The YMCA Movement in Bangladesh

By Mr. Matthew Malakar

Retired National General Secretary

It was not very long after the first YMCA in the World was organised in London city by George Williams, in 1844, that the first YMCA in the then British India was organised in Calcutta — the Seat of British Colonial rule. It was during the Sixth decade of the Nineteenth Century, the Calcutta YMCA was organised, perhaps, by the British who came to Calcutta for services under the Company, the British Government, trade and commerce, etc; and none-the-less for religious purpose. As a social and religious concept, the YMCA idea had spread quickly in Europe and North America, creating an organisational wave among young people that reached distant shores of the countries of the world. As such the idea of YMCA caught up with youth in India as we find that the movement quickly spread in many big cities in India — Delhi, Bombay, Karachi, Lahore, Madras, Bangalore, etc. It is perhaps needless to say that those early YMCAs in British India became socially very accepted because of their ecumenical nature and also because they received authoritative support from the Christian Government, funds from foreign communities and expatriate executive leadership. The local and indigenous youth participation was important as they constituted the bulk of the general membership.

The above brief historical background is mentioned for bringing to perspective the YMCA movement in Bangladesh and in the then East Pakistan — after a Century following establishment of Calcutta YMCA. The first YMCA in Dhaka, East Pakistan, in the early nineteen sixties, was organised entirely by a few indigenous Christian young people of their own initiative and leadership. At the Baptist Mission Hostel, Sadarghat, Dhaka, several resident young people would often get together during their leisure time and discuss about the socio-economic situation, Church and Church leadership, standard of Christian education etc., in East Pakistan. These young people were: Mr. Susanta Adhikari; Mr. Austin A. Sen; Mr. Simon Sarkar; Mr. Gnan Baroi; Mr. James Ratan Biswas and myself the author of this article. We deeply engaged ourselves in discussing about the present situation of the Christian Society in East Pakistan. Historically, the Catholic Missionaries came to East Bengal in the first half of sixteenth century, during the Mughal Empire. There are historical evidences of their work in eastern part of East Bengal. Arrival of the Protestant Missionaries followed the year 1793 when the great Baptist Missionary William Carey reached Calcutta and started Missionary work.

For the Catholics it was more than four hundred years and for the Protestants over one and half centuries that Christian Churches were established in East Bengal. Inspite of these hundreds of years of preaching by foreign Missionaries, local converts to Christianity were about three hundred thousand — including both the Catholics and Protestants. Bengali Protestant Christians came from poor agricultural back ground. They were called Rice Christians with mission-compound mentality. Though the missionaries were pioneers spreading education among people, the Christians lagged behind in it. During he decade of Sixty, there were only a very few educated Protestant Christians in Dhaka City. Those of us living in the Sadarghat Baptist Hostel were the first generation youth with rural background came to Dhaka for education and jobs.

We discussed and wondered about the Christian Society and the Church which were predominantly occupied by the foreign missionaries being in the leadership. They were at the top of almost all the Churches and were dominating ninety percent members of the then East Pakistan Christian Council. Local, indigenous Bengali leadership was very small and dependent on the Missionaries. Though there were exceptions to it, but were very limited. The more we discussed about this situation, we became more and more self-conscious and aware that Bangali Christian education, economy and leadership — after hundreds of years — remained at a very low level keeping the Churches and Christian society entirely dependent on the foreign Missionaries and their financial resources. What could we — a few Christian young people — do in such a perennially dependent situation? We felt an urge to form an organisation to be led entirely by indigenous leaders and members transcending the boundaries of denomination. Church denominations created barriers between believers in Christ. We thought we cold overcome this man made obstacles on the path of Christianity. Therefore, we decided to form an youth organisation which would include members from all denominations. What could be its name? I suggested YMCA. I have had opportunity in 1962 to visit New York and stay in the Sloans House YMCA Guest House for a few days. From there I received the impression of the YMCA. The proposal was unanimously accepted though no one else had any idea about the organisation. Enquiring about YMCA we found out that it was a very big world wide organisation. In India there were many; even Calcutta had one.

