The Life and Legacy of Polan Sarkar

Ekushey Padak winner Polan Sarkar, affectionately called Alor Ferrywala, a torch bearer, was best known as a kind soul who distributed books for free among people, died on Friday 1″ march 2019, but left a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.

The 98-year-old had been suffering from old-age complications. He passed away surrounded by his loved ones at his home of Bausha village in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi. Born in August 1, 1921, Polan Sarkar’s real name is Harez Uddin. He was born in Bagatipara, Natore.

Financial troubles of his family could not hamper his passion for reading and learning. He loved books. As a boy, Polan borrowed books from wherever he could, and voraciously read them.

He established a school in his village in 1965 after receiving some inheritance from his grandfather. In 1990, he decided a yearly award for students of the school who would top the merit list. The prize was, of course, books. Other students expressed their desire to read as well. He gave them the condition that the students must return the books to him upon finishing, so he could lend the books to other students as well. Eventually, local adults started borrowing books from his collection as well.

Polan Sarkar started a social movement of distributing books free of charge. When he was diagnosed with diabetes in 1992, he decided he would distribute books during his daily walks. He would go around on his own two feet, sharing his love for books.

He had been admired in Rajshahi for a long time, but gained nationwide recognition after being featured in Bangladesh Television’s popular show Ittadi in December 29, 2006.

He won the Ekushey Padak in 2011. Bangladesh’s second-highest civilian award, for his contribution to society.

একুশে পদকপ্রাপ্ত পোলান সরকার, স্নেহের ডাকনাম আলোর ফেরিওয়ালা, একজন আলোকবাহী ব্যক্তিত্ব হিসেবে সর্বাধিক পরিচিত ছিলেন একজন দয়ালু মানুষ হিসেবে যিনি মানুষের মধ্যে বিনামূল্যে বই বিতরণ করতেন। ২০১৯ সালের ১লা মার্চ শুক্রবার তিনি মৃত্যুবরণ করেন, কিন্তু তিনি এমন একটি উত্তরাধিকার রেখে গেছেন যা বহু বছর ধরে স্মরণীয় হয়ে থাকবে।

৯৮ বছর বয়সী তিনি বার্ধক্যজনিত জটিলতায় ভুগছিলেন। রাজশাহীর বাঘা উপজেলার বাউশা গ্রামের নিজ বাড়িতে পরিবার–পরিজন ও শুভাকাঙ্ক্ষীদের ঘিরে তিনি শেষ নিঃশ্বাস ত্যাগ করেন। ১৯২১ সালের ১লা আগস্ট নাটোরের বাগাতিপাড়ায় জন্মগ্রহণ করেন পোলান সরকার। তার প্রকৃত নাম হarez উদ্দিন।

পারিবারিক আর্থিক সমস্যা তার পড়াশোনা ও জ্ঞানার্জনের আগ্রহে বাধা হয়ে দাঁড়াতে পারেনি। তিনি বই ভালোবাসতেন। ছোটবেলায় পোলান যেখান থেকে পারতেন বই ধার নিতেন এবং তা অত্যন্ত আগ্রহ নিয়ে পড়তেন।

১৯৬৫ সালে দাদার কাছ থেকে কিছু উত্তরাধিকার সূত্রে প্রাপ্ত অর্থ দিয়ে তিনি তার গ্রামে একটি স্কুল প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন। ১৯৯০ সালে, তিনি স্কুলের মেধাতালিকায় প্রথম স্থান অধিকারী শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য বার্ষিক পুরস্কারের ব্যবস্থা করেন। পুরস্কার ছিল, স্বভাবতই, বই। অন্যান্য শিক্ষার্থীরাও বই পড়ার ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ করে। তিনি তাদের শর্ত দেন যে বই পড়া শেষ হলে শিক্ষার্থীদেরকে বইটি ফেরত দিতে হবে, যাতে তিনি সেই বই অন্য শিক্ষার্থীদেরও দিতে পারেন। ধীরে ধীরে, স্থানীয় প্রাপ্তবয়স্করাও তার সংগ্রহ থেকে বই ধার নিতে শুরু করে।

