News Kashmir Magazine

Debunking Myths and Exploring Realities of Diabetes Reversibility

Authored by  Dr Mohammad Hayat  and Dr Saima farooq

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, has emerged as a global health crisis of monumental proportions. Its prevalence has reached unprecedented levels, with millions of individuals grappling with its consequences worldwide. To begin with, it is crucial to understand the essence of diabetes and its underlying mechanisms. Diabetes mellitus encompasses a spectrum of disorders characterized by inadequate insulin production, impaired insulin action, or both, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, necessitating lifelong insulin replacement therapy. Conversely, type 2 diabetes typically manifests due to a combination of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, sedentary behaviour, and poor dietary choices. While the management of diabetes primarily focuses on control and prevention of complications, a pressing question looms large in the minds of both patients and healthcare professionals alike: Is diabetes reversible?

This question has ignited vigorous debates, driven by a multitude of contradictory information, misunderstandings, and optimistic stories.

DIABETES REMISSION – First, the term ‘reversal’ of diabetes is scientifically incorrect; the appropriate term is ‘remission’ of diabetes. Remission’ means not having an active disease, with the implication that neither symptoms nor new complications should develop. American Diabetes Association (ADA) defines type 2 diabetes mellitus remission as having an HBA1C lower than 6.5% measured at least three months after cessation of glucose-lowering pharmacotherapy (at least 6 months after starting a lifestyle intervention)”. This remission can be achieved through significant lifestyle changes, including weight loss, dietary modifications, and increased physical activity.

BARIATRIC SURGERY IN DIABETES REMISSION -While bariatric surgery can lead to diabetes remission in many cases, it’s not a guaranteed outcome for everyone. Success depends on various factors including the type of surgery, individual health status, and adherence to post-operative lifestyle changes. Weight loss is a significant factor, but bariatric surgery also triggers changes in gut hormones such as GLP-1, which enhance insulin secretion and improve blood sugar regulation.it also results in metabolic adaptations that promote glucose utilization and reduce excess glucose production by the liver, contributing to better blood sugar levels. that directly impact diabetes. These changes improve insulin sensitivity and glucose control, contributing to diabetes remission. Studies show that diabetes remission post-bariatric surgery can be sustained long-term, especially with ongoing lifestyle modifications. While relapse is possible, many individuals experience lasting benefits in glycemic control and reduced reliance on diabetes medications. Like any surgery, bariatric procedures carry risks, but for many individuals with severe obesity and poorly controlled diabetes, the benefits outweigh the risks. Bariatric surgery can significantly improve quality of life and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.

Diabetes remission, achieved through interventions like bariatric surgery or lifestyle changes, may not always be sustainable due to various factors. Firstly, the underlying mechanisms causing diabetes, such as genetic predisposition or pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, may persist despite initial remission. Additionally, relapse can occur if individuals revert to unhealthy habits, such as poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, leading to weight regain and worsening insulin resistance. Furthermore, aging, stress, and other health conditions can exacerbate metabolic dysfunction, increasing the risk of diabetes recurrence. Therefore, maintaining long-term diabetes remission requires ongoing commitment to healthy behaviors and regular monitoring to address potential risk factors and ensure optimal metabolic health.

IS DIABETES REVERSIBLE? The word ‘reversal’ seems to be used very loosely next to diabetes, and that’s not an accurate way to look at it, the phrase “diabetes reversal” may be familiar to you. Can the illness be “reversed” in reality, though? “The definition of “reversal” in the dictionary is “a change in an opposite direction, position, or course of action or back to a former state,” hence the term itself is misleading. Recently, this has seemed to be used very haphazardly about diabetes, which is not a realistic way to look at it.

For what reason is it inaccurate? For “diabetes reversal,” stopping the medication would mean that the patient would no longer have the illness. Unfortunately, many patients rarely experience this situation in real life. Granted that a small percentage of patients, such as those with prediabetes, can “reverse” their diseases for an extended length of time (if they keep a healthy lifestyle), individuals with chronic, long-term diabetes sometimes struggle to even continue taking the lower dosages of insulin. The term “reversal” may refer to nothing more than “better control and management initially, then gradually tapering off medications, to finally try and take them off with further work aimed at a situation where you do not go back to medications.” We can probably declare that type 2 diabetes has been reversed if the patient can maintain this condition of not using any medications and their blood reports remain within normal ranges for five years.

Here are some myths and facts about diabetes reversal that you must know-

MYTH 1- Joining a program can help you reverse type 2 diabetes in 6-8 weeks-

FACT – Diabetes reversal programs have generated a lot of buzz in recent months, particularly from sponsored advertisements during well-known interviews on social media.