The first meeting of the YMCA was held in the drawing room of Rev. E.L. Wenger in June 1965 attended by Bishop J. D. Blair; Rev. E. L. Wenger; Rev. R. N. Baroi, Mr. Sudhir Adhikari; Mr. Uzzal Haque; Mr. Sushanta Adhikari; Mr. Simon Sarker; Mr. James Ratan Biswas; Mr. Gnan Baroi and myself. Which was only an idea became reality with the support of those who assembled there on that day. For creation of a YMCA, a Steering Committee was formed with the following young man:

1. Mr. Matthew Malakar; Convenor

2. Mr. Susanta Adhikari; Member

3. Mr. Simon Hiru Sarkar; Member

4. Mr. Uzzal Haque; Member

5. Mr. James Ratan Biswas; Member

6. Mr. Gnan Baroi, Member

We then charged ourselves with the purpose of forming a YMCA by gathering information about YMCA, propagating the idea of YMCA calling public meetings and making person to person approach. At that time I was an employee of the then EPCC, therefore, the YMCA Centre of activity was in the building of the EPCC at 395, New Eskaton Road, Maughbazar, Dhaka. I was away from Dhaka during 1968 and 1969 when Mr. Susanta Adhikari took up the leadership of the burgeoning YMCA. He had expanded membership, hired a place in Green Road, collected furniture and had started some indoor games. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the members. They spontaneously took part in YMCA programmes and supported them with their active participation and money. I returned to Dhaka in January 1970 and YMCA activity centre was again transferred to the EPCC. There were partisan problems and upheavals, yet we remained together under the YMCA umbrella. Constitution was drafted and named the YMCA as "East Pakistan YMCA" and had it registered with the Company’s Act of the Government.

From 1965 to 1970 were the days of a YMCA formation and organisation which was not without pains. The spirit of these organisational days of the first YMCA in Bangladesh were that — young people from all the Churches joined together at the YMCA; democratically elected their leaders; received no funds from outside of the country and the leadership — membership were all Bangali. The whole endeavour of the YMCA members at that time, though humble and insignificant, was very rich in content and nature as it broke down the barrier of denominational differences bringing the members to a — one-platform-of-the-YMCA-which the Christians in the country experienced never before. Denominational segregation used to be very stark. Now in place of segregation YMCA acted as the melting pot for union, fellowship and brotherhood among people of different Churches.

Then in 1971 the whole Bangalee Nation was involved in the liberation war against Pakistani occupation Military force. Dhaka City was burnt, looted, countless people killed, houses burned and ransacked. People fled from the city; normal life and activities were disrupted. A reign of terror was let loose in the whole country by the Pakistani Military against whom the Bangalee freedom fighters fought valiantly and liberated the country on 16th December 1971. A new nation was born called Bangladesh. During the liberation war, activities of the YMCA was obviously suspended. There were hardly any social activity; people were fighting, hiding and struggling to remain alive. But after the new nation emerged with the liberation war behind it, the people again returned to normal life and picked up the social activity. The country was devastated. It required massive relief to save the people and rebuild the country. The YMCA revived its activities and association during early months of 1972.

The World Alliance of YMCAs which already was helping the refugees in India, who fled the carnage in Bangladesh, was not late in opening an office in Dhaka in 1972, for operating Refugee Rehabilitation programmes headed by Mr. William Harte. Presence in Dhaka and Bangladesh of Bill Harte representing the World Alliance of YMCA, created among the YMCA people great enthusiasm. With his expert advice the East Pakistan YMCA was re-named as Dhaka YMCA. He helped Dhaka YMCA hire a good building on the 224-New Eskaton Road for Guest Rooms, Cafeteria, Indoor Games, Meeting Room and for a host of other programme activities. The World Alliance of YMCAs programmed to help the young people of Bangladesh, particularly those who were orphaned during the war of liberation. By registering with the Government of Bangladesh it opened two Orphanages in Brahmanbaria and Naogaon with capacity to accommodate one hundred orphans in each, on purchased land and pucca construction with World Alliance of YMCAs money. However, Bill Harte not only busied himself with Refugee and Rehabilitation programmes, he also actively involved himself with the fledgling YMCA movement in the country. Besides working with Dhaka YMCA he travelled around the country and encouraged young Christians to organise YMCA. With information and encouragement from Bill, YMCAs were organised in Chittagong, Barisal, Dinajpur and Birisiri within 1972 and 1973. These new YMCA groups were headed by: Late Michael Das in Chittagong; Mr. Wilfred Guha in Barisal; Mr. Robert R. N. Das in Dinajpur and Mr. Nirendra Chisim in Birisiri. By the end of 1973 there were five YMCAs in the country with Dhaka YMCA the oldest. With the able guidance of Bill Harte representatives from all these YMCAs met and discussed about possibilities of forming the National Council of YMCAs in Bangladesh. The YMCA National Representatives met for the first time as the Steering Committee on February 3, 1974 at 9:30 a.m. at Dhaka YMCA Centre, 224-New Eskaton Road with the following leaders:

Mr. Michael Das - Chittagong YMCA

Mr. Augustine Para - Chittagong YMCA

Mr. Robert R. N. Das - Dinajpur YMCA

Mr. Wilfred P. Guha - Barisal YMCA

Mr. Dipak Sangma - Birisiri YMCA

Mr. Alfred B. R. Baroi-Dacca Centre Project (Bangladesh YMCA)

Mr. Susanta Adhikary - - do -

Mr. Arnold C. Gomes - - do -

Advisors:

M/S. William Harte, Donald W. Shield, Rev. R. N. Baroi, Rev. S. C. Sangma and Desmond White.