পোলান সরকার বিনামূল্যে বই বিতরণের একটি সামাজিক আন্দোলন শুরু করেন। ১৯৯২ সালে যখন তার ডায়াবেটিস ধরা পড়ে, তিনি সিদ্ধান্ত নেন যে তার দৈনিক হাঁটার সময় বই বিতরণ করবেন। তিনি নিজের দুই পায়ে হেঁটে ঘুরে ঘুরে বইয়ের প্রতি তার ভালোবাসা ছড়িয়ে দিতেন।

তিনি দীর্ঘদিন ধরে রাজশাহী অঞ্চলে প্রশংসিত হলেও ২০০৬ সালের ২৯শে ডিসেম্বর বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশনের জনপ্রিয় অনুষ্ঠান ইত্যাদিতে তার事迹 (কীর্তি) তুলে ধরা হলে তিনি জাতীয় পর্যায়ে পরিচিতি লাভ করেন।

সমাজে তার অবদানের জন্য তিনি ২০১১ সালে বাংলাদেশের দ্বিতীয় সর্বোচ্চ বেসামরিক পুরস্কার একুশে পদক লাভ করেন।

Vocabulary Box: Polan Sarkar – The Torchbearer of Light

1. What was Polan Sarkar’s affectionate nickname?
   a) Boi Feriwala (The Book Peddler)
   b) Alor Feriwala (The Peddler of Light)
   c) Gyan Feriwala (The Peddler of Knowledge)
   d) Biddyut Feriwala (The Peddler of Electricity)
2. What is the English meaning of “Alor Feriwala”?
   a) The Book Seller
   b) The Light of the Village
   c) The Torch Bearer
   d) The Peddler of Light
3. On which day did Polan Sarkar pass away?
   a) Saturday, 2nd March 2019
   b) Friday, 1st March 2019
   c) Sunday, 3rd March 2019
   d) Monday, 4th March 2019
4. What was the primary reason for his death?
   a) A sudden accident
   b) Prolonged illness from diabetes
   c) Old-age complications
   d) Unknown reasons
5. Where was his home located?
   a) Bagatipara, Natore
   b) Bausha village, Bagha upazila, Rajshahi
   c) Dhaka city
   d) The text does not say.
6. In which district was Polan Sarkar born?
   a) Rajshahi
   b) Natore
   c) Bagha
   d) Bausha
7. What was Polan Sarkar’s real name?
   a) Polan Uddin
   b) Harez Uddin
   c) Hafiz Uddin
   d) Harun Uddin
8. What could not hinder his passion for learning?
   a) Lack of schools
   b) His family’s financial troubles
   c) Society’s disapproval
   d) Unavailability of teachers
9. What did Polan love the most from his boyhood?
   a) Teaching
   b) Writing
   c) Books
   d) Walking
10. How did he acquire books to read as a boy?
    a) He bought them from shops.
    b) He borrowed them from wherever he could.
    c) He worked in a library.
    d) His family bought them for him.
11. When did he establish a school in his village?
    a) 1990
    b) 1965
    c) 1992
    d) 2006
12. What enabled him to establish the school?
    a) Donations from the community
    b) A government grant
    c) An inheritance from his grandfather
    d) His personal savings
13. In which year did he decide to give a yearly award to meritorious students?
    a) 1965
    b) 1990
    c) 1992
    d) 2006
14. What was the prize for the top students?
    a) Money
    b) Books
    c) Medals
    d) Certificates
15. What did the other students express after seeing the awards?
    a) A desire to win the prize
    b) A desire to read as well
    c) Disappointment
    d) A desire for a different prize
16. What was Polan Sarkar’s condition for lending books to other students?
    a) They must pay a small fee.
    b) They must return the books after finishing.
    c) They must recommend the book to a friend.
    d) They must write a book report.
17. Who else started borrowing books from his collection later?
    a) Teachers from other schools
    b) Local adults
    c) People from neighboring villages
    d) Government officials
18. What kind of movement did Polan Sarkar start?
    a) A movement for free education
    b) A movement for building libraries
    c) A movement of distributing books free of charge
    d) A movement for literacy campaigns
19. What health issue was he diagnosed with in 1992?
    a) Heart disease
    b) Diabetes
    c) High blood pressure
    d) The text does not specify.
20. What did he decide to do during his daily walks after his diagnosis?
    a) Raise funds for books
    b) Distribute books
    c) Teach children
    d) Collect books from donors
21. How did he travel to distribute books?
    a) By bicycle
    b) By rickshaw
    c) On his own two feet
    d) By boat
22. For how long had he been admired in Rajshahi?
    a) For a few years
    b) Since 2006
    c) For a long time
    d) Since winning the Ekushey Padak
23. When did he gain nationwide recognition?
    a) After winning the Ekushey Padak in 2011
    b) After establishing the school in 1965
    c) After being featured on Bangladesh Television in 2006
    d) After starting his book distribution walk in 1992
24. Which television show featured him?
    a) Mati O Manush
    b) Ittadi
    c) Songsar
