Our Great Tree Has Fallen – Dwijen Sharma

Benu Barna Adhikari

The sprouting and falling of leaves, the blossoming of trees again with fresh foliage and flowers—this is the law of nature, and humans, too, are a part of nature, inevitably falling away in their time. Early Friday morning, around 3:45 AM, this ‘Friend of Nature’ breathed his last at Square Hospital in the capital while under treatment. He was 88 years old. Dwijen Sharma was born on May 29, 1929, in Shimulia village, Barlekha Thana, then a part of Sylhet Division.

To remain evergreen throughout the cycle of human life is a difficult feat—one which Dwijen Sharma managed to achieve over 88 years, as naturally as the flow of nature itself. It was the youngest among us, generation after generation, who received the most support, shelter, and inspiration from him. This is often seen with successful teachers, and although Dwijen Sharma did teach, it was for a short time at the dawn of his youth. Those who were his students at Notre Dame College have never forgotten him.

Dwijen Sharma

“Be humble like the trees, be green…”—this was Dwijen Sharma’s lifelong call. He devoted his life to building a green country and nurturing green-minded people. As a lover of trees, Dwijen Sharma planted many of them. He nurtured trees, educated people about them, and fought throughout his life for the sake of green nature. His name is entwined with the vitality and simplicity of trees. He beckoned people toward greenery. He worked tirelessly for a greener nation and greener people. Trees are being cut down, the environment is facing disaster. Yet, one can say his call has not been in vain. Even as the environment has been under threat, people have turned the protection of nature into a movement.

This is the true success of Dwijen Sharma.

Shahida Islam, Dwijen Sharma, and Benu Barna Adhikari

Photo: Shahjahan Mridha Benu, 2013

In his nostalgia for the Soviet Union, Dwijen Sharma once said, “There has never been and never will be a country like the Soviet Union. Such a strange place—I was amazed to see that everyone was almost equal. Who was an engineer, who a doctor, a professor, or a laborer—you couldn’t tell. Everyone’s houses were the same, all stood in line at the shop to buy things—where else would you find such a country? With just one ruble in your pocket, you could spend the whole day there in peace. You’d never feel the pressure of lacking money; these experiences exist nowhere except under socialism.”

Editor’s note: Published with permission from Benu Barna. Edited. Thanks Benu Barna. She worked together with Dijen Sharma in ‘Torupallab’.

Ref: 1. Technical Communication: Received from Benu Barna, 20170915 for publishing at biggani.org and Vision Creates Value

2. First Published: http://www.greennewsbd.com/?p=22873

3. Photo 1. Ref. 2.

4. Photo 2. Facebook, Benu Barna Adhikari, 2070915.