বিড়ালের জেলখানা

gvby‡li Rb¨ cÖ_g hLb †RjLvbv evbv‡bv n‡jv, †Kv‡bv †jvK †mB †R‡j †h‡Z PvB‡jv bv| †R‡ji KZ©viv ZLb cix¶v K‡i †`L‡Z PvB‡jb, gvbyl Av‡`Š H †R‡ji †fZ‡i _vK‡Z cvi‡e wKbv| KzKzi‡K ejv n‡jv K‡q`Lvbvi †fZ‡i †h‡Z| KzKzi ivwR nq bv| ZLb †fZ‡i gvsk, nvo BZ¨vw` A‡bK fv‡jv fv‡jv Lvevi †i‡L Avmv n‡jv| Gevi cÖavb dUK Ly‡j †`Iqv n‡jv, Avi KzKzi‡K Avevi Aby‡iva Kiv n‡jv| KzKz‡iiv XyKj| Av‡qk K‡i Lvevi-`vevi †Lj, †MvUv †Rj Ny‡i-wd‡i †`Lj, Zvici †mvRv †MU w`‡q †ei n‡q †Mj| ivwR n‡jv bv _vK‡Z Zviv †R‡ji †fZ‡i| wKš‘ nvj Qvo‡jb bv Kviv-KZ©„c¶| Gevi cvVv‡bv n‡jv weovj‡`i‡K, Avi †fZ‡i ivLv n‡jv gvQ, `ya BZ¨vw` cÖf„wZ| weov‡jiv XyKj, †Lj-‡`j, Ges †_‡K †Mj †R‡jiB †fZ‡i| Dj­wmZ K‡q`-KZ©viv: weovj hLb †_‡K †Mj, gvbylI cvi‡e|

Avwk¦‡bi AvKvk-fwZ© D¾¡j Av‡jvi g‡Zv nvwmfiv gyL wb‡q GB Mí Avgv‡`i‡K ejj AvjgMxi| AvjgMxi Ii‡d Rvnv½xi, wcZv: RvwKi †nv‡mb, K‡q`x b¤^i: 9319, ivRkvnx †K›`ªxq KvivMvi| cwi®‹vi †`L‡Z cvw”Q K‡q`xi nvwm| cwi®‹vi †`L‡Z cvw”Q K‡q`xi Uzwc‡Z R¡jR¡‡j jvj-bxj myZv w`‡q dzj-‡Zvjvi g‡Zv K‡i AuvKv‡bv PviUv msL¨v 9319, AvjgMx‡ii wb‡Ri nv‡Z Kiv Kvi“KvR, †h-nvZ w`‡q GjwR enb Kivi `v‡q AvR 12 eQi n‡jv †m KvivMv‡ii iv¶mcyix‡Z Nvwb Uvb‡Q, Uvb‡Z n‡e AviI K‡qK eQi| †KŠZ‚nj Avi wRÁvmvi wmwiqvm GKUv `ªe‡Y Avgvi †Pnviv wfwR‡q Avwg Zuv‡K cÖkœ Kijvg, weovj cvi‡j gvbylI cvi‡e, Gi gv‡b Kx AvjgMxi? AvjgMxi nv‡m| †nuqvwj-fiv, AvKvk-fiv nvwm| Ii Kv‡Q, Ii AwfÁZvi Kv‡Q, Ii Mí-mËvi Kv‡Q wb‡R‡K Avgvi wbQK GKUv †Ljbv e‡j g‡b n‡jv| c‡i Av‡iv A‡bKevi wR‡Ám K‡iwQ, wKš‘ †mB wbi“Ëi nvwm|