    d) Rong Berong
25. On which channel was the show broadcast?
    a) ATN Bangla
    b) Channel i
    c) NTV
    d) Bangladesh Television
26. On what date was he featured on the show?
    a) December 29, 2006
    b) March 1, 2019
    c) August 1, 1921
    d) February 21, 2011
27. Which award did Polan Sarkar win?
    a) Bangla Academy Award
    b) Independence Award
    c) Ekushey Padak
    d) National Film Award
28. In which year did he win the award?
    a) 2006
    b) 1992
    c) 2011
    d) 2019
29. For what was the award given?
    a) His contribution to education
    b) His contribution to literature
    c) His contribution to society
    d) His bravery
30. What is the Ekushey Padak in terms of prestige in Bangladesh?
    a) The highest military award
    b) The highest civilian award
    c) The second-highest civilian award
    d) A special cultural award
31. The phrase “kind soul” in the text refers to his:
    a) Physical strength
    b) Generous and compassionate nature
    c) Intellectual ability
    d) Wealth
32. The term “legacy” in the passage most likely refers to:
    a) The money he left behind
    b) The property he owned
    c) The school he built
    d) The inspiring example and memory he left
33. The word “voraciously” in the context of his reading habit means:
    a) Slowly and carefully
    b) With great eagerness and enthusiasm
    c) Without understanding
    d) Occasionally
34. The word “complications” in “old-age complications” means:
    a) Simple problems
    b) Health problems that make an existing condition worse
    c) Solutions
    d) Happy events
35. What is the main purpose of the text?
    a) To criticize the education system
    b) To advertise a book
    c) To inform and honor Polan Sarkar’s life and work
    d) To raise funds for a school
36. What was the initial catalyst for his book lending activity?
    a) A request from the local council
    b) The yearly award ceremony at his school
    c) His own childhood struggle to access books
    d) A suggestion from a friend
37. The book distribution during his walks began as a direct result of:
    a) Winning the Ekushey Padak
    b) His diagnosis of a health condition
    c) National fame from television
    d) Increased donations
38. Which of the following best describes Polan Sarkar’s character?
    a) Ambitious and wealthy
    b) Resilient and philanthropic
    c) Shy and reserved
    d) Strict and disciplined
39. The school he established was primarily for:
    a) Adults
    b) The children of his village
    c) Only the top meritorious students
    d) Girls only
40. The phrase “passed away” is a synonym for:
    a) Traveled
    b) Succeeded
    c) Died
    d) Returned
41. What did Polan Sarkar “share” during his walks?
    a) His food
    b) His money
    c) His love for books
    d) His medical advice
42. The text suggests that Polan Sarkar’s work was:
    a) Widely known only after his death
    b) Appreciated only internationally
    c) Recognized first locally, then nationally
    d) Never officially recognized
43. What does the “inheritance” from his grandfather allow him to do?
    a) Buy books for himself
    b) Start a business
    c) Establish a school
    d) Travel the country
44. The condition of returning books was primarily to:
    a) Maintain the books’ quality
    b) Ensure the students read carefully
    c) Create a revolving library system
    d) Keep track of his inventory
45. The word “hamper” in the context of “financial troubles could not hamper his passion” means:
    a) Encourage
    b) Prevent or hinder
    c) Finance
    d) Increase
46. According to the text, how did he die?
    a) In a hospital
    b) At home, surrounded by loved ones
    c) While distributing books
    d) Alone
47. The nationwide recognition helped to:
    a) Cure his illness
    b) Make him a wealthy man
    c) Bring his efforts to a wider audience
    d) Stop his book distribution
48. What is the Bangla translation for “distributed books for free”?
    a) Boi bikri korten
    b) Boi baanthen
    c) Binnoy moy boi bitoron korten
    d) Boi porben
49. The text is most likely a:
    a) Fictional story
    b) News obituary/tribute
    c) Scientific report
    d) Political speech
50. What is the central theme of the passage?
    a) The importance of winning awards
    b) The power of perseverance and generosity in promoting education
    c) The history of education in Bangladesh
    d) The biography of a famous writer