Something like this seems impossible to believe. However, individuals believe it because they are desperate to get rid of the ailment and will go to any length to find a ray of hope, making it risky. Fad diets, or even severe diets, can result in improved blood tests and weight loss (4-5 kgs per month). However, this rapid transition might lead to further problems later in life, such as chronic deficits.

Patients are also weaned off of their medications while they are on the program because their blood reports appear to be improving. However, when the program concludes and the individuals who are unable to maintain the adjustments experience a spike in their blood sugar levels. As a result, the patient experiences the greatest amount of suffering on many levels, and what at first seemed to be a glimmer of hope for the patient ultimately turns out to be a ray of devastation.

MYTH 2- Reverse your diabetes by fasting-

FACT -This could be an exaggeration rather than a myth. Fasting makes sense because you’ll consume less food overall (less than 12 hours; you’ll likely skip one large meal). During the fasting phase, one will first lose weight and have some relaxation in the pancreas and stomach. Fasting is a long-standing custom that can be beneficial when followed. It relies on several factors, including the individual’s diabetes, insulin dosage, coexisting medical problems, and blood sugar fluctuations. Consuming “anything and everything” or two kilograms of fruit during mealtime is not advised because these behaviors won’t be effective. Also, be cautious of your gut, muscle, and even metabolism if you are fasting consistently for weeks or months at a time. These aspects can all deteriorate. The general health of the patient should improve when fasting is utilized as one of the strategies for improved diabetes management under the proper supervision.

MYTH 3-Reverse type 2 diabetes by avoiding carbohydrates, fruits, and sugar-

FACT- Low-carbohydrate diets can be effective for managing diabetes by helping to regulate blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. However, they are not a cure for diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management, including medication, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring of blood sugar levels. Low-carb diets should be adopted as part of a comprehensive diabetes management plan under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Reversing diabetes is extremely unlikely, aside from the nutritional advantages they will be missing out on. Refined carbs and sugar, found in cakes, pastries, sodas, and even packaged foods, are the main cause of issues like inflammation and insulin resistance. Although it varies from person to person, fruits and grains can raise blood sugar levels. well sugars are controlled if they are balanced with fiber, proteins, and fats. Thus, consider including a balanced meal instead of going overboard and cutting everything (which again becomes tough to continue). This will not only help your blood sugar levels but also enhance your general health

MYTH 4- Because diabetes runs in my family, can’t cut back on my medication or stop taking it entirely-

FACT -A person’s predisposition to diabetes is greatly influenced by their family history, particularly if both parents have the disease. However, it is not the sole cause of diabetes. Actually, what eventually causes you to develop diabetes is your lifestyle—the daily routines you repeat over time. Thus, you may also need to be more careful and self-sufficient. Despite the family history, one can hope to observe a decrease in the amount of medications if done consistently. Naturally, prevention or delay is preferable than reversal, so if people adopt a more sustainable and healthful lifestyle, they can avoid diabetes for a longer period of time or, in the event that they do get it, manage it with fewer medications. Increased control can also lessen the likelihood of problems.

MYTH 5 -There is no way I can reverse the diabetes if I start taking medication or insulin-

 FACT -I think it’s important to dispel this myth as quickly as possible. Certainly, the management of diabetes typically involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, medication, and/or insulin therapy to achieve and maintain optimal blood glucose levels. While these interventions are crucial for controlling the condition and preventing complications, it’s important to understand that they do not offer a guaranteed route to reversing diabetes. The medication will not receive the necessary support if the patient declines to make simple lifestyle adjustments like improving their diet, exercising frequently, getting enough sleep, and controlling their stress. When it comes to managing their blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), about 60% of people with established diabetes still require medication in addition to lifestyle changes. These medications must, however, be secure and ideally safeguarding for the kidneys, heart, and vascular structure. In spite of excellent blood sugar management, diabetics frequently experience heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and renal failure. These complications are particularly common in long-term patients.

 The choice of drugs is thus very important for improving the condition of diabetic patients both with and without established vascular and renal complications. Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a disease caused by the lack of insulin. Thus, Insulin is the main treatment agent for type 1 and is typically administered via subcutaneous injection. There are several types of insulin available nowadays. These diabetics are insulin-dependent throughout their lives.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is diagnosed in adulthood and is because of a deficiency of insulin. These individuals are often obese with a family history of diabetes, it is the most common type of diabetes . Many of them need agents other than insulin to both control blood sugar levels and reduce vascular complications. There are several agents available for this purpose.. These drugs work in multiple ways:. Treatments include agents that (1) increase the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas, (2) increase the sensitivity of target organs to insulin, (3) decrease the rate at which glucose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and (4) increase the loss of glucose through urination. 5) They slow the movement of food through the stomach and reduce appetite.

