Govinda Chandra Dev
Encyclopedia
Govinda Chandra Dev or G.C. Dev as he is popularly known as, was a Professor
of Philosophy
at the University of Dhaka
. He was assassinated at the onset of Bangladesh Liberation War
of 1971 by the Pakistan Army
as part of a plan to eliminate the Bangladesh
i intelligentsia.
) of Sylhet District
, East Bengal
(currently Bangladesh
) on 1 February 1907. His ancestors were high-caste Brahmins who settled in Sylhet from Gujrat. After his father's death at an early age, Dev was raised by the local Christian missionaries.
, Kolkata
. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honours from Sanskrit College
in 1929. In 1931, he received his Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Calcutta
. He graduated summa cum laude in both Bachelors and Masters. His Doctoral thesis was titled Reason, intuition and reality, and for this, he received a PhD degree from Calcutta University in 1944. The thesis dissertation was later published as a book titled Idealism and Progress.
, in Kolkata. As the college was transferred from Calcutta to Dinajpur
(now in Bangladesh) during World War II
, Dr. Dev moved to Dinajpur. In 1945, the college re-located to Kolkata, but Dev decided to stay back in Dinajpur as the founding principal of Surendranath College. Later, in July, 1953, he joined the Department of Philosophy at Dhaka University. He also served as the house tutor of Dhaka hall (present Shahidullah hall) in 1957 before being appointed as the provost of Jagannath hall in the same year. Dev was appointed as the chairman of the department of philosophy in 1963. On 1 July 1967 Dev became a full professor. In the late 60's he taught in Wilkes-Barre College
in Pennsylvania
, USA as a visiting professor where he soon became a popular figure. His admirers in the college founded The Govinda Dev Foundation for World Brotherhood for the propagation of Dev's humanist philosophy.
Dev was elected the general secretary of Pakistan Philosophical Congress in the 1960s and held the post till his death in 1971. He also set up a Philosophy House in Dhaka University to promote and practice his life-oriented and humanist philosophy, which became a center for intellectual and cultural activities in the university.
A life-long bachelor, G. C. Dev donated the bulk of his belongings to the university in his lifetime. The donation facilitated the establishment of Center for Philosophical Studies (DCPS) at Dhaka University in 1980.
personnel involved in 1971 Dhaka University massacre
on the black night of 25 March. At that time Dev was residing in a university quarter near Jagannath Hall with his adopted daughter Rokeya Sultana and her husband Mohammad Ali. At around 11 p.m. the residents of the house were awakened by the sound of incessant gunfire as the army raided the campus. As Rokeya remarked later, bullets were hitting the house like hailstorm. The family took shelter in a small room and kept awake the whole night. In the morning of 26 a group of soldiers came to the door. They started banging on the door as they shouted in Urdu
, "You son of an infidel, open the door." As Dev proceeded to open the door, the door collapsed on him. Upon entering the house one of the soldiers hit on his head with his rifle and another one shot him on the chest. Dr. Dev feebly asked, "What do you want here, son?" In response the soldiers shot few more rounds at him. Two bullets hit him in the head and the other bullets hit him in the chest. Dev died immediately. The soldiers beat Rokeya mercilessly and killed her husband. They also charged bayonet on the professor's lifeless body. Later they took the dead bodies in the grounds of Jagannath hall where the bodies of the other victims of the massacre were dumped.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
. He was assassinated at the onset of Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
of 1971 by the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
as part of a plan to eliminate the Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i intelligentsia.
Early life
G.C. Dev was born as Govinda Chandra Dev Purakayastha in the villate Lauta of the Panchakhanda Pargana (currently Beanibazar UpazilaBeanibazar Upazila
Beanibazar is an Upazila of Sylhet District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.- History :The name "Beanibazar", correct spelling is 'Bihani Bazaar' which means "morning market". In the past, Beanibazar was surrounded mostly by jungles with many tigers that attacked people regularly at night...
) of Sylhet District
Sylhet District
The district of Sylhet consists 6754 mosques, 453 temples, 96 churches and four Buddhist temples.-Places of Interests:-Historical:#The Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal#The Shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran#Shahi Eidgah#Gour Govinda Fort#Kean Bridge...
, East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
(currently Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) on 1 February 1907. His ancestors were high-caste Brahmins who settled in Sylhet from Gujrat. After his father's death at an early age, Dev was raised by the local Christian missionaries.
