Ajoy Roy
{{short description|Bangladeshi academic}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{infobox person
| name=Ajoy Roy
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1935|3|1}}
| birth_place = Dinajpur, British India
| alma_mater = University of Dhaka (BSc, MSc)
Leeds University (PhD)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2019|12|9|1935|3|1}}
| death_place = Dhaka, Bangladesh
| spouse = Shefali Roy
| children = 2, including Avijit Roy{{cite news |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2019/12/10/tributes-pour-in-for-prof-ajoy-roy|title=Tributes pour in for Prof Ajoy Roy|work=Dhaka Tribune|date=10 December 2019|accessdate=26 January 2020}}
}}
Ajoy Roy (1 March 1935 – 9 December 2019) was a Bangladeshi professor of physics at the University of Dhaka, but was best known for his prominent role in Bangladesh's human rights activism and freethinking. He was one of the eminent educationists promoting secular humanism in Bangladesh.
He was the founder and president of the Shishka Andolan Mancha (Platform For Education-Movement) and chairman of Shamriti Mancha (Platform for peace-harmony-tranquility).
Roy was editor in chief of Muktanwesa ({{langx|bn|মুক্তান্বেষা}}) magazine, a Bengali publication for promoting freethinking and secular humanism. He was also the member of advisory board of the Mukto-Mona, an internet forum of freethinkers, rationalists, sceptics, atheists and humanists of mainly Bengali and South Asian descent. He was an honorary associate of the Rationalist International, an organisation that defends rationalist ideas. He contributed as a columnist to the national newspapers of Bangladesh. In 2012, he received Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award of Bangladesh.
Early years and education
Roy was born in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. He received his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Dhaka University, and took his Doctor of Philosophy degree in physical chemistry from Leeds University of England. He was among a group of teachers who formed an advanced centre of solid state physics and crystallography established in 1969 under the sponsorship of UNESCO. His work led to the discovery of some fundamental processes in radiation chemistry of aliphatic and amino acids and their salts. The process of dissociative electron capture and the subsequent fate of electron is considered to be his major contribution as a scientist.{{cite web|url=http://www.rationalistinternational.net/archive/en/rationalist_2002/88.htm|title=Bulletin # 88|accessdate=2 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192801/http://www.rationalistinternational.net/archive/en/rationalist_2002/88.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20031029153719/http://www.secularvoiceofbangladesh.org/A_humanisjt_by_Dr_Roy.htm secularvoiceofbangladesh] His scientific works have also been cited in the contents of volumes (1–50) of Progress in NMR Spectroscopy.[http://www.fmp-berlin.info/schroeder/PogrNMRSpec_50_179.pdf Forty years of Progress in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (see Appendix, Ajoy K. Roy and Paul T. Inglefield Solid state NMR studies of local motions in polymers)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721201314/http://www.fmp-berlin.info/schroeder/PogrNMRSpec_50_179.pdf |date=21 July 2011 }}
Human rights activism
Roy participated in many progressive movements in Bangladesh including Language movement of 1952, Mass Movement in 1969, and Non Co-operation movement of 1970 and most prominently, in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 as a freedom fighter. He was one of the teachers of Dhaka University who were directly involved with the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, paramilitary as a member of Mukti Bahini (or liberation army) involving in guerrilla warfare in Comilla border to fight against the West Pakistani army. Later he became a member of the Planning Commission to the Government of Bangladesh during the liberation war and worked as a general secretary of East Pakistan Teachers' association in Kolkata.একাত্তুরে রণাঙ্গন, শামসুল হুদা চৌধুরীমুক্তিযুদ্ধে বুদ্ধিজীবীদের ভুমিকা, মেজর রফিকুল ইসলাম He also established several cultural organisations to inspire the freedom fighters where Mamunur Rashid and other noted actors took active part.{{cite news |last=Rosan |first=Robab |date=26 March 2009|title=We have destroyed our traditional educational system |url=http://www.newagebd.com/2009/mar/26/independence09/i18.html |newspaper=New Age |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506064436/http://www.newagebd.com/2009/mar/26/independence09/i18.html |archive-date=6 May 2009}} After Liberation Prof. Roy was the general secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in the 1972–73 period, succeeding Ahmed Sharif.[http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/ About the Author, Prof. Ajoy Roy's Article page in Mukto-Mona.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115021621/http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/ |date=15 January 2010 }}
When Pakistani freethinker Dr. Younus Shaikh was in prison and awaiting the death penalty for alleged blasphemous remarks regarding Muhammad in 2000, Ajoy Roy organised the 'Save Dr. Yunus Shaikh Committee' and held meetings, processions, seminars, road side demonstration and staged demonstration against Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf in front of the Pakistan High commission at Dhaka.[http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/jahanara_award280607.htm Roy's Speech at the Jahanara Imam Memorial Lecture on receiving the Medal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108015314/http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/jahanara_award280607.htm |date=8 January 2010 }}
Following the 2001 general elections, there was a wave of violence and oppression towards the minority Hindu community, Ajoy Roy took active stand to help the victims. He also created control and monitoring cell at Dhaka before the election of 2008 to prevent similar atrocities on minority population of Bangladesh. He also worked for the rights of the indigenous and hill people of Bangladesh.{{cite news