wb‡R Avwg †f‡e †`Lvi †Póv K‡iwQ| †cvl-gvbv weovj n‡”Q †mB cÖvYx, hv‡K Avcwb hZB gv‡ib hZB a‡ib †m Avcbvi evmvq Avevi wd‡i Avm‡e| kvixwiK wbMÖn mn¨ Kivi †¶‡Î weov‡ji Zzjbv †gjv KwVb| cuvP-Zjvi Qv` †_‡K gvwU‡Z †d‡j †`b, D‡V GKUz Mv-Svov w`‡q †nu‡U P‡j hv‡e| AwZkq k³ Rvb weov‡ji| Avevi, MíUv nqZ G-K_vI ej‡Z PvB‡Q †h, †RjLvbv-aviYvUvi Avov‡j Av‡Q GB g‡bvfve: gvbyl n‡”Q KzKzi-weov‡ji g‡ZvB Av‡iKUv Rš‘ gvÎ| MíUvi g‡a¨ wK GB AvfvmI Av‡Q, †R‡ji ew›`Z¡ Avi wbMÖn mn¨ Ki‡Z †M‡j weov‡ji g‡Zv ÔAgvbweKÕ Rxe‡bi AwaKvix n‡Z n‡e? bvwK BkvivUv GB †h, †R‡j cy‡i ivL‡Z cvi‡j gvbyl cwiYZ n‡e weov‡j? Avwg ˆ_ cvB bv|

KviY hv-B †nvK, KvivMv‡i KzKzi †`wL wb| GKUvI bv| wKš‘ weovj Av‡Q, Qvbv‡cvbv -msmvi-mnKv‡i Av‡Q| wekvj Rvbvjvi †jvnvi Miv‡` Mvj †i‡L NÈv a‡i `uvwo‡q `uvwo‡q †`‡LwQ weov‡ji gv Zvi mš—vb‡K †kLv‡”Q †Kgb K‡i jvd w`‡q AvµgY Ki‡Z nq, †Kgb K‡i AvZ¥i¶v Ki‡Z nq, †Kgb w¶cÖZvi mv‡_ _vev Avi `uv‡Zi e¨envi Ki‡Z nq| †`‡LwQ ga¨iv‡Z mš—v‡bi Rb¨ Lvevi LuyR‡Z jK-Av‡ci †jvnvi duvK M‡j Avgv‡`i Iqv‡W© XyK‡Q weov‡ji gv| †`navi‡Yi Rb¨ ¶yav-wbeviY, Avi wb‡Ri wm×v‡š— Pjvi Rb¨ AvZ¥i¶v-AvµgY: weovj Zuvi cÖK…Z cÖRvwZ-mËv GZUzKz wemR©b †`q wb|

mvgvb¨ weovj‡KI Zvi ¯^vaxb ¯^fve †_‡K ekxf~Z Ki‡Z cv‡i bv †RjLvbv| A_P K‡q` Av‡Q gvbyl‡K civf~Z-ekxf~Z Kivi Lv‡q‡k| Avj­vn Ñ PvB‡j Avcwb gv-cÖK…wZI ej‡Z cv‡ib Ñ gvbyl‡K m„wó K‡i‡Qb Rb¥m~‡Î ¯^vaxb mËv wn‡m‡e| Avi, †mB K‡e †_‡K mg¯— gvbyl‡K Aí wKQy gvby‡li `vm evbv‡bvi Rb¨ kvixwiK I gvbwmK ejcÖ‡qv‡Mi GKMv`v mk¯¿ cÖwZôvb Ly‡j e‡m Av‡Q KwZcq †jvK| wb‡R‡`i‡K Giv e‡j KZ©„c¶, Avwg ewj Bewjm| KZ©„Z¡-KZ©„c¶-Bewjm Pvq gvbyl Zvi †Mvjvwg Ki‡e| Avj­vn Pvb gvbyl ¯^vaxbfv‡e †gvwgb gvbyl n‡q DV‡e| Ab¨v‡qi cÖwZev` Kiv ZvB †gvwg‡bi Cgv‡bi A½| A¯¿ Avi kv‡¯¿i †Rv‡i gvbyl‡K Bewj‡mi `v‡m cwiYZ Kivi cÖ‡Póvi BwZnvm n‡”Q KvivMv‡ii BwZnvm|