 Metformin, a biguanide, has become the most commonly used agent for type 2 diabetics. Among common diabetic drugs, Metformin is the only widely used oral drug that does not cause weight gain.

The new therapeutic targets, in fact, are no longer simply glycemic control, the reduction in glycated Hb (HbA1c), or minimization of the hypoglycemic risk. Instead, they are now increasingly oriented toward reducing the cardiovascular risk (CVR) and the overall mortality of diabetic patients, thus moving away from a glucocentric toward a cardio-metabolic approach. Such ambitious goals are currently achievable by these  two classes of new antidiabetic drugs, i.e., sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA)

SGLT2 (sodium glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors: Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin. The  metabolic effect of these gliflozins is to inhibit reabsorption of glucose in the kidney and therefore lower blood sugar. Apart from blood sugar control, gliflozins have been shown to provide significant cardiovascular benefit in people with type 2 diabetes. studies have shown that  canagliflozin, was found to enhance blood sugar control as well as reduce body weight and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.. It is recommended that all type 2 diabetics take these agents unless there is a urinary or genital infection that can be aggravated because of the excretion of sugar through urine.

GLP1 (glucagon-like peptides 1) agonists- these agents benefit by delaying gastric emptying and inhibit inappropriate post meal glucagon release ,thus the risk of hypoglycemia is low . In terms of cardiovascular effects, GLP-1 agonists can improve left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial contractility, coronary blood flow, cardiac output, and endothelial function while reducing infarction size and overall risks for a cardiovascular event. Besides reducing vascular issues and sugar levels, these drugs also reduce body weight significantly. They are typically administered via subcutaneous injection.Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Dulaglutide, and other once-weekly alternatives have recently been available as well . Following groundbreaking research, an oral preparation of semaglutide has been created to enable the delivery of a protein in a pill. Rybelsus is the oral version of this.

MYTH 6-  Skipping a meal can control sugar levels –

Fact: “Another misconception among diabetics is that if they don’t eat a meal, their sugar levels will get controlled and they won’t require medicines, while the fact is once the sugar levels are high, skipping meals is not the way to treat it. The total calorie intake of the day is important rather than just avoiding carbohydrates and maintaining a diet hygiene is more fruitful,”

MYTH 7- My sugar levels have always been on the higher side for years but it’s ok since I don’t have any symptoms-

Fact: “Diabetes unfortunately does not manifest with overt symptoms unless severe and late in the course. Early diagnosis and sticking to FBS (Fasting Blood Sugar) of 80 to 120 and PPBS of 140 to 180 with appropriate antidiabetic agents saves heart, kidney, retina, nerves and various other organs,”

MYTH 8: I don’t need to take medicines as my blood sugar levels are in control for a long time now-

Fact: “Majority of patients stop taking their prescribed medicines once sugar is controlled thinking they no longer require it while the fact is that the sugar is controlled because of the medicine and as soon as they stop the treatment, sugar levels start increasing again,”

MYTH 9: I don’t need to check sugar levels frequently as they are generally in control-

Fact: Diabetes is a progressive disease. The medicines and doses that worked for you before may not work now. Even if sugars are well controlled at least once a week checking of FBS/PPBS with a glucometer is important. Meet your diabetologist at least once in 60 days. Your doctor needs to check end-organ damage if it has started like kidney disease, neuropathy, heart disease retinopathy etc.

CONCLUSION –

In conclusion, dispelling myths surrounding diabetes irreversibility requires a fundamental shift in mindset. It’s time for individuals to discard doubts and take ownership of their health journey. By actively engaging with healthcare professionals, adopting healthy lifestyle practices, and embracing emerging medical advancements, we can pave the way for a future where diabetes reversal is not just a possibility, but a tangible reality. Let’s seize this opportunity to rewrite the narrative of diabetes management, empowering individuals to reclaim control over their health and unlock the potential for a brighter, healthier tomorrow.

