Sculptural beauty of JU

Sculptural beauty of JU

Tarek Aziz

This feature story is published in the daily sun on 7 October 2018: 12:00 AM. 

Jahangirnagar University is known as the kingdom of natural beauty for its mind-blowing natural decoration, infrastructures, greens, lakes, different species of butterflies, birds and for its overall biodiversity. It is known as ‘capital of culture’ for its outstanding performance in arts and cultures countrywide as well as in the global arena. But the university has another aspect of beauty, that is, sculptural beauty. The three monuments, depicting the struggles of our real heroes, attract and inspire those who think about the welfare of the nation. The sculptures remind us of our past of war, sacrifice and bloodshed.

Sangsaptak

The Sangsaptak is the sculpture which holds the untold stories of the Liberation War. The 15-feet high bronze sculpture was installed in 1990 in front of the university’s central library. It was built by the eminent sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan, whose intention was to uphold the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War to new generations.

The sculpture delineates with perfection, a bellicose who continues to fight for his nation, although he has lost his left hand and lower left limb to the Pakistani military forces.

The sculpture accurately depicts the scenario of the liberation war, describes all the unwritten and untold atrocities that occurred during that time.

This monument greatly inspires us to work for the betterment of the nation, and to work to fulfil the dreams of the freedom fighters.

 

Amar Ekush

The Amar Ekush elucidates a protesting student and a child, killed by gunfire, lying on his mother’s lap as symbolic images of the Language Movement in 1952.

Another inspiring historic sculpture, Amar Ekush marks the Language Movement of 1952. 21st February is now observed as International Mother Language day all over the world. On this day in 1952, during the regime of Pakistan, students of Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical College defied the imposed section 144 and demanded the recognition of Bangla as the state language. Police fired bullets at agitating students. Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Sofiur Rahman, Abdul Barkat, and Abdul Jabbar secured martyrdom.

It was installed adjacent to the central cafeteria of the university to commemorate the protests and sacrifices of the language martyrs. It was designed by eminent sculptor Jahanara Parvin. On February 21, 1991, this sculpture was inaugurated on the JU campus.

Shaheed Minar

The maiden permanent Shaheed Minar of Bangladesh was erected at Jahangirnagar University campus to commemorate all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s welfare. It was designed by eminent sculptor Rabiul Hossain. On February 13, 2008, the country’s tallest Shaheed Minar was installed to commemorate the martyrs of different important movements of pre-Bangladesh’s history.

The 71 feet high Shaheed Minar, made with ceramic bricks, is situated on the premises adjacent to the new arts faculty building of the university.

The Shaheed Minar has an eight stairs basement and a circumference of 52 feet, which symbolises the language movement in 1952.

Each of the three 71 feet high pillars of the Shaheed Minar represents its main theme. One symbolises the Bengali language, art, and culture, another symbolises the history of Bengali heritage and its earth and people, and the third pillar symbolises sovereignty, Liberation War and the independence of Bangladesh. The eight stairs leading to the alter symbolise the eight important movements, in 1947, 1952, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1969 and 1970 that ultimately led to the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

The writer is a student of Chemistry Department, Jahangirnagar University