The Context of Achieving and Application of Education by Sociologist Rangalal Sen

Dr. Rangalal Sen (1933-2014) was known in the country and abroad as a professor. After completing his education from Dhaka University, he first joined the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) as a lecturer in 1964. In the next year, he moved to the Department of Sociology of Dhaka University in the same position. His career began in 1953 as a primary school teacher. Apart from teaching, he was actively associated with several socio-political organizations and learned societies, including: Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Dhaka University Senate, Bangladesh College-University Teachers’ Association, Bangladesh Sociological Association, Expatriate Bangladesh Government, Bangladesh Itihas Parishad, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Asiatic Society, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Parishad, Sher-e-Bangla Smriti Parishad etc. Moreover, he became a syndicate member of many universities at many times on the nomination of the Chancellor. In June 2011 the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh awarded Rangalal Sen in the unique status of National Professor. This distinguished professor passed away on February 10, 2014. Even though Dr. Rangalal Sen passed away, some of his sociologically valuable works will survive him. By acquiring education, human qualities will be fully developed in a person, where there will be no violence and strife, mutual kindness will be displayed among people, the active presence of non-communal and democratic mind will be ensured, a rational social system with moral sense will be established – this was Rangalal Sen’s philosophy of education. Rangalal Sen was not only a Marxist sociologist or theorist but also a dedicated worker of socialism. According to his philosophy, the true meaning of life lies in making the human society more beautiful through honesty, justice, non-violence and altruism in personal life without limiting religious practice to worship and fasting. A good person but not good as a teacher, or a good teacher but not good as a person- these were completely unthinkable things for Rangalal Sen. His advice to everyone was to be a good person first. Enriched with real education, he has always kept one and the same ideal in his heart. Therefore, regardless of the party and opinion, only those who know him were and are always respectful to him. Rangalal Sen can be termed as a humanistic sociologist, egalitarian educationist and moralistic philanthropist considering the education achieved by him and its practical aspects. Rangalal Sen, who was blessed with good fortune, got close to such great persons in his life and cherished their ideals in such a way that his line of ideals never crossed., Dr. Sen’s personality formation can be well understood in the light of sociological judgement of education. This short article attempts to explore the institutionalization of Rangalal Sen and the catalysts behind it. For this purpose, Rangalal Sen’s educational life, career and application of education in it, influence of institutional and non-institutional education as a background for the formation of his ideal personality, reciprocity of ideals etc. are discussed.)