Rabindranath in his Heart : International Tagore Award for Ratan Bhattacharjee 

                                       Dr. Daniela Rogeobete

All his life being an admirer of Tagore and of his poetry and philosophy as a World Poet , Dr Ratan Bhattacharjee himself is a globe trotting academician  who won both  International Tagore Award 2024 and Bhanu Singh Award 2024 and saw Tagore mainly as a Lover of Humanity and World Peace. Dr. Bhattacharjee focused on these aspects of Tagore in the  Special lecture delivered  in Farirleigh Dickinson University on ‘Love Poetry of Tagore and Whiman’ which was much appreciated in the Pre-Covid days .Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee  read Tagore’s  Red Oleander but he himself wrote more than 150 love poems only on Oleander , a floral image he chose as a postcolonial alternative image and for this The Statesman in a review described him as ‘Oleander poet’. However he loved fiction no less .Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee mused deeply on Tagore’s ideal of Education in ‘West Bengal ‘ and Yuba Manas ‘ and also in the Dainik Basumati paper. His book on Tagore’s Love poetry is coming soon from Patridge in 2025. His nearly 2000 poems of love both published and unpublished bear some influence  of Tagore and Neruda  and no less  so of Lorca. Dr. Ratan believed in Tagore’s concept of love .At present a senior columnist  and Affiliate Faculty of English, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond USA, Dr Ratan Bhattacharjee   has been selected for the  International Tagore Award by  DRDC, approved by the Ministry of India. DRDC is   the first Inter-Government Organisation and world’s first organization which is promoting entrepreneurship, Research & innovation, worldwide in a new way. Dr Bhattacharjee  also won the Bhanu Singh Award 2024 from   The Global Nation media house from Bangladesh.  Poems of Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee are being published for decades in Germany Phillipines Italy  USA , and many African and Arab countries poems are translated into Lebanese Italian French  His first poem appears as early as 2005  in  online sites of the social media and blogs  and over there he started writing pictorial poems  on Love and Nature . Later he compiled some of them in Melodyand Maladies . Cyberwit Allahabad inspired him to publish his first  book of poem The Ballad of the Bleeding Bubbles  which was translated into Assamese as Raktakta Burburanir Malita jointly  by Mr Utpal Datta ,famous writer and film director cum Deputy Director Guwahati Akashvani and Prof Karabi Hazarika of Naharkatia College Assam That was a huge inspiration for being connected to Assamese writers and poets.Legendary poet Jayanta Mahapatra released his book in Pondicherry. Later Akademi Awardee poet amd editor Anuradha Sarma Pujari published my Assamess poem in Sadin. Legendary Homen Borgohain actually inspired me over the phone to contribute to Niyamiya Barta . He started writing in Amar Asom ,Dainik Janambhoomi , and  Sadin. Mr Samdeep Sarma of Eastern Chronicle and Mr Rameswar Chouhan made me a regular contributor to Hills Times Patricia Mukhim persuaded me to write for Shillong Times and PJ Baruah published number of articles in The Assam Tribune  and now inspired by Smita Bhattacharya i am a regular writer of The Sentinel Saturday Fare and Sunday supplement Melange . All these developed his  love for Assam and its literature besides my writings in Bengali Aajkal Puber Kalom and Dainik Statesman

Travelling is his most favourite hobby and now universities in India and USA are inviting him for lectures on Promotion of Indian and American literature nearly every fortnight. Tagore’s poetry always inspired Dr Ratan as a poet and educationist. Tagore’s poetry primarily deals with love – love for humanity, love for divinity and love for nature. His early poetry is concerned with man’s love for  woman but his later poetry is mainly concerned with man’s love and longing for God’s beauty and love. Dr.Ratan subscribes to this poetic philosophy of Tagore and the award goes to him in this year. Tagore’s Red Oleander inspired him though his best seller Oleander Blooms is uniquely different from Tagore’s writings. He used the floral image of Oleander with a postcolonial motif and as a new alternative to Rose. Anthony Johae ,,Shakepeare Professor  of Essex university wrote in his Preface to the book that Oleander reveals the dialectics of joy and sorrow associated with love. The trajectory of love as blissful and  love as  poisonous is focused in the bouquet of love poems on Oleander. Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee  is fond  of  Keats’s worship of Beauty and Tagore too mentions Keatsian worship of Beauty. Like Shelley and Tagore , for  Dr.Ratan love is a basic principle of the universe.  His poems on this theme are published regularly in Saturno  from  Italy Global Nation and Kavya Kishore International from Bangladesh Raven Cage  from Germany . His poems  on Nature are published in Friendship of People from Tazakistan Antology from italy Summer Nights from Ohio and Orfeus .He is nominated as  international judge in Passion Of Poetry from Philippines.