Here are the answers for the 50 MCQ questions:

1. b) Alor Feriwala (The Peddler of Light)
2. d) The Peddler of Light
3. b) Friday, 1st March 2019
4. c) Old-age complications
5. b) Bausha village, Bagha upazila, Rajshahi
6. b) Natore
7. b) Harez Uddin
8. b) His family’s financial troubles
9. c) Books
10. b) He borrowed them from wherever he could.
11. b) 1965
12. c) An inheritance from his grandfather
13. b) 1990
14. b) Books
15. b) A desire to read as well
16. b) They must return the books after finishing.
17. b) Local adults
18. c) A movement of distributing books free of charge
19. b) Diabetes
20. b) Distribute books
21. c) On his own two feet
22. c) For a long time
23. c) After being featured on Bangladesh Television in 2006
24. b) Ittadi
25. d) Bangladesh Television
26. a) December 29, 2006
27. c) Ekushey Padak
28. c) 2011
29. c) His contribution to society
30. c) The second-highest civilian award
31. b) Generous and compassionate nature
32. d) The inspiring example and memory he left
33. b) With great eagerness and enthusiasm
34. b) Health problems that make an existing condition worse
35. c) To inform and honor Polan Sarkar’s life and work
36. c) His own childhood struggle to access books
37. b) His diagnosis of a health condition
38. b) Resilient and philanthropic
39. b) The children of his village
40. c) Died
41. c) His love for books
42. c) Recognized first locally, then nationally
43. c) Establish a school
44. c) Create a revolving library system
45. b) Prevent or hinder
46. b) At home, surrounded by loved ones
47. c) Bring his efforts to a wider audience
48. c) Binnoy moy boi bitoron korten
49. b) News obituary/tribute
50. b) The power of perseverance and generosity in promoting education

Answer the following questions.

1. What was Polan Sarkar’s affectionate nickname?
2. What does the nickname “Alor Feriwala” mean in English?
3. When did Polan Sarkar die?
4. On which day of the week did he pass away?
5. What was the cause of his death?
6. Where did he die?
7. In which village was his home located?
8. In which upazila and district was his village situated?
9. Where was Polan Sarkar born?
10. When was he born?
11. What was Polan Sarkar’s real name?
12. What could not hinder his passion for learning?
13. What did Polan love from his boyhood?
14. How did he acquire books to read as a young boy?
15. When did he establish a school in his village?
16. How was he able to establish the school?
17. What did he decide to institute for meritorious students in 1990?
18. What was the prize for the top students?
19. What did the other students express after seeing the awards?
20. What condition did he set for lending books to students?
21. Who else started borrowing books from his collection later?
22. What kind of social movement did Polan Sarkar start?
23. What health problem was he diagnosed with in 1992?
24. What did he decide to do during his daily walks after his diagnosis?
25. How did he travel to distribute the books?
26. For how long had he been admired in the Rajshahi region?
27. When did he gain nationwide recognition?
28. How did he gain nationwide fame?
29. Which television show featured him?
30. On which television channel was this show broadcast?
31. On what specific date was he featured on the show?
32. Which prestigious award did Polan Sarkar win?
33. In which year did he win this award?
34. For what reason was the award given to him?
35. What is the rank of the Ekushey Padak among civilian awards in Bangladesh?
36. What does the description of him as a “kind soul” indicate about his nature?
37. What is the “legacy” that the text mentions he left behind?
38. What does the word “voraciously” tell us about his reading habit?
39. What is meant by “old-age complications”?
40. What is the primary purpose of this text?
41. What initially inspired him to start lending books?
42. What event directly led to him starting his daily book distribution walks?
43. Which words best describe Polan Sarkar’s character?
44. For whom did he primarily establish the school?
45. What is a synonym for “passed away” as used in the text?
46. What did he share with people during his walks?
47. How did the recognition of his work progress over time?
48. What did he use his inheritance for?
49. Why did he insist that books be returned to him?
50. What is the central theme of the passage?

