Bangla (Bengali) Calligraphy: THE PRATIBESHI

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Pratibeshi (neighbour) -- the repetition of the name of
the national Catholic weekly in Bangladesh
Calligraphy (Dhaka: November 22, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

The 'Pratibeshi' Editorial Was the First in Proposing the Start of Archbishop Ganguly's Canonization

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The October 16, 1977 editorial
in the Pratibeshi weekly of Dhaka

The first Bangali (Bengali) Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC, died of heart attack on September 2, 1977. Hundreds and thousands of people of all faiths paid a respect to him on the grounds of the Archbishop's House in Dhaka. Many people were expecting even before his burial that the canonization process start soon.

The national Catholic weekly Pratibeshi was the first official voice to echo the expectation of the people. In its editorial of October 16, 1977, the Pratibeshi proposed that the canonization process -- at least, in the form of gathering information on the Archbishop -- be started soon after the installation of the new archbishop.

Upon my return from U.S. studies, I had joined the Pratibeshi as the Executive Editor in early September, 1977. I was fortunate enough to write the editorial of October 16 (the original Bangla (Bengali) editorial is shown above). The English version of this editorial is provided below:

The Proposal for Beatifying the Archbishop

Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC, a virtuous person, died only at the age of 57. He was faithful in living his life following Christian ideals. He left excellent examples of his saintliness and other virtues in every aspect of his life. People of all faiths and ethnic groups were attracted to his pleasant behaviour and action and they were very respectful of him.

During his earthly life, certain persons used to call him a "living saint." We believe that after his death, this country needs him to be a declared saint. There are probably many Bangladeshis who are enjoying the bliss of heaven as unproclaimed saints, but for the strengthening of our faith and for imitating his ideals, we have the need for a proclaimed saint. His affirmation as a saint will also prove that the Church in Bangladesh is also firmly placed.

The first step in the canonization process is the beatification. This work starts with studies of the candidate's life, writings and heroic application of his virtues as well as intensive investigation of at least two miracles that God accomplishes through his intercession. If proven true, the Pope publicly declares the candidate a "Blessed." After this, the Church canonizes the candidate after further satisfactory investigation.

The beatification of a person is quite hard and time-consuming affair. If the local Church starts the beatification process in earnest from the very beginning, the burden of the work becomes easier. To start this work, it is imperative that a committee of appropriate persons be formed. It will not function if the work is done being charged with emotions, but it needs to be completed with sufficient prayer, patience and judiciousness. The committee will need sincere prayers and financial contributions from the faithful. We believe that there won't be any dearth of cooperation from the faithful if the beatification of Archbishop Ganguly is initiated. We, therefore, appeal to the local Church authority to actively consider this matter after the installation of the new archbishop.

In reality, the Arcbishop Ganguly's canonization process started in 2006 after 29 years of this editorial. Although late, it is better than doing nothing!

Let us pray and make every effort in getting Archbishop Ganguly canonized for the greater good of the Bangladesh Catholic Church.

Ekushey February and the Catholic Monthly 'Pratibeshi'

(L-R): A sample cover of the monthly Pratibeshi (December, 1949)
and Father Jacob Mongla Dessai, its Managing Editor

Photos Courtesy: The Pratibeshi

Layout by Joachim Romeo D'Costa

We have already said in our write-ups on the Ekushey February how the Bangla language movement started and how it came to a head on Ekushey (21st) February of 1952. The government of East Pakistan, headed by Chief Minister Nurul Amin, at the instruction of the West Pakistani ruling elite, was out there on the streets of Dhaka in force to suppress the activists of the Bangla language movement.

So, on February 21, 1952, when the University of Dhaka students along with members of the general public began to defy the ban on processions and gatherings, the armed police fired upon them. On this day, three students got killed and many were wounded. Numerous other students willingly let the police arrest them. In protest to this killing and wounding of many, February 22 was declared a hartal (all-out strike) day all over East Pakistan.

In response to this call as well as lending their support to the cause, offices and shops remained closed and there was no movement of vehicles on the streets. On reading the Morning News of February 22, some students and people got so enraged at the biased news of the previous day's killing that they attacked the Jubilee Press, from where this daily was printed and set it on fire. Printing machines and the type-setting section along with the manuscripts were severely damaged in the fire. The police again resorted to firing on the enraged crowd, killing at least two persons and wounding others.

The Monthly Pratibeshi on the Ekushey February

The Bengali section of the Jubilee Press used to print the Pratibeshi (neighbour), the monthly mouthpiece of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dhaka on contract basis. All its hand-composed types and manuscripts were also destroyed in the fire. In spite of its losses, this monthly paid a tribute to the language martyrs and supported the language movement.

Father Jacob Mongla Dessai, a Bangali (Bengali) priest, was the editor-in-charge of the Pratibeshi at the time. Dealing with the February 21 events, the monthly in its March 1952 issue mentioned: "Getting the education in one's mother language and giving recognition to the peoples' tongue as the state language are integral to freedom. To snatch away the people's tongue and keeping it repressed is tantamount to doing away with the freedom of the people. A thinking and living nation can never let it happen. The struggle of the students of East Pakistan for making Bangla the state language will remain as a glorious history."

Father Dessai in the editorial wrote: "On February 22, Friday, our printing press -- the Jubilee Press -- has been burnt down as a result of the Dhaka students' rage. All the materials of the Pratibeshi were also destroyed in this fire. As a result, it has taken a very simple presentation. No one should think that the students' rage fell on our innocent monthly Pratibeshi. Their rage was against the Morning News daily that was printed in the Jubilee Press. The news it published on the previous day's events was against the interest of the students. As a result, there was the fire. In this fire, all composed matters of the Pratibeshi and its manuscripts for the March issue have been destroyed. We regret that we have to deprive our readers of reading the remaining portions of the "to be continued" articles of the last issue. For these very reasons, we got delayed in publishing this issue. In spite of its poor presentation, the Pratibeshi deeply sympathizes with the dead, wounded and imprisoned and their bereaved families. Our Pratibeshi's mother tongue is Bangla and its only pride is also Bangla. Those who sacrificed themselves for this language will automatically receive our sympathy...."

It is noteworthy that, at this critical juncture, when most of the large newspapers failed to play a courageous role, the Pratibeshi, by lending its all-out support to the Bangla language, left an important contribution in the national life of the Bangalis.

Source: Bangladeshey Catholic Mondoli (The Catholic Church in Bangladesh) by Jerome D'Costa (Dhaka: Pratibeshi Prakashani, 1988), pp.213-216.