All  through a poet , Dr. Bhattacharjee’s forte however  is his academic potentiality. Dr.Ratan  is a voracious reader and loved to teach  Shelley and Keats , Lorca and Neruda  in his long 40 year teaching career. Che Guevara also inspired him. Picasso and Beethoven are his good pastime. He loved to read ghost and detective books of Byomkesh, Swapan Kumar, Satyajit Roy and Nihar Ranjan.Basically a student of Calcutta University  he passed from Scottish Church College and then in University of Kolkata .He was formerly Associate Professor & Chair  Post Graduate Deot of English Dum Dum Motijheel College and also simultaneously  a Trilingual Columnist cum Poet . He is the Author of Six Feet Distance : Looking Back to Lockdown (AuthorHouse Bloomington USA ) Francis Scott Fitzgerald:His Art and Vision (Patridge Singapore ) Thr Ballad of the Bleeding Bubbles : Melodies and Maladies of Love  ( Cyberwit Allahabad) Oleander Blooms :A Bouquet of Oleander Poems of Love  (Authors Press New Delhi) Theodore Dreiser Going Beyond Naturalism  ( INSC ) Renee Rudhagnee (Authors Press) Our Daughter , Our Princess (Authors Press New Delhi) . He edited Journals Literary Confluence and Voice of Indian English Writers. He pioneered some ideas of Fourth World Literature in India  and worked as Resource Person in a number of International Conferences  on Gender Studies, Post Colonial and American literature in the country and abroad   . His Collected works Vol I (Patridge) and Our Time Revisited : a Collection of Essays on Man Literature and Society (Patridge)  My American Days are in press to be published in 2025 .Internationally acclaimed  Hon’ble  Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu of Andhra Prades awarded Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee in the International Meet of Multilingual Poets at Vijaywada Cultural Centre , He served as Part Time and Guest in Vidyasagar University and Rabindra Bharati University too.

Since his childhood days which he  passed in the idyllic environment listening to the songs of innocence all around him in the first decade  of the Post-Independence days. His grandfather as an employee organized labour movement in the Metcalfe Press and later Metcalfe  was acting governor-general of India who  particularly  promulgated  laws for freedom of the press .His grand father  was elected Member of Legislative Council in 1935.His  grandmother was married at the age of 9 but she used to teach the village girls and later she was appointed teacher in her own house and got a salary of 16 rupees in those days. It was a huge amount. This story was an inspiring one  as it shows  an atmosphere where service to the people was the motto and the house  was crowded by common people .During  1942 Famine huge amount of Kichdi was cooked for the poor hungry people of the locality . His leading of a very simple life was a story of inspiration for all . His father Chandranath Bhattacharjee  was a teacher and a man of poetic mind  and mother was a pious lady a worshipper of Durga mata and a lover of music . His wife too was a wonderful woman dutiful and compassionate . His wife  Anjali accepted his maverick mood and gave him inspiring support each moment for the last 40 years of their conjugal life. His daughter’s literary excellence   is also inspiration for him  The .little five year old daughter  inspires him everyday to write stories for her already one book of poems on her was published .In his boyhood days  he  used to bring out a hand written magazine where his school friends and family members used to contribute. .. He  compared Charles Dickens’s Great Expectation and  F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in  MPhil Dissertation when few opted in India for American literature Later he was the executive member of Indian Association of American Studies IAAS in Mysore University ..Finally he  did his  Ph.D . on American Literature under Professor Laxmi Parasuram  who was a renowned professor in American literature and his book on Theodore Dreiser and F.Scott Fitzgerald were highly praised by Emeritus Professor of VCU and a great  Fitzgerald Scholar Dr. Bryant Mangum in VCU Richmond. .For his research interest he  specialized on Theodore Dreiser Studies , he  got offer for doing post doctoral from the USA. But for his  family  problems he did not accept the offers. His  guide was unsatisfied with him. Inspired by Dr. Bhabatosh Chatterjee Sir Gurudas Banerjee Professr of Calcutta University he developed a love for  ASRC Hyderabad and he was selected Scholar in Residence twice for  for three months..

