Today marks the 80th birth anniversary of Jayanta Kumar Kundu, the beloved father of our founder and CEO, Sukanta Kundu. He was a retired headmaster, Marxist thinker, and grassroots organizer during the 1971 Liberation War.
Born in 1945 in Dupchanchia’s Chowdhurypara, Jayanta Kundu grew up in a household shaped by anti-colonial values. His father, Ananta Mohon Kundu, was a known voice against oppression, and their home often hosted political conversations. Those early influences nurtured in him a belief that education and justice were inseparable.
He died on 13th February, 2022. On his birth anniversary today, the Editorialge team pays tribute to him with immense respect and honor.
Jayanta Kumar Kundu: at a Glance
Jayanta Kundu completed his degree from the University of Rajshahi in 1967 and returned home to begin a teaching career that would span decades. Colleagues and former students remember him as a disciplined yet compassionate educator—someone who knew children’s struggles as well as their potential. As a headmaster, he kept his school’s focus on integrity, punctuality and mutual respect.
His leadership extended beyond the classroom. Jayanta Kumar Kundu became General Secretary of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association in Dupchanchia Upazila, later serving as Vice President of the Bogura district unit. He advocated for fair postings, better training and the recognition of primary teachers as essential professionals. Those who worked with him recall his calm negotiation style and principled arguments.
During the Liberation War of 1971, Kundu took on an informal but vital organizing role in his community. He assisted families fleeing violence, relayed information and supported local resistance networks. Although widely regarded as an organizer, he refused to seek the “freedom fighter” certificate, insisting that participation in the war was a duty, not a credential.
His commitment to truth was most visible in his role preserving the memory of a 1971 mass killing near Shyam Sarobar in Chowdhurybari. Kundu helped bury victims alongside community elders and later worked to protect the mass grave—building a brick boundary, correcting errors in the memorial plaque and repeatedly urging local authorities to acknowledge the martyrs. He remained a guardian of that history for decades.
At home, he lived simply. He rose early, read voraciously and followed politics with quiet intensity. He offered guidance through questions rather than lectures. Neighbors remember him for discreet acts of generosity, from supporting struggling families to encouraging promising students with books and advice.
Kundu’s values later shaped the work of his son, Sukanta Kundu (Sukanta Parthib)—founder and CEO of digital media platforms Editorialge, Articleify and Tech Idea. Many see a direct link between the father who protected a mass grave’s truth and the son who built journalism networks focused on credible, ethical reporting.
In Memory of Jayanta Kumar Kundu
Recent years have seen his anniversaries marked with prayers, Gita recitations and community gatherings in Dupchanchia Chowdhurypara. This year’s observance encouraged a more celebratory tone—reflections from former students, lamps lit by children and speeches by community members honoring his lifelong service.
Family and locals proposed new initiatives to extend his legacy: a scholarship for low-income students, an essay competition on ethics in public service, a digital archive of 1971 testimonies, and a teachers’ award in his name.
On his 80th birth anniversary, his son offered a final tribute:
“You may not be here to hear these words, but you live in every part of my life.”
