The memorial meeting began with celebration of the 99th birth anniversary of prominent educationist Shikkhyaguru Asir Uddin Ahmed on the premises of over a century-old Nilphamari Government Boys' High School on Friday.

Nilphamari Deputy Commi-ssioner (DC) Shafi-ul-Alam was present as the chief guest while former Headmaster of Gano Bhaban Government High School, Dhaka Begum Hasina Joarder, who is also the eldest daughter of Asir Uddin Ahmed was special guest. Ex-Headmaster of Nilphamari Government Boys' High School and Ahmed's former student Abdul Jabbar was the key-note speaker.

In his address Abdul Jabbar told that Asir Uddin Ahmed crossed the boundary of his school to enlighten the general mass. Whenever Asir Uddin appeared before two feuding groups, at once the two rival groups moved their heads downwards and embraced each other forgetting their past enmity.

He will be ever remembered for the dignity he showed to his noble profession of teaching during his entire lifetime. 'He embodied himself as a symbol of a dignified teacher to whom anyone can always follow' told Jabbar during his key-note speech. 'Thousands of his beloved students are now serving at home and abroad with name and fame', he added.

He finally suggested a research work on the life and activities of the great teacher.

In his address as chief guest Nilphamari DC Shafi-ul-Alam told that after his joining as the DC here he came to know about Asir Uddin Ahmed as a legend. He told that life of a man is short, but there are great people who are a few in number to whom death cannot take away from the hearts of people. Asir Uddin will be ever remembered for self-less dedication of his life to spread the light of education all-over, he said. He will remain alive from time immemorial for his golden deeds, he further told the audience. 'I wish I could be a student of the great teacher, but being unable to become so I have come to this memorial meeting to quench my thirst,' the DC lamented.

In her address as a special guest Hasina Joarder told that her great father was a personality who was far ahead of his time. Terming him as a person of indomitable personality, she said that her father was not only an educationist but also a woman's right activist. Back in the 1950's when women were still closed within the four walls she was rearing his girl children in a modern way. 'My father inspired me and my two younger sisters to stand on our feet taking higher education from university in a very conservative society'. While narrating her celebrated father's talent she revealed that Asir Uddin Ahmed secured the second place in honours examination in Mathematics from Calcutta University in undivided Bengal. Not only that he came out successful in the tough competitive examination of Bengal Civil Service during the British rule of India. But he preferred the noble profession of teaching to civil service. Though he was appointed a jailor, yet he embraced teaching out of love and affection to young people. Afterwards, he dedicated his entire life to enlighten children and juveniles, Hasina disclosed.

'The mystery of my father's success was that he taught each and every student like his own child, she told the gathering mostly young ones.

Mofizul Islam, another discussant, also Headmaster of Sonarai Sangalsi High School told that Asir Uddin termed failure of any student as a failure of a teacher.

The meeting was followed by a quiz competition on the life and works of Asir Uddin where children and young students took part. The entire session concluded with feeding of sweets to children and others.