In this meeting the following Office Bearers of the Steering Committee was elected:

President -              Mr. Susanta Adhikary

Vice-President -     Mr. Alfred B. R. Baroi

Hon. Secretary -     Mr. Arnold C. Gomes

Treasurer -             Mr. Michael Das

In the meeting of the 5th March, 1974, the Steering Committee was dissolved and the formation of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh was declared by the following resolution:

NATIONAL YMCA STEERING COMMITTEE:

With the formation of the National Council it was resolved that the National YMCA Steering Committee is dissolved. The existing representatives of the Dacca, Chittagong, Barisal, Birisiri and Dinajpur YMCAs will work as the Board of the National Council and within 6 months this Board will call the first General Meeting of the National Council as per Constitution.

In this first meeting of the National Council held at 224-New Eskaton Road, Dhaka YMCA Centre at 11:45 a.m. the following members were present:

1. Mr. Alfred B. R. Baroi, Vice-President

2. Mr. Wilfred P. Guha, Vice-President

3. Mr. Arnold C. Gomes, Hon. Secretary

4. Mr. Michael Das, Hon. Treasurer

5. Mr. Robert R. N. Das

6. Mr. Augustine Pare

1. Mr. William Harte

2. Mr. Desmond White

Written apologies were received from the following:

1. Mr. Susanta Adhikary, President

2. Mr. Nirendra Chisim

(a) The letter of apology sent by Mr. Adhikary was read and taken as accepted by the members present.

(b) The letter of apology with detail explanation by Mr. Chisim was also read and taken up accepted by the members.

To portray a comprehensive picture of YMCA leadership at that time the names of the Board members of all the five YMCAs are provided hereunder:

Mr. Alfred B. R. Baroi - President

Mr. J.L.Allen - Vice President

Mr. Smith R. Adhikary - Vice President

Mr. Matthew Malakar - Hon. Secretary

Mr. David P. Bairagee - Hon. Treasurer

Mr. Simon S. Roy - Board Member

Mr. Gabriel M. Gomes - Board Member

Mr. Arnold C. Gomes - Board Member

Mr. Sitangshu Sen - Board Member

Mr. Leo J. Baroi - Board Member

Mr. Peter P. Halder - Board Member

Mr. Susanta Adhikary - Board Member

Mr. C. V. John - Board Member

Mr. Donald W. Shields - Board Member

Mr. William Harte - Ex Officio

Mr. Jacob Chowdhury - Ex Officio

Mr. A. R. Mitchell - President

Mr. J. Matthias - Vice President

Mr. Michael Das - Hon. Secretary

Mr. Bartholomew Shaha - Gen. Secretary

Mr. D. K. Biswas - Hon. Treasurer

Mr. Augustine Pare - Director

Mr. B.I. Hilary - Director

Mr. M.S. Baroi - Director (Present Bishop of Kustia, Church of Bangladesh)

Mr. John Bose - Director

Mr. S. A. Karmaker - Director

 

Mr. Wilfred P. Guha - President

Mr. Michael Rozario - Vice-President

Mr. David A. Pandey - Hon. Secretary

Mr. Stephen Baroi - Hon. Assistant Secretary

Mr. James Gain - Hon. Treasurer

Mr. Austin Mandes - Member

Mr. Paul Provakar Shaha - Member

Mr. Sukanta Adhikary - Advisor

 

Mr. Robert R. N. Das - President

Mr. Hemendra Marandi - Vice-President

Mr. John Dipti Baroi - Secretary

Mr. Arjun Kisku - Treasurer

Mr. Paul Charua Tigga - Member

Mr. Ismail Hembram - Member

Mr. James M. Das - Member

Mr. Manik Soren - Member

Mr. Michael Marandi - Member

 

5. Birisiri YMCA

1. Mr. Nirendra Chisim — President

2. Mr. Prithis Hagidok — Vice President

3. Mr. Kishore Ranjan Sangma — Secretary

4. Mr. Shisir Sangma — Asst. Secretary

5. Mr. Sanjib Kumar Sangma — Member

6. Mr. Churchil Kubi — Member (Late)

7. Mr. Bimol Sangma — Member

8. Mr. Snigdhendhu Bowl — Member

9. Mr. Pranojit Sangma — Member

10. Mr. Ashit Sangma — Member.

(Personal note:- In the year 1974 voluntarily I stepped down from the position of Honorary Secretary of the Dhaka YMCA. I came back in 1975 and was elected to the position of NCYB Secretary (Hony.).