Answers

1. His affectionate nickname was Alor Feriwala. This name translates to “The Peddler of Light.”
2. The nickname “Alor Feriwala” means “The Peddler of Light” in English. It symbolizes his role in spreading the light of knowledge.
3. He died on Friday, 1st March 2019. He was 98 years old at the time of his death.
4. He passed away on a Friday. The specific date was the 1st of March, 2019.
5. The cause of his death was old-age complications. He had been suffering from these for some time.
6. He died at his home. His home was in Bausha village in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi.
7. His home was located in Bausha village. This village is part of the Bagha upazila in the Rajshahi district.
8. His village was situated in Bagha upazila. Bagha upazila is located in the Rajshahi district.
9. He was born in Bagatipara, Natore. This is the specific place of his birth.
10. He was born on August 1, 1921. This was his exact date of birth.
11. His real name was Harez Uddin. Polan Sarkar was the name he was widely known by.
12. His family’s financial troubles could not hinder his passion. He continued to pursue reading and learning despite the lack of money.
13. From his boyhood, he loved books. He had a deep passion for reading and learning.
14. He borrowed books from wherever he could find them. He was an avid and resourceful reader as a boy.
15. He established a school in his village in 1965. This was a significant initiative for his community.
16. He was able to establish the school after receiving an inheritance from his grandfather. This financial support made his dream possible.
17. In 1990, he decided to give a yearly award to the top students. This award was meant to encourage academic excellence.
18. The prize for the top students was books. He believed in the value of books as a reward.
19. The other students also expressed their desire to read the books. They were inspired by the top students receiving books as prizes.
20. His condition was that the students must return the books after finishing them. This allowed him to lend the same books to other students.
21. Local adults also started borrowing books from his collection. His library service expanded beyond just the students.
22. He started a social movement of distributing books free of charge. This was his unique contribution to promoting literacy.
23. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 1992. This health diagnosis came later in his life.
24. After his diagnosis, he decided to distribute books during his daily walks. He combined his health routine with his social mission.
25. He traveled on his own two feet to distribute books. He walked to share his love for books.
26. He had been admired in Rajshahi for a long time. His good work was well-known locally for years.
27. He gained nationwide recognition after being featured on television in 2006. This broadcast made him famous across Bangladesh.
28. He gained nationwide fame after being featured on Bangladesh Television’s popular show ‘Ittadi’. This appearance brought his story to a national audience.
29. The television show that featured him was called ‘Ittadi’. It is a very popular program in Bangladesh.
30. The show was broadcast on Bangladesh Television. This is the national state-owned television channel.
31. He was featured on the show on December 29, 2006. This is the specific date of the broadcast.
32. He won the prestigious Ekushey Padak. This is a high civilian honor in Bangladesh.
33. He won the award in 2011. This was several years after he gained national fame.
34. The award was given for his contribution to society. His book distribution movement was recognized as a significant social contribution.
35. The Ekushey Padak is the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh. It is a mark of immense respect and honor.
36. Being called a “kind soul” indicates he was generous and compassionate. His actions were driven by a genuine desire to help others.
37. The legacy he left is the inspiring memory of his work and generosity. It is a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
38. Reading “voraciously” means he read with great eagerness and enthusiasm. He consumed books with an intense passion.
39. “Old-age complications” refer to health problems that arise due to advanced age. These are often multiple and complex conditions.
40. The primary purpose of the text is to inform readers about Polan Sarkar’s life and work. It also serves to honor his contributions to society.
41. He was initially inspired by his own childhood struggle to access books. His passion for reading led him to help others experience the same joy.
42. His diagnosis of diabetes in 1992 directly led to the book distribution walks. He decided to combine his daily exercise with his mission of sharing books.
43. His character can be described as resilient and philanthropic. He was determined and generous throughout his life.
44. He primarily established the school for the children of his village. His goal was to provide education in his community.
45. A synonym for “passed away” is “died.” It is a gentler way of stating that someone has died.
46. During his walks, he shared his love for books. He physically distributed books and shared the joy of reading.
47. His work was first recognized locally in Rajshahi for a long time. Later, it gained national recognition after 2006.
48. He used his inheritance from his grandfather to establish a school. This was the primary use of the funds he received.
49. He insisted on the books being returned so he could lend them to other students. This created a sustainable, revolving library system.
50. The central theme is the power of perseverance and generosity in promoting education. It highlights how one individual’s dedication can make a significant impact.