weov‡ji MíUvi DrcwË PÆMÖvg †R‡j| PÆMÖv‡gi †RjLvbvUv evbv‡bvi mgqB H KzKzi-weovj cix¶vwbix¶v Pvjv‡bv n‡qwQj e‡j M‡í cÖKvk| M‡íi †c‡Ui g‡a¨ GB Bw½ZI Av‡Q e‡j Avgvi wek¦vm †h, Zzwg †h-†RjLvbvq e›`x HUvB c„w_exi Avw`Zg Ges GKgvÎ †Rj: Gi Av‡M AZx‡Z †Kv‡bv †RjLvbv wQj wKbv, wKsev eZ©gv‡b Avi-†Kv_vI †Kv‡bv †RjLvbv Av‡Q wKbv Zv‡Z †Zvgvi Kx Av‡m-hvq? e›`xi we‡eP¨ n‡”Q ew›`Z¡, e›`xi we‡eP¨ n‡”Q ¯^vaxbZv| †Zv, AvjgMxi c„w_exi H cÖ_g †RjLvbvi †jvK, PÆMÖv‡giB †Q‡j| cvnv‡o myomywo †L‡q bvg‡Z bvg‡Z, Avi mgy‡`ª myZv-euvav eqv a‡i `~i bx‡j fvm‡Z fvm‡Z ˆkke cvi K‡i‡Q †m| Zvici ˆK‡kvi wVK g‡Zv †cwi‡q‡Q wK †c‡ivq wb, Afv‡ei avIqv †L‡q †R‡j Xy‡KwQj be-Zi“Y| mvZ mgy`ª †Zi †Rj Ny‡iwd‡i Pwj­k QuyB-QuyB GLb †m ivRkvnx †K›`ªxq KvivMv‡i| †Rj wel‡q Zuvi g‡Zv we‡klÁ KgB Av‡Q|

AvjgMxiB cÖ_g Rvbv‡jv, ivRkvnx †K›`ªxq KvivMvi Av`‡Z e„wU‡ki ˆZwi Kiv ÔmuvIZvj cvwbk‡g›U †RjÕ| Av‡¯—-ax‡i wewfbœ K‡q`x Ges ÔeveyÕi KvQ †_‡K Rvbv †Mj AviI bvbv Z_¨| (me‡P‡q Kg †eZb‡fvMx Mwie Kviv-Kg©Pvix‡`i‡K Z_v Kvivi¶x‡`i‡K K‡q`xiv e‡jb ÔeveyÕ|) muvIZvj‡`i we‡`ªv‡ni cwi‡cÖw¶‡Z we‡klZ Zuv‡`iB kv‡q¯—v Kivi Rb¨ 1840 mv‡j GB KvivMv‡ii cËb NUvq e„wUk Jcwb‡ewkK cÖfyiv| GB mymf¨ cÖfyiv e›`x‡`i‡K wbh©vZ‡bi Rb¨ evbvq fq¼i me †mj Avi Ab¨-me e¨e¯’v| †hgb AÜKvi wbR©b Kei-†mj: Zv‡Z †Kv‡bv g‡Z k¦vm †bIqvi R‡b¨ mvgvb¨ GKwU euvKv‡bv cvB‡ci AvDU‡jU, †hb e›`x‡K †evSv‡bv hvq Ke‡ii AvRve e‡j Kv‡K| GLbI Av‡Q GB †mj, cÖavb dUK w`‡q XyK‡ZB nv‡Zi Wv‡b| Ae¨eüZ| †XvKvi `iRv gvwU w`‡q fivU K‡i eÜ K‡i-†`Iqv| wQj †RuvK-†mj, Zv‡Z KL‡bv †RuvK KL‡bv wks gvQ ivLv n‡Zv K‡q`x‡`i‡K we‡kl wk¶v †`Iqvi Rb¨| wQj Nb‡Ki AvK…wZm¤úbœ wKDweK¨vj †mj: GZ †QvU, Nvo Zz‡j †hb †KD `uvov‡Z bv-cv‡i| GLbI Av‡Q KÈK-†mj: gv_vi Ic‡i Avi Wv‡b-euv‡qi †`qv‡j kZ kZ †jvnvi KuvUv, †c‡iK ev MRv‡ji g‡Zv, ZviB g‡a¨ GK wPj‡Z RvqMv, †Kv‡bv g‡Z †kvqv hvq, mvgvb¨ bov-Pov Ki‡Z †M‡jI Mv i³v³ n‡e| GB KuvUv-†mj¸‡jv GgwWÕi †fZ‡i (g¨vbyd¨vKPvwis wWcvU©‡g›U), Ae¨eüZ, `iRv¸‡jv wmj K‡i †`Iqv| wQj whï wLª‡ói µ‡mi g‡Zv K‡i nvZ `yB w`‡K Qwo‡q †eu‡a g‡bi myL wgwU‡q PveyK gvivi Rb¨ ûBc ÷¨vÊ| †mB ÷¨vÛ GLbI Av‡Q, GLb Avi PveyK gviv nq bv| †`o‡kv eQi Av‡Mi mePvB‡Z Ômf¨Õ‡`i GB wQj e›`xi cÖwZ AvPiY| ivRkvnx †K›`ªxq KvivMvi G-iKg ÔHwZn¨Õevnx KvivMvi: wbh©vZ‡bi Rxeš— Rv`yNi|

wbh©vZb GLbI Av‡Q| gvÎv msKzwPZ n‡q‡Q, aviv e`‡j‡Q| wKš‘ wbh©vZb Av‡Q| Av‡Q kx‡Zi Kvgo| DËie‡½i eûj-Av‡jvwPZ kx‡Z GB †jLvUv hLb wjLwQ, evN-cvjv‡bv gv‡Ni GB kx‡ZI, †R‡ji `iRv Avi `iRvi mgvb Rvbvjv¸‡jv GLb †Lvjv| mviv mviv ivZ a‡i| wekvj G‡KKUv IqvW©| Pvi †`qv‡ji †Kv‡bvUv‡ZB `iRv-Rvbvjvi Afve bvB| û û K‡i wng XyK‡Q| Gw`K w`‡q XyK‡Q, Iw`K w`‡q †ei“‡”Q| R‡g hv‡”Q gvby‡li ev”Pviv| Mv‡q ïay GKUv K¤^j: cvZjv, †Quov‡Luvov, cyivbv, a¨voa¨vov| Gme e›`xi A‡b‡K wkï, A‡b‡K e„×|

Av‡Q wcucovi Kvgo| cÖvq wZb-Zjv `vjv‡bi mgvb DuPz G‡Ëv eo eKzjMv‡Qi †Mvovi w`KKvi g~j Kv‡Ê †jvnvi Kov †cuvZv Av‡Q| Zv‡Z nvZ †eu‡a wel wcucovi Kvgo LvIqv‡bv nq GK NÈv `yB NÈv wZb NÈv| Mv‡Qi †Mvovq gvwU‡Z A‡bK wcucovi evmv| K‡q`xi Mv‡q †g‡L †`Iqv n‡q‡Q ¸o| LyuwP‡q †`Iqv n‡q‡Q evmv| jvBb a‡i wcucov †ei“‡”Q| kZ kZ wcucov| D‡V hv‡”Q K‡q`xi Mv‡q, Kvgov‡”Q|

cÖwm× H eKzjZjvi eKzj QvovI MvQ AviI Av‡Q| Av‡Q gv_vi Ici Mv‡Qi Wv‡ji mv‡_ DuPz K‡i nvZ †eu‡a GKw`b `yB w`b wZb w`b `uvo Kwi‡q †i‡L †`Iqv, H Ae¯’vq †cUv‡bv| G¸‡jv Lye weij bv| (†Kv‡U© GK bvMv‡o K‡qK NÈv K‡i `uvwo‡q †_‡K mvgvb¨ Av›`vR †c‡qwQjvg `uvwo‡q _vKvi myL|) Av‡Q w`‡bi ci w`b †jvnvi WvÊv‡eox cwi‡q ivLv: bvbvb fw½‡Z, †hb wVKg‡Zv nuvU‡Z bv-cv‡i, †hb `iKv‡iI wbPz n‡Z bv-cv‡i, †hb mviv¶Y wcV euvKv K‡i _vK‡Z nq, †mvRv n‡Z bv-cv‡i, BqËv bvB|

Avi, Ô†Km †Uwe‡jÕ jvwV‡cUv †Zv Av‡QB| GKRb K‡q`x‡K K‡qKRb Ô`v½vÕ wg‡j ixwZg‡Zv jvwV w`‡q †cUv‡”