Education
Known as a meritorious student, Dev passed the Entrance Examination in first division from Biani Bazar High English School in 1925. In 1927, he passed Intermediate Examination from Ripon CollegeSurendranath College
Surendranath College is an undergraduate college affiliated to the University of Calcutta, in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1884 by the nationalist leader Surendranath Banerjea....
, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honours from Sanskrit College
Sanskrit College
Sanskrit College is a specialized state-government administered liberal arts college offering an undergraduate degree in Sanskrit language, Pali language, linguistics, and ancient Indian and world history. It is one of the affiliated colleges of the University of Calcutta. Founded on 1 January...
in 1929. In 1931, he received his Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. He graduated summa cum laude in both Bachelors and Masters. His Doctoral thesis was titled Reason, intuition and reality, and for this, he received a PhD degree from Calcutta University in 1944. The thesis dissertation was later published as a book titled Idealism and Progress.
Teaching
Dr. G.C. Dev started his career as a lecturer in Ripon CollegeSurendranath College
Surendranath College is an undergraduate college affiliated to the University of Calcutta, in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1884 by the nationalist leader Surendranath Banerjea....
, in Kolkata. As the college was transferred from Calcutta to Dinajpur
Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
Dinajpur is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.- Geography :Dinajpur is bounded by Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts in the north, Gaibandha and Joypurhat districts in the south, Nilphamari and Rangpurdistricts in the east, and the state of West Bengal, India...
(now in Bangladesh) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Dr. Dev moved to Dinajpur. In 1945, the college re-located to Kolkata, but Dev decided to stay back in Dinajpur as the founding principal of Surendranath College. Later, in July, 1953, he joined the Department of Philosophy at Dhaka University. He also served as the house tutor of Dhaka hall (present Shahidullah hall) in 1957 before being appointed as the provost of Jagannath hall in the same year. Dev was appointed as the chairman of the department of philosophy in 1963. On 1 July 1967 Dev became a full professor. In the late 60's he taught in Wilkes-Barre College
Wilkes University
Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational American university located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It has over 2,200 undergraduates and over 2,200 graduate students...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA as a visiting professor where he soon became a popular figure. His admirers in the college founded The Govinda Dev Foundation for World Brotherhood for the propagation of Dev's humanist philosophy.
Dev was elected the general secretary of Pakistan Philosophical Congress in the 1960s and held the post till his death in 1971. He also set up a Philosophy House in Dhaka University to promote and practice his life-oriented and humanist philosophy, which became a center for intellectual and cultural activities in the university.
A life-long bachelor, G. C. Dev donated the bulk of his belongings to the university in his lifetime. The donation facilitated the establishment of Center for Philosophical Studies (DCPS) at Dhaka University in 1980.
Assassination
Dr. G. C. Dev was assassinated along with the husband of his adopted daughter by Pakistan armyPakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
personnel involved in 1971 Dhaka University massacre
1971 Dhaka University massacre
Dhaka University is the center for development of Independence of Bangladesh. Dhaka University has greatly contributed to the liberation of Bangladesh....
on the black night of 25 March. At that time Dev was residing in a university quarter near Jagannath Hall with his adopted daughter Rokeya Sultana and her husband Mohammad Ali. At around 11 p.m. the residents of the house were awakened by the sound of incessant gunfire as the army raided the campus. As Rokeya remarked later, bullets were hitting the house like hailstorm. The family took shelter in a small room and kept awake the whole night. In the morning of 26 a group of soldiers came to the door. They started banging on the door as they shouted in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, "You son of an infidel, open the door." As Dev proceeded to open the door, the door collapsed on him. Upon entering the house one of the soldiers hit on his head with his rifle and another one shot him on the chest. Dr. Dev feebly asked, "What do you want here, son?" In response the soldiers shot few more rounds at him. Two bullets hit him in the head and the other bullets hit him in the chest. Dev died immediately. The soldiers beat Rokeya mercilessly and killed her husband. They also charged bayonet on the professor's lifeless body. Later they took the dead bodies in the grounds of Jagannath hall where the bodies of the other victims of the massacre were dumped.
Further reading
- Bangalir Dorshan: Prachinkal Theke Somokal by Prof. Dr. Aminul Islam, Dept. of Philosophy, DU, (Maola Brothers, Dhaka, 2002), pp. 247–258