| url = http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22929
| title = Present CHT situation threat for future
| work = The Daily Star
| date = 11 February 2008
| accessdate = 5 November 2009
}}
Freethinking and secular humanism
Roy translated the first chapter of Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion into Bengali[http://richarddawkins.net/article,1272,Bengali-Translation-of-The-First-Chapter-of-The-God-Delusion,Mukto-Mona Bengali Translation of The First Chapter of The God Delusion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801130439/http://richarddawkins.net/article%2C1272%2CBengali-Translation-of-The-First-Chapter-of-The-God-Delusion%2CMukto-Mona |date=1 August 2009 }} and took active role to introduce Aroj Ali Matubbar, the rationalist, peasant-philosopher of Bangladesh[http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/rationalist_day/rationalism_ajoy.htm Aroj Ali Matubbar: Rationalist Philosopher of Rural Bangladesh : Paper read in the conference by Rationalist International in 2001] in the west. He defended Taslima Nasrin and her plight in various essays.[http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/taslima100308.htm Taslima Nasrin's present plight: A conversation with me] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605113117/http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/ajoy/taslima100308.htm |date=5 June 2011 }}[http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/muktanwesa/1st_issue/taslima_aroy.htm বিষন্ন এক সংগ্রামী নারীর মুখোমুখি] He worked to build up a science-based culture for rapid development of the country.{{cite news |title=Publication Ceremony: Call to build up science-based culture |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/07/16/d50716060970.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=16 July 2005 |accessdate=2 March 2015}} He was also one of the pioneers to organise Darwin Day rally at Dhaka.[http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=965 বাংলাদেশে ডারউইন দিবস উদযাপন] He received criticism for endorsing anti-Islamic activities referenced in Shah Ahmad Shafi's open letter named An Open Letter from Shah Ahmad Shafi to the Government and the Public related to the Shahbag protests in 2013.{{Cite book |title=White Paper: 2000 Days of Fundamentalist and Communal Violence in Bangladesh |publisher=Public Commission to Investigate Fundamentalist and Communal Terrorism |year=2022 |location=Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212 |page=52 |language=bn}}
His son Avijit Roy, an engineer who blogged about secular humanism, was hacked to death in Dhaka on 26 February 2015.{{cite news|url=http://newagebd.net/98434/blogger-avijit-hacked-to-death-on-du-campus/#sthash.Vp1lYqIQ.dpbs|title=Blogger Avijit hacked to death on DU campus|date=26 February 2015|work=New Age|accessdate=26 February 2015|location=Dhaka}}
Books
The list of the prominent books written by Ajoy Roy :
- Biggan O Darshan: Jor er Shondhane (Science and Philosophy: The Quest for Matter) (1993–94)
- Adi Bangali : Nritattik O shomajtattik Bishleshon (The Ancient Bengali) (1997) [Nominated as the best book of the year from Itihash Parishad]
- Swatantra Bhabna (Independent Thought) (2008)[http://www.mukto-mona.net/project/swatantra_bhabna/ স্বতন্ত্র ভাবনা – বাঙালী ফ্রিথিঙ্কারদের একটি সাহসী সঙ্কলন]
- Biswash O Biggan (Belief and Science) (2012)[http://mukto-mona.com/bangla_blog/?p=21930/ প্রকাশিত হল মুক্তমনা লেখকদের সংকলন-গ্রন্থ ‘বিশ্বাস ও বিজ্ঞান’]
- Rabindranath O Upanishad (2012)
- Leela Nag: Shoto Borsher Sroddhanjoli (Leela Nag – A Tribute) (2003)
- Podartho Bidya: Resnick/Halliday (co-translation of Fundamentals of Physics by Resnick/Halliday)
- Bangla Academy Biggan Kosh (Bangla Academy Science Encyclopedia)
Recognition and awards
- Ekushey Padak (2012),{{cite news |title=15 personalities awarded Ekushey Padak |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=bb2dac5c9fc3056b62e11e7921b559a5&nttl=2012022133749 |newspaper=Banglanews24.com |date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731053608/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=bb2dac5c9fc3056b62e11e7921b559a5&nttl=2012022133749 |archive-date=31 July 2012 |accessdate=2 March 2015}}[http://mukto-mona.com/bangla_blog/?p=22828 এবারের একুশে পদক পেলেন অধ্যাপক অজয় রায় ও হুমায়ুন আজাদ]
- Bangla Academy Literary Award (2011),[http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=13977 এবারের (২০১১) বাংলা একাডেমী পুরস্কার পেলেন অধ্যাপক অজয় রায়]{{cite news |url=http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=187793&cid=2 |title=6 nominated for Bangla Academy award |work=bdnews24.com |accessdate=2 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319055401/http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=187793&cid=2 |archivedate=19 March 2012 }}
- Asiatic Society Fellowship Award (2009)
- Bangla Academy Fellowship Award (2008)
- Jahanara Imam Memorial Award (2007){{cite news |title=Jahanara Imam's death anniv observed |url=http://www.newagebd.com/2007/jun/27/nat.html |work=New Age |date=27 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217051945/http://www.newagebd.com/2007/jun/27/nat.html |archive-date=17 December 2007 }}
Death
Roy died on 9 December 2019 at the age of 84.{{cite news |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/206185/Ajoy-Roy-passes-away|title=Ajoy Roy passes away|accessdate=9 December 2019|date=9 December 2019|work=Prothom Alo|archive-date=30 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230095428/https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/206185/Ajoy-Roy-passes-away|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2019/12/09/prof-ajoy-roy-father-of-slain-writer-avijit-dies-at-84|title=Prof Ajoy Roy, father of slain writer Avijit, dies at 84|accessdate=9 December 2019|date=9 December 2019|work=bdnews24.com}}
References
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Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds
Category:Bangladeshi humanists
Category:Bangladeshi critics of religions
Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak
Category:Recipients of Bangla Academy Award
Category:University of Dhaka alumni
Category:Academic staff of the University of Dhaka
Category:Bangladeshi physicists