Jahanara Imam was a prolific author, political and social activist. She is widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. She was known as "Shaheed Janani". She was the first editor of the monthly women's magazine called "Khawateen". It started its publication in 1952 and she ran it successfully for several years.
Imam was a dynamic writer and made huge contribution to Bengali literature. She was honoured and awarded several times. She received Bangla Academy Award, also received posthumously Independence Award and Rokeya Award respectively.
Imam was born in 1929 in West Bengal (now Pacchim Bangla). Her father was a Civil Servant. She lived in many different parts of the undivided Bengal--wherever her father was posted. At that time there was a lot of social pressure against Muslim women pursuing further studies, but her mother was determined that Jahanara's education would not be constrained.
After finishing her studies in 1945 in Carmichael College in Rangpur, Imam went to Lady Brabourne College of Calcutta University and in 1947 obtained her bachelor's degree. She was an activist in Lady Brabourne College. After the partition of India, she joined her family in Mymensingh in what became East Pakistan and started teaching at Vidyamoyee Girls High School.
In 1960 Imam gave up her job and to concentrate on bringing up her two sons Rumi and Jami. During the time, she finished her master's degree in Bengali Language and Literature and a bachelor's degree in Education from Dhaka University in 1962 and 1963 respectively. After that she went back to full-time teaching. At several years, she worked as a lecturer in the Teacher's Training College in Dhaka. Afterwards she also taught for several years on a part-time basis in the Institute of Modern Language in Dhaka University. She spent a significant part of her life in education. She visited the USA as a Fulbright Scholar to San Diego University.
In 1971, following the Pakistan army crackdown on 25 March, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out. Many joined the liberation struggle, including Jahanara's elder son Rumi, who joined the Mukti Bahini. During the war, she wrote a diary on her feelings about the struggle, agonies and pains. This later became one of the most important publications about the War of Liberation.
After Bangladesh achieved independence, Imam started her literary career. During the time she also travelled extensively to Europe, USA and Canada. During that time, she published her wartime diary "Ekatturer Dinguli".
In 1981, Imam was diagnosed with mouth cancer, and operations caused her to have difficulty speaking, she continued to write and continued her involvement with the Freedom Fighters. She died in Michigan in 1994. She was buried in Dhaka as she had wished.
Some of her literary works are Anya Jiban, Ekattorer Dingulee, Birshrestha, Jiban Mrityu, Chirayata Sahitya, Buker Bhitare Agun, Nataker Abasan, Dui Meru, Nihsabga Pine, Nay E Madhur Khela, Cancer-er Sange Bosobas, Prabaser Dinalipi and others.
June 26 marked the 25th death anniversary of Jahanara Imam.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