 He along with Dr. Jill Blondin Associate Vice Provost Global Education Services of VCU opened a new Society KIAS ( Kaleidoscopic Indian American Society )  and they  are now opening regional centers all over indian Higher education institutions in  Nagpur,Dharbhanga ,  Delhi, Meerut Jaipur  ,Kanpur, Madurai  Annamalai Unviersity  and Manipal University and others. He got inspiration from his Principals Late Sukumar Gupta  Late Ranaji  Bagh and Dr. :Pradeepta Gupta Roy the later one being a writer and researcher of international height.  However love from his readers on social media and his popularity  in the universities in all over India and abroad are his real award,. They all are now happy when  he bagged the International Tagore Award and the Bhanu Singh Award at the same time this year. Other awards he got make  a  pretty long list which includes, APJ Abdul Kalam Education Excellence Award as Dynamic Professor of the Year 2021,Certificate of Commitment World Book of  Records Switzerland 2021,Winner of International Award 2020, Literamo Golden Star Awards 2020, INS Research Excellence Award 2020 ,Best Professor of the Year 2020 Award , International Research Scholar Reviewer ( Lifetime), International Educational Excellence Award Dynamic Professor of the Year 2021 etc. Still Dr. Ratan remains humble and down to earth in his approach to life. His message is simple but profound, “ Like Tagore I want to say , Love  for humanity is my motto and  Promotion of global peace is my mission.”Dr.Daniela Rogeobete Associate Professor  of American Literature and English University of Craiova, Romania  is a versatile writer ,Email, dani.rogobete@yahoo.com

 Multi-Talented Faruque Ahamed : Promoting Minority Education in India

                                          Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee

Faruque Ahamed’s versatility is manifested as poet, writer, essayist and above all as a socially alert citizen. It is a passion of the heart. His Udar Akash Publication is calling, let the light of literature illuminate every home. Michael Bassey Johnson in The Infinity Sign wrote “Creativity expands the mind, stretches it beyond ordinary human comprehension, resulting in the mind being elastic and capable of transcending and discerning complex ideas.”Every book fair in Kolkata witnessed his publications. He is a fountain of inspiration to many in the publication world as a ‘pole star of commitment’. Nearly all eminent intellectuals and academicians, poets and writers veer round him for a space in his edited journals and edited books. In the latest Book Fair issue of Udar Akash eminent Akademi awardee writers like Subodh Sarkar and Journalist like Mainul Hassan along with others contributed a good many articles on the socio-cultural life of Bengal and North East, nay India. Subodh Sarkar’s unique poems raise a big question “What is life’s meaning if we forget to dream”. In another poem he wrote “I wanna write like a young poet , I wanna do mistakes”. Side by side, in a serious essay Mainul Hassan wrote on Gulzar’s only novel Do Log which he wrote at the age of 83. The novel was written against the backdrop of World War II. Gulzar mused on the tragic story of Partition. Sumit Mukhopadhyay  handled a difficult topic  ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Shymaprasad Mukherjee : Their  Concepts of Nationalism”. The discussion on Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen’s interpretation of John Rawl’s concept of Justice is truly a perceptive one and worth reading. Zahir Ul Islam mused on the sense of humour in the poetry of the revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and it makes happy reading. For the collection of such rare articles  and poems Udar Akash is regarded as ‘a cultural  heritage’ more than a mere edited journal.  Faruque Ahamed who hails from a backward community rises to a great height of intellectual commitment by connecting the great minds of Bengal, Assam and even Bangladesh. He focuses on the socio- cultural background of our country and the position of the backward minorities in his books and journals. He traces back the hitherto unknown roots  of their sufferings. This is a Herculean task and he continues with it. Recently he published one very important book Bangalir Astitwa Rakshar Sangram (A Struggle for the Existence of the Bengalee) which has stirred the intellectual mind. The book contains more than forty write ups by twenty two eminent writers and researchers including Barid Baran Ghosh, Safiunessa, Bani Basu,  Subodh Sarkar, Mainul Hassan, Jayanta Singha , Suman Bhattacharya, Jayanta Ghoshal, Manisha Bandyopadhyay, Mohd. Samsul Alam, Ekramul Haque Sheikh, Prabir Ghosh Roy, Dipak Saha, Kumaresh Chakraborty and many others. In his poem Subodh Sarkar wrote “Language survives in Salt and Turmeric” . Sahana Nag Chowdury focused on how a language like Bangla  fights for its own survival over the ages. Barid Baran Ghosh expresses his concern for the gradual decline of Bengali culture and heritage. Long ago Tagore  wrote about the ‘Unity of the nation’ which was forged through the unity of languages. But that too is in jeopardy and Safiunessa expressed her concern in her article about the cleavages found in this unity in Assam and Bengal and also in other parts of the country. In Bengal the existence of Bengalee people is at stake. In Mumbai the Marathi constitutes 68%, in Chennai, Tamil constitutes 82 % Kannad in Bangaluru constitutes 72%  but in Kolkata Bengalee are less than 55% of the total population. ‘Is the survival of the Bengalee at stake?” Suman Bhattacharya raises this question in his article. Faruque Ahamed who is deeply engaged in academic and research activities always made the exploration of the status of neglected backward ethnic groups as a focal point in his undertaken projects. As the Editor of “Udar Akash” magazine and Udar Akash publishing house and a researcher of Kalyani University, he concentrates on working for the dignity of the nation for the welfare of the society, in addressing  the grievances of the neglected and backward classes in their time-worn struggle to help them enjoy their due rights.