The Dhaka YMCA blasted forward with its busy bustling programme centre at the 224-New Eskaton Road, Dhaka — 2, where member and non-members came for various programme related purposes. It became the central place of communion for the whole Christian Community in Dhaka. The other YMCAs also picked up their way forward by operating small programmes of indoor and outdoor games and humanitarian assistance for the poor, which included primary schools for slum children. All these schools were started with local donation and voluntary efforts. This social voluntary endeavour demonstrated the desire of the YMCA members to help those who had less.

In the meantime Mr. William Harte left Bangladesh and was replaced by Mr. Jack Dunderdale who had served the YMCA movement in the sub-continent for over thirty years. Besides supervising the Refugee and Rehabilitation programme of the YMCA, he visited the local YMCAs providing expert advice, information and encouragement; and also wherever necessary small fund. Jack Dunderdale retired from Bangladesh and went back to his home in Canada. He was replaced by Mr. David C. Moore, a dynamic person with experience of YMCA Refuge-Rehabilitation programme in war torn Vietnam. Besides that he had extensive experience with YMCA street children programmes in Chicago City. He came to Bangladesh in 1977 and immediately began to help promote the YMCAs in the country. In accordance to his advice and financial support from the World Alliance of YMCAs the National Executive Committee decided to hire a full time National General Secretary. I was at that time the Hon. NGS. It was unanimously decided in my favour and I joined the office as the full time Secretary of the NCYB in the month of April 1977. By that time Dhaka YMCA had appointed Clement Rozario; Chittagong — Bartholomew Shaha; Barisal - Thomas M. S. Das; Birisiri — Nirendra Chisim and Dinajpur — Subal Seraphin Hasda as their General Secretaries.

I was so long a volunteer and an honorary position holder. Now with full time appointment to the position I set myself to materialise the ideals cherished of self-respect, self-reliance and self-hood in the YMCA. The YMCA people had to be motivated and informed, therefore organised training campaign with the YMCA professionals as well as the lay. Through these training campaign — organised in every YMCA once or more every year — leadership developed, YMCA principles and philosophy were made known to people as such information about YMCA had spread far and wide in the country. As a result many new YMCA groups were organised by late seventies and early eighties. Not many of them could qualify for recognition as full fledged YMCA. Of these YMCA new groups, only Khulna, Bogra, Kaligram, Foiljana, Gopalgonj and Jessore could be recognised. Khulna had a lot of membership potentiality yet it did not achieve organisational maturity to qualify for membership of the NCYB. Jessore had to be dropped out for lack of adequate leadership. Lately, in the nineties, Savar YMCA has come up to the standard qualifying for membership of the NCYB.

In those days, programmatically, all the YMCAs operated primary schools for poor children, vocational training schools for less educated poor boys and girls, guest room at the city YMCAs, membership programmes, indoor outdoor games, etc. In the Shahid Zia Foot Ball Tournament, Dhaka YMCA became the champion and won the Trophy. Competition in Chess and Card were very popular indoor games of Dhaka YMCA.

The membership of the YMCA was given not only to young Christians but also to young men from other religious faiths who qualified according to principles of the YMCA. Though the general membership was sizeable and paid membership fees, yet that was comparatively low in terms of need; therefore, the YMCAs had to seek for assistance from outside. The World Alliance of YMCAs in this regard came forward extending a very dependable financial assistance. With its support all the YMCAs have operated development programmes and thrived well; several of them operating programmes earning income for self-support, which is a good endeavour, but not very easy to achieve measurable results. The YMCA movement in Bangladesh remains grateful to the World Alliance and other donor YMCAs in USA, Canada, Norway, Netherlands, U.K., Japan, India and Australia. Also gratefully is recalled personnel support from the YMCAs of Japan, Australia, U.K., Canada and the USA. They were M. Sato from Japan, Robin Young from Australia; Bill Harte and Rod Thomson from U.K.; Jack Dunderdale from Canada; David C. Moore, Michael Diamond and Gilman Hulsted from the USA. We recall gratefully the service rendered to the YMCA by Rod Thomson who died in a road accident in North Bangladesh.

