher Smriticharon '80|year=1980
publisher=Bangla Academy |location=Dhaka |language=Bengali| pages=113 ] [Banglabazar Patrika, Magh 30, 1399] On mid September 1951, in a meeting at the central building of Dhaka University, Abdul Matin said that they have no complain about Urdu. But he want Bangle’s status with Urdu. [cite book |last=Sen
first=Shoronanondo
title= Dhakar Chitthi
origyear=1971
edition= 1st
location=Kolkata
language= Bengali
pages=109 ] Abdul Matin was present at the meeting on January 30, 1952 and became a member of the Shorbodolio Rashtrabhasha Kormoporishod and became the convener of the Dhaka University Language Action Committee. [cite book | title=Ekusher Smriticharan '80|year=1980
publisher=Bangla Academy |location=Dhaka
language=Bengali
pages=138 ]

Other political involvements

Abdul Matin joined with the 4th class clerks at one of their procession. There he was arrested and spend two months in prison. Coming back from jail, the Vice Chancellor of the university asked him for a bond. But after his refusal he was immediately sacked for three years which according to him was the turning point of his political carrier. On March 27 and 28, 1951 on a meeting in Dhaka Purbo-Pakistan Juboleague (East Pakistan Youth League) was formed with Abdul Matin as the Joint Secretary. [Harv|Al Helal|2003|pp=58] Matin was also a member of the central committee of Chatra League, the students’ league that was patronized by Awami League. But after protesting the decision of selecting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as it’s chairman, he was immediately sacked from the committee. [Banglabazar Patrika, Magh 30, 1399]

Citations

References

* Harvard reference
Surname1 = Al Helal
Given1 = B
Authorlink = Bashir Al Helal
Surname2=
Given2=
Year = 2003
Title = Bhasha Andoloner Itihas
Publisher= Agamee Prakashani, Dhaka
ISBN = 984-401-523-5
Language = Bn icon