In Bangladesh, the girl whom you considered as the "market girl" is actually one of the key figures in the world-renowned NGO BRAC. The girl whose character you criticized, calling her immoral, is now working in 11 countries, focusing on mothers and children. The girl, whose pictures you still react to with "ha ha" responses, holds two Master's degrees—one from Dhaka University and the other from BRAC University. The actress you have been relentlessly criticizing for the past five years is currently pursuing a PhD and will complete it next year. But can you take a moment to reflect on what you have achieved by looking at your own face?
BRAC is one of the world’s top NGOs, but 99% of the people in this country are unaware of it. Established in 1972 under the leadership of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in war-torn Bangladesh, BRAC has now earned a stellar reputation globally, but most people in this country don’t know this. As Bengalis, we have failed to properly recognize the gems of our own country.
If you visit the refugees from South Sudan in Uganda, you will get a sense of the situation in 1971, when one crore Bangladeshis were refugees in India. You will understand how far Kolkata in India has advanced in both city development and people's mindset, despite both Bengals sharing a common language.
The girl who has entered the film industry is known to us as an actress. But we forget that beyond acting, she is also someone’s daughter, mother, sister, and wife. Tell me, in school, college, or university, which boy or girl hasn't fallen in love? If falling in love is a crime, then millions of young people in this country are criminals. Reaching a certain age, people get married. Small misunderstandings or issues may arise in any marriage. In Dhaka, every hour three women get divorced. Does this mean that all women are immoral and all men are saints? In some cases, even a sweet marriage can break due to misunderstandings. It would be foolish to think that only women are at fault and men are innocent. To leave her husband's house with a one-year-old child, prepare for a PhD, balance acting and motherhood, and work in 11 countries—this is not as easy as it seems.
You might have seen many beautiful girls around you. Some may be beautiful but not academically gifted. Others might be beautiful and talented, but not able to sing. Some may be able to sing but not dance. But when a girl is a good professional, an intelligent student, a singer, and an actress, and can also paint, it’s clear that she is a rare beauty. She was not born just to eat and sleep; she was born to make a name for herself in this world.
After a separation in a marriage, both individuals feel emptiness. But that void is never truly empty. In the case of this actress, another man has taken that place. Instead of congratulating her, you have resorted to inappropriate comments, revealing your true nature. Has this harmed her in any way? If a man marries ten times, no one cares. But if a woman seeks happiness elsewhere, she is called a "market prostitute"! You have a body, and so do women. You have a heart, and so do women. For you, it may be all about 16 annas, but for women, even 4 annas is not enough. Since the dawn of time, men have considered themselves as humans and women as their property. Just as men can rule a kingdom, many women in history have ruled with equal competence. When hungry, you become a lion, but want to keep women as cats. However, hunger is a shared experience for all humans.
I am talking about Mithila. She completed her Master's degree from Dhaka University and, from a young age, worked in theater. She is now an established actress, but there is a story behind her achievements. We only see the actress, but not the person behind her. Marilyn Monroe had countless lovers, but she is still Monroe in our eyes. Salman Khan hasn't married yet, but Shah Rukh Khan married someone a year older than his daughter. We forget that, at the end of the day, Shah Rukh and Salman are just like us. Every person has their own world. It is our duty to prove our worth through hard work and to show respect to such people by placing them in the seat of respect, striving to make ourselves like them.
My grandmother can dance, sing, and is an incredibly smart student. She also has her own personal life. A woman who is not talented, who cannot sing, dance, or is disabled, also has a personal life. Criticizing someone’s personal life is something only uncivilized and low-minded people do. But Mithilas, like others, rise above such criticism and establish themselves in this world. When Mithila secured the first place among the BRAC master's students, she was a mother with a one-year-old daughter. Despite that, she proved that she was born to win. Mithila doesn't earn her living through acting; she is also a senior official at BRAC, known in at least 11 countries across the world. Acting is her passion.
This writing is by Alfred Nobel.
(I have been thinking of writing this for a long time... I couldn't do it, but today after seeing this well-crafted post, I couldn't resist sharing my thoughts! Long live Mithila ❤️)
