Educationist Jatin Sarkar passes away
Professor Jatin Sarkar, a distinguished educationist, essayist, and advocate for social justice, passed away in the Intensive Care Unit of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital at 2:40pm on Wednesday. He was 89.
Public health expert Dr. Lelin Chowdhury informed Jago News of the time of death.
Jatin Sarkar had been battling age-related ailments and polyarthritis for several months. In June, he underwent surgery for multiple health issues. After a brief stay at his daughter Sudipta Sarkar’s home in Mymensingh, his condition deteriorated, leading to hospital admissions in Dhaka and later Mymensingh.
His mortal remains will be taken to the district’s Udichi office at 4:00 pm today for the public to pay their respects before being transported to his native Netrakona for the funeral.
Born on 25 August 1935 in Chandapara village, Kendua Upazila, Netrakona, Jatin Sarkar dedicated his life to education, literature, and progressive ideals. A former professor of Bengali literature at Nasirabad College in Mymensingh, where he taught from 1964 until his retirement in 2002, Sarkar was a towering figure in Bangladesh’s intellectual and cultural landscape. His 42-year teaching career was paralleled by his deep involvement in leftist politics, cultural activism, and literary pursuits, earning him widespread respect as a champion of human rights and social equity.
Jatin Sarkar’s literary contributions were prolific, with 35 published books to his name by September 2021, including notable works like Pakistaner Janma Mrityu-Darshan (2005), which earned the Prothom Alo Best Book of the Year Award in 2006, and Bangladesher Kabigaan (1985).
His scholarship and essays won him the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2008 and the prestigious Independence Day Award in 2010 for his contributions to education. Other accolades include the Dr Muhammad Enamul Haque Gold Medal, Narayanganj Shruti Gold Medal, Mymensingh Press Club Literary Award, Khaleqdad Chowdhury Literary Award, and Moniruddin Yusuf Literary Award.
A committed cultural activist, Sarkar served two terms as president of the Central Parliament of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, a progressive cultural organisation. He was also a long-standing member of the Mymensingh Press Club and founded the magazine Samaj, Arthaniti O Rastra (The Society, Economy, and State) in 2007. His political philosophy, rooted in resisting oppression, discrimination, and communal politics, was evident in his outspoken criticism of capitalist influences on media and his call for banning religion-based politics in line with Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution. In 1976, Sarkar faced 18 months of detention for his political beliefs, a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice.
Jatin Sarkar’s personal life was equally rich. Married to Kanan Sarkar since 1965, he was the father of two children: Suman, who resides in Slovakia, and Sudipta, based in Bangladesh. After retiring, he settled in Netrakona’s Satpai area, living a quiet life in his family home.
His legacy was captured in a 2006 documentary by filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel, which featured Sarkar’s contributions to Bangladesh’s cultural and intellectual history. As news of his passing spread, tributes poured in, celebrating a man who inspired generations through his teaching, writing, and activism. Jatin Sarkar’s death marks the end of an era, but his vision for a just and equitable society will continue to resonate in Bangladesh and beyond.