Faruque Ahamed is one of the representatives of Bengal’s new batch of thinkers that emerged in sthe early 21st century. He created a sage niche for himself in the field of social thinking at a rapid pace as one of those rare harbingers of new Dawn who are committed to the promotion of values in keeping with newly emergent ideas and  revolutionary theories in the pages of literature. Faruque Ahamed said ”Muslims had no contribution in the middle class and intelligentsia of Bengal that flourished in the early 19th century. However, it is universally accepted that the work of unifying all the towns of Bengal under the name of ‘Banga’ was not achieved during the Hindu period. This job was accomplished during the Muslim period. This was the most difficult time for the Muslims of Bengal during the six hundred (600) years after the arrival of Muslims in Bangladesh and the beginning of the propagation of Islam through Sufi mystics (bujargs). The period from 1757 (The year when the throne or the ‘Hukumati Takht’ passed from the hands of the Muslims) till the beginning of the 20th century can be characterized as a dark period for the Muslims of Bengal. It is notable that during the Mughal period Muslim Bengali literature continued to be discussed and practiced in Bangladesh and in two independent outlying states outside the Mughal Empire (namely Rosang and Tripura).2 In this context we have to remember the untold sufferings of Muslims in Hindustan after an unsuccessful Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.3 M.R. Akhtar Mukul’s book called “Kolkata-centric intellectuals” (Kolkata kendrik Buddhijibi) supports this statement.

 The period between 1905-1947 AD can be identified as the period of self-establishment and expansion of the middle-class Bengali Muslim class. 4 That is, since the beginning of the twentieth century, Bengali Muslims had been trying to find a form of society. In fact, between 1920 and 1947, it emerged as a prestigious ethnic group. A mindset of response to change is developed at every level of life. At such a time, independence came to this subcontinent through partition. Bengali Muslim’s self-development path soon became blocked in Bengal. A large section of the newly emerged Bengali Muslim intellectuals ‘migrated’ to the then East Pakistan seeking respect and establishment. As a result of the political evolution in the life of the Muslims of West Bengal, an indescribable misery descended. Then in Calcutta, the loss of life and property of Muslims was much more than that of Hindus. After the partition of the country, the Bengali Muslim society suddenly became guardian less. The political ideas of individual nationality, right to self-determination had disappeared over time in changed circumstances.

In such a situation, the intellectual field of Bengali Muslims was disturbed, though it was natural. Humayun Kabir (1906-’69), Qazi Abdul Odud (1894-1970), Syed Mujtaba Ali (1904-’74), Abu Syed Ayub (1906-’82) and Rezaul Karim (1902-’93). The people mentioned earlier in the country-division achieved special fame in the practice of literary culture. At this time a group of Bengali Muslim writers took initiative. Two literary organizations were established for that purpose. One was in Calcutta and the other was in Dhaka.6 The associations for Islamic Civilization and Cultural Aspects were saved by hard works of M. Abdur Rahman.

The void created in the field of literature and culture after the partition shocked the Muslims of West Bengal, but they did not lose heart. At this time, the principles of Renaissance Society and Sahitya Sangsad were adopted in the field of literature and culture. This principle was particularly noticeable in the use of the Bengali language.7 It’s manifestation had become noticeable later. The names of Syed Mustafa Siraj, Abdul Aziz Al-Aman and Abdul Jabbar are particularly memorable amongst the promising young Muslim writers of that time. After partition, when the cultural identity of the Bengali Muslim society had in danger, at that time Syed Mustafa Siraj had overcame various disasters and limitations to establish his dignity and nobility, at the same time, Bengali Muslims had tried to identify the centre of their self-esteem. Mr. Syed Mustafa Siraj was the top representative of ‘Composite Culture’. At this time, the Bengali Muslim writer’s eyes were particularly focused on his social and communal feelings. In this regard, the role of Muslim writers against social prejudices was memorable. Especially their efforts in modern education, gaining freedom, connecting with science and modern lifestyle were helpful in the progression of society.”

Udar Akash has already left a profound mark on the panorama of literary mind of our times. All great minds love to dream and it is the dream of writer Faruque Ahamed to show the new horizons of progressive thoughts as a new milestone of thinking.

