Jharna Dhara Chowdhury Explained

Jharna Dhara Chowdhury
Native Name:ঝর্ণা ধারা চৌধুরী
Native Name Lang:bn
Birth Date:15 October 1938
Birth Place:Lakshmipur District, East Bengal, British India
Death Date:27 June 2019
Death Place:Dhaka, Bangladesh
Occupation:Social activist
Awards:Ekushey Padak (2015)
Padma Shri (2013)

Jharna Dhara Chowdhury (15 October 1938 – 27 June 2019)[1] was a Bangladeshi social activist.[2]

Early life

Chowdhury was born on 15 October 1938 in Lakshmipur District, East Bengal, British India.[3] Her parents were Promoth Chowdhury and Ashalata Chowdhury.[4] Her home was burned during the Noakhali riots and she fled with her family to Assam. She returned after the riots ended and was inspired by the works of Mahatma Gandhi who had come to the region on a peace mission after the riots.

Career

During the Bangladesh Liberation war in 1971, Chowdhury helped around 500 girls flee the violence to India.[5]

In 1990 Chowdhury took charge of the Gandhi Ashram Trust in Jayag Village, Chatkhil Upazila, Noakhali District.

Chowdhury was the secretary of the Gandhi Ashram Trust in Noakhali District.[6]

In 2013, Chowdhury was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India.[7]

Chowdhury was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award, for her contribution to social services in Bangladesh.[8]

In 2016, Chowdhury oversaw the creation of the Gandhi Memorial School in the Gandhi Ashram Trust campus and which was financed by the Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission, an organ of the Indian Ministry of Culture.[9] [10]

Death

Chowdhury died on 27 June 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[11] She was being treated at Square Hospital after suffering brain hemorrhage on 1 June 2019.[12] Her last rites took place at the Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka.[13] It was kept at the Central Shaheed Minar the next day so people could pay their respects.

Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Gandhian activist Jharna Dhara Chowdhury passes away . Daily Sun.
  2. Web site: সংবাদদাতা . নিজস্ব . bn:নোয়াখালি গাঁধী আশ্রমের সচিব ঝর্নাধারা প্রয়াত . https://www.anandabazar.com/world/jharna-dhara-chowdhury-passes-away-1.1010409 . 2022-01-02 . www.anandabazar.com . bn.
  3. News: 2016-02-05 . Jharna Dhara Chowdhury . 2022-01-02 . The Daily Star . en.
  4. News: Gandhian Jharna Dhara Chowdhury dies . 2022-01-02 . Bangla Tribune . en.
  5. News: Tripathi . Salil . 2013-01-25 . Retracing Gandhi's footsteps . 2022-01-02 . mint . en.
  6. News: January 26, 2013 . Jharna Dhara Chowdhury conferred Padma Shri Award . Bangladesh Business News . February 19, 2015.
  7. News: President Pranab Mukherjee confers Padma awards . 2022-01-02 . NDTV.com.
  8. News: Poet Nurul Huda among 15 named for Ekushey Padak 2015 . 2022-01-02 . bdnews24.com . 8 February 2015.
  9. News: Gandhi Memorial School inaugurated in Bangladesh's Noahkali district . 2022-01-02 . bdnews24.com . 3 September 2016.
  10. Web site: 2019-03-13 . What is Gandhi Heritage Site Mission? . 2022-01-02 . Jagranjosh.com.
  11. News: Social activist Jharna Dhara passes away . 2022-01-02 . UNB . en.
  12. News: Gandhi Ashram Trust Secretary Jharna Dhara Chowdhury dies . 2022-01-02 . bdnews24.com . 27 June 2019.
  13. News: Jharna Dhara Chowdhury passes away - Front Page . 2022-01-02 . The Daily Observer.
  14. News: Gandhi Seva Puraskar for veteran Gandhian of Noakhali . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220035317/http://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/gandhi-seva-puraskar-for-veteran-gandhian-of-noakhali/article1-607452.aspx . dead . February 20, 2015 . Hindustan Times . October 2, 2010.
  15. News: 14 honoured with Ekushey Padak 2015 . . February 9, 2015 . February 19, 2015.
  16. Web site: Kumari Jharna Dhara Chowdhury . Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation . 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819155917/http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/1998/international/jharna-dhara-chowdhury . August 19, 2014 . October 13, 2015.