Amiya Kanti Mutsuddy

Currently Residing: Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Age in 1947: Not available
Migrated from: Chittagong, Bangladesh
Migrated to: Chittagong, Bangladesh

Mutsuddy was born into a Buddhist family in Rangunia, Chittagong, British India. He went to a local primary school, Kadamtoli School, as a child. He recalls having many Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist friends. They often attended each others social and religious festivals. They lived in a very interconnected community. Luckily, there were no communal riots in his village before or after Partition. Shortly after Partition, he saw many of the Hindu families migrating to Calcutta. However, the Buddhist community that he belonged to pretty much stayed back in Chittagong.

It was only after Partition that little Amiya realised things had changed in the new country. When he was in 6th grade, Urdu became compulsory in school. Also he noticed that prior to Partition, Chittagong's commerce was primarily run by Hindu (Marwari) merchants, most of whom left after 1947. Later it was the Aga Khanis who ran most businesses, but after 1971, they too left. Mr Mutsuddy notes that the village Shahapara in his area had 50 percent Hindus, 40 percent Buddhists and 10 percent Muslims. Now, there are almost no Hindus left in Shahapara. 

Mr Mutsuddy joined Pakistan Civil Service in 1966, and learned Urdu, since it was required. Mr Mutsuddy was a Deputy Magistrate in Bhola in 1971. From his experience and observations in the Civil Service, he sadly feels the war in 1971 was inevitable but he did not like the way things unfolded. He eventually retired as a joint Secretary of the Bangladesh government and lives in Dhaka with his wife.

Interviewer: Farhana Afroz
Camera Person: Farhana Afroz
Photo and content sourced with permission from The 1947 Partition Archive (www.1947PartitionArchive.org)

See States of being divided for the full list of articles on this special issue of the Star Weekend.