Interview with Waheeduddin Choudhri, April 6, 2010

Partial Transcript: I am here on April sixth, two thousand ten in Dhanmondi with Mister Waheeduddin Choudhri, um, and also Mister Muhadi Khan will be helping me if I have any trouble with the translation or anything.

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri gives biographical information, such as when and where he was born. He then talks about his religious education, which took place at a nearby mosque, as well as his education in various languages. He then talks about leaving for Aligarh Muslim University at the age of nineteen.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Bengali language; Dialects; East Bengal (India); Education; English language; Grandparents, maternal; Islam; Languages; Mosques; Religious education; Sylhet (Bangladesh); University of Calcutta

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh--History.; Bengali language; Dialects; Education; English language; Grandparents; India--History; Islam; Mosques; Pakistan--History; Religious education; Sylhet, Bangladesh; University of Calcutta

Partial Transcript: When you were in--do you remember your first day in Aligarh?

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri gives his first impressions of Aligarh Muslim University and talks about the residence hall in which he lived. He then talks about being involved in leftist political organizations.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Aligarh Students Federation; All-India Muslim League; Delhi (India); Engineering; Hostels; India; Indian National Congress; Leftists; Politics; Residence halls; Rules

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; All-India Muslim League; Bangladesh--History.; Delhi (India); Engineering; India; India--History; Indian National Congress; Pakistan--History

Partial Transcript: Did you ever, did you ever take part in the Union?

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri talks about the practice of segregating women students at Aligarh Muslim University.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Aligarh Students Union; Engineering; Girls; Islam; Prayers; Purdah; Women

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh--History.; Engineering; Girls; India--History; Islam; Pakistan--History; Prayer; Purdah; Women; Women in engineering

Partial Transcript: You, you have very fond memories of Aligarh.

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri discusses how the political turmoil and communal violence of the late 1940s caused him difficulty in traveling from his hometown in Sylhet (Bangladesh) to Aligarh (India). Choudhri also talks about the Aligarh Muslim University’s vice-chancellors Nawab Mohammad Ismail Khan and Ziauddin Ahmad. Next, he describes the train route he took to school that ensured he would not be identified as Hindu or Muslim--a strategy that his friend Muhadi Khan also employed.

Keywords: Administrations; Ahmad, Ziauddin; Aligarh Muslim University; Communalism; Hindus; Indian Civil Service (ICS); Islamic clothing and dress; Khan, Nawab Mohammad Ismail; Kolkata (India); Leaders; Marriages; Muslim; Muslims; Nehru, Jawaharlal; Railways; Riots, Hindu-Muslim; Riots, communal; Sherwanis; Sylhet (Bangladesh); Trains; Traveling; Violence

Subjects: Administration; Ahmad, Ziauddin, 1930-; Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh--History.; Communalism; Hindus; India--History; Indian Civil Service; Islamic clothing and dress; Kolkata (India); Leaders; Marriage; Muslim; Muslims; Nehru, Jawaharlal, 1889-1964.; Pakistan--History; Riots.; Sylhet (Bangladesh); Transportation; Traveling; Violence

Partial Transcript: And, was your father a supporter of Muslim League?

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri talks about his father, who was a deputy magistrate with the British government in India--a position that prevented him from openly supporting the All-India Muslim League.

Keywords: All-India Muslim League; British government officers; Choudhri, Anounden; Deputy magistrates; Fathers; Hindus; Muslims; Retirement

Subjects: All-India Muslim League; Bangladesh--History.; British--India--History.; Fathers; Hindus; India--History; Muslims; Pakistan--History; Retirement

Partial Transcript: When you were in Aligarh, in the university, you were Bengali, Sylheti Bengali. Did you feel any discrimination from other Muslim students?

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri discusses his experience as a Bengali student at Aligarh Muslim University.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh; Bengalis; Discrimination; Muslims; Nehru, Jawaharlal

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh--History.; Bengalis; Discrimination; India--History; Muslims; Nehru, Jawaharlal, 1889-1964.; Pakistan--History

Partial Transcript: So, here's a question.

Segment Synopsis: Choudhri talks about why he preferred Pakistan over India, despite his father’s decision to stay in India. He also talks about his desire for a leftist, united India. Choudhri then talks about his support for an independent Bangladesh, as well as the importance of being a Bengali to his personal identity. He also discusses the movement to make Urdu the official language of Pakistan.

Keywords: All-India Muslim League; Bangladesh; Bengalis; Constitutions; East Pakistan; Fathers; Flags, Indian; India; Indian National Congress; Jinnah, Mahomed Ali; Khan, Liaquat Ali; Leftists; Muslims; Pakistan; Pakistan movement; Sayem, Abu Sadat Mohammad; Suhrawardy, Huseyn Shaheed; Urdu language

Subjects: All-India Muslim League; Bangladesh; Bangladesh--History.; Constitutions.; Flags.; India; India--History; Indian National Congress; Jinnah, Mahomed Ali, 1876-1948.; Khan, Liaquat Ali, 1895-1951.; Muslims; Pakistan; Pakistan movement; Pakistan--History; Sayem, Abusadat Mohammad, 1916-1997.; Suhrawardy, Huseyn Shaheed, 1892-1963.; Urdu language