Faruque Ahamed was not born with a silver spoon but his birth on March 7, 1983 in Natapukur village of South 24 Parganas district was probably an auspicious event for the people of Natapukur village which today feels proud of him. He was an inquisitive student in the village primary school with chalk in hand. He is the first in his generation to get an opportunity to work as a Ph.D. researcher in the prestigious Kalyani University. Earlier no other member from the family got a chance to get admission in Ph.D. Faruque Ahamed’s wife Mousumi Biswas is also working as a Ph.D. researcher in the Department of Education. Faruque Ahamed is currently working as News letter In-Charge and Office Co-ordinator of Chemistry Department in Kalyani University. But his creative urge is no less important .His notable poetry book is ‘Vishwaprem’. Essay collection ‘Promise and Development’, ‘Furfura Sharif’s Message’, ‘Muslim Vote Bank in Congress and Left Governance’, ‘The Paradox of Sunrise Political Empowerment in the West’, ‘Kazi Nazrul Islam Across the Vast Sky’ and ‘Bengali’s Struggle for Survival’ edited by Faruque Ahamed. Faruque Ahamed also edited a research book on Kalyani University written in English. “Udar Akash” edited by Faruque Ahamed has already published special issues on ‘Minorities and Chief Ministers’, ‘In Search of Dignity’, ‘Search for Self-Identity’, ‘Mirror of Self-Development’, ‘Backward and Minorities in Political Empowerment’, ‘Degradation of Values’, ‘Awakening of Bhoomiputras’ and ‘Advancing the response to ugliness’. These academic and literary efforts made the people of Bengal aware of the turning point in state politics. He is determined to continue efforts in search for human dignity in the future.

Editing anthology is nowadays a regular thing with the academicians. But when it is the versatile Editor Faruque Ahamed, the story is totally different. His recently edited books tell us the big truth. Everyone knows his peer reviewed Bi-annual Literary Research Journal ‘Udar Akash’ (Generous Firmament). It has crossed nearly twenty two years  as the journey started when he published the first issue of “Udar Akash” (in 2002) with the help and cooperation from many of his friends. During his school life, he had his debut in journalism. At that time, he started his career with scanty earning from farming and selling newspapers. More than 121 books have already been published by Udar Akash Publishing House. Several books of high academic standard have been published by Udar Akash publishing house which rightly deserved encomium from researchers and varied readers of West Bengal Assam or even Bangladesh which is promoting varied muslim minority issues.

[Dr Ratan Bhattacharjee is currently Affiliate Faculty Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond  USA and a multilingual writer   Email bhattacharjr@gmail.com

PINKY’S CHILDHOOD!

( An Autobiographical story of eminent Odhisa writer Monalisa Parida to be taught in Nepal schools for Grade 7 Students)

      Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Pinky who lived in a small village, Chhoti. She was a lively child whose passion was playing, studying, writing poems, short stories. She was a bright student of Ramachandi Sikshya Niketan, Chhoti who loved learning new things and was always curious about the world around her. As she grew older, she realised the importance of education. Her parents were farmers who worked hard to feed their family. Despite their hardships, her parents valued education and always encouraged her to study.

       One day her father got some work in Cuttack, Odisha. Pinky convenienced her father to accompany him on the trip. It was a matter of  three days. So her father agreed. She packed her luggage and very excited to go there, where she could start her new professional life. When pinky reached at Cuttack, she saw the buildings, shopping Mahals, pakka roads etc. There were full of crowed where one couldn’t breathe fresh air. She felt suffocated. So, Pinky returned her own village where she could breathe clean air and played with her best friend Niki to whom she loved more than her life. Though Pinky was a bright student in her school but her family members especially her grandmother opposed her not to go to school whom Pinky loved more than her mother. But her family members allowed her cousin brother to study hard and supported him to reach his destination. When she saw the opposition of her family members, she was weird. And thought “Why is she not going to school?” But her father supported her to go to school where she can built her future.

    Pinky was inspired by her father’s word and decided to pursue her education further. Through her journey, Pinky realised that education was not just about getting a good job or earning money. It is about gaining knowledge, developing critical thinking skills and using that knowledge to make a difference in the world. She understood the value of education and how it could empower individuals and communities.

    By the blessings of Maa Ramachandi, support of her parents, relatives and friends now Pinky became an Assistant Professor of English at Bhubaneswar College of Engineering, Khordha, Odisha who is also an international recognised poetess of Odisha.

     The moral of the story is that education gives us identity and helps us to make the right decisions.