The country's first illiteracy-free village: The forgotten glory story of Kachhubari-Kristapur

Kachubari-Kristapur village is located near Thakurgaon city. After the 1971 Liberation War, a new battle faced the youth of the newly independent country - the war against ignorance and illiteracy. When the country was dreaming of reconstruction after the Liberation War, a group of young people from the village took up the torch of education.

Led by Moksed Ali, 24 men and women including Abdul Khalek, Riazul Islam, Rameza Khatun, Afaz Uddin, Abdul Jabbar and Hasibul Haque started an education movement. Their slogan was - "Tip Sai Chi Chi, Shikhi Naam Liktoe." The lessons of education continued in the market, field, yard or sitting next to the stove.

With just three months of tireless work, Kachubari-Kristapur became the country's first illiterate-free village. As a result, this village has a unique status in the history of celebrating Literacy Day.

Rameza Khatun, one of the activists of that movement, is still alive today. She said,
“We worked in the education movement from dawn to dusk. At that time, there was a shortage of paper and pens, yet everyone had an interest in studying. But sadly, many fellow fighters including Moksed Ali left this world in poverty. No one remembers them.”

Many who led this movement are no longer alive today. Those who are alive are also living in poverty. Yet the history of freeing the people of the village from illiteracy began with their hands.

The question of the locals is, why did these education activists remain neglected despite such great achievements? Will the administration take any initiative to preserve their memory?

This history of Kachhubari-Kristapur is not just the pride of a village, but of the entire nation. Therefore, the locals want their contribution to be given state recognition and the inspiring story of the Light War to be conveyed to the new generation.