Besides launching YMCA training programme for information and motivational purpose, I began to work for framing constitution of the NCYB and its Registration. And also began to work for NCYB membership of the Asia Area Committee of the YMCA and the World Alliance of the YMCA. We appointed Advocate Peter Paul Gomes, an eminent advocate and political leader, for drafting Constitution and its registration. He ably completed his task and the NCYB Constitution was registered on 12-1-1978, which provides the NCYB with the legal status for operating its activities in Bangladesh. On the other hand communications for membership of the World Alliance of YMCAs progressed as such the Secretary General Rev. Frederick Franklin visited Bangladesh by August, 1977. We could not take him to visit YMCAs outside of Dhaka city. He visited Dhaka YMCA and was impressed by its programme activities. Formal application for World Alliance membership was prepared and submitted. In the World Council meeting of the World Alliance, held during September 1977 in Boenos Aires, Capital of Argentina, membership to the NCYB was granted of the World Alliance of the YMCAs. It was the greatest moment in my life when, in presence of over seven hundred YMCA leaders and representatives from all over the World. I — on behalf of NCYB - signed the World YMCA Book of Charter. Struggling through various adversities for fourteen years, Bangladesh YMCAs at long last had achieved recognition of the YMCA World Community.

As for acquisition of land for YMCA in Dhaka, efforts were made soon after independence in early seventies. Dhaka YMCA planned for a long range programme including budgetary provision for land. Acquiring land was not easy. With the amount of money available, the location and size of plot were not satisfactorily in conformity. We struggled a lot with it without success. Then an opportunity came for appealing to the Government of Bangladesh when Shahid Ziaur Rahman was the President of the country. Co-ordinated by the NCCB, the leaders of the Christian Churches in Bangladesh planned to meet the then President of Bangladesh for submitting a memorandum on behalf of the Christian society in Bangladesh. I requested Mr. Samson H. Chowdhury, the then President of NCCB, if a request for YMCA land could be added to the memorandum. He very gladly excepted the proposal and I was fortunate to be included in the delegation to meet the President. He assured to allocate a plot of land for the YMCA. It happened in 1978; since then we had struggled to persuade through the intricate bureaucratic government administration for the desired plot of land. The bureaucracy complied with it and yet dragged its feet. It had dribbled and the issue passed into President H. M. Ershadís regime. When late Michael Sushil Adhikari was appointed Advisor to President Ershad; through him the issue was raised with the President in the Dhaka YMCA Silver Jubilee Celebration meeting at the Shipakala Academy Auditorium. He announced for the YMCA land and there publicly requested the Minister for Land to expedite the issue and finalise allocation of land. It was in 1990.

Mr. Bartholomew Shaha joined NCYB as the NGS in 1988. During his time the matter of the land was at long last finalised. He made payment for the plot at 1/1 Pioneer Road, Kakrail, Ramna, Dhaka and had it registered. On this land the YMCA building in Dhaka stands. The NCYB also acquired land in Savar on which, in 1984, the Training Centre had been built. Besides that some land was purchased in the Gazipur District.

By the end of decade of eighties all the YMCAs had acquired land. Besides the land at Kakrail, the Dhaka YMCA purchased a second plot in Mirpur where they are operating programmes like vocational training school, school for slum children, guest room and other membership programme. Chittagong YMCA owns property at a good location where they operate multiple programmes including income generating activities. Barisal, Dinajpur, Bogra, Birisiri, Kaligram, Foiljana, Gopalgonj YMCAs have now landed properties and programme centres on them.

From the inception the YMCA movement in Bangladesh has come a long way in terms of humanitarian programmes, Community Development, Youth Training and Rehabilitation, Youth Work Camp, Membership Programme, building and property fulfilling the two imperatives of YMCA trilogy of Body, Mind and Spirit. These two imperatives are Body and Mind leaving the third imperative a bit behind. By emphasising more on these two sides, the YMCA movement in Bangladesh has only partially fulfilled the commitment accepted in the Parish Basis which lays YMCA on the foundation of Christ. I think YMCAs in Bangladesh have yet to do more on the important side of the triangle which is "Spirit" by creating specific regular programmatic thrust on it. The Kingdom of God shall spread in this land by the efforts of the young people motivated and guided by the "Spirit". Saint John wrote in his first epistle: "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you and you have overcome the evil one". (1 John; 2:14). This Gospel message is believed to be true; therefore, the young people of the YMCA — in whom the "Spirit of God" lives — shall become instrumental in extending the Kingdom of God in Bangladesh.

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