Left-Right: Kangal Harinath.
A rally brought out on the occasion.Photo: STAR

A daylong programme was held last Tuesday to the mark of 177th birth anniversary of Kangal Harinath, the pioneer of rural journalism in the sub-continent.
Kangal Harinath Smriti Trust, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of Harinath's legacy, arranged the programme.
The programme included discussion, rally and cultural programme held at Kumarkhali Public Library hall room.
On the occasion, a memorial complex set up at Harinath's abode was also inaugurated.
The daylong programme started with the inauguration of the memorial complex at about 10 am. Sultana Begum, lawmaker of Kushtia-4 inaugurated the complex. The inauguration was followed by a rally that started from Harinath's residence. The rally ended at Kumarkhali Public Library where a discussion was held. After the discussion a cultural programme was held at the venue.
With Manikhar Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Kumarkhali, in the chair, the discussion had lawmaker Sultana Begum as chief guest. Cultural personality Lalim Haq was the chief discussant. Among others, Dhirendranath Sarkar, chief executive office of Kushtia Zila Parishad and journalist Waliul Bari Choudhury took part in the discussion as special guests.
Journalist Sohel Habib, member secretary of Kangal Harinath Smriti Trust, gave the welcome speech.
Kangal Harinath (1833-1896) was one of the dedicated individuals who relentlessly fought to relieve the woes of the masses oppressed under the then zamindari system through his writings. He published a newspaper called 'Sangbad Prabhakar' in 1854. He boldly wrote against the oppression of the then zamindars on Bengali farmers. The zamindars (landlords) unleashed a reign of torture on the farmers as they refused to grow neel (indigo). For his stance on the issue, Kangal Harinath was often confronted and tortured by the zamindars.
Harinath also published 'Grambarta Prokashika' in 1860, first a monthly, then fortnightly and afterwards as a weekly magazine and was known as a pioneer in journalism at the grassroots level in undivided British India.
Harinath was a social activist, journalist, teacher, reformer as well as a deft composer of folk songs.
Kushtia district administration recently completed construction of the memorial complex at the abode of Harinath. Kushtia Zila Parishad spent Tk. 12 lakh to build the complex that also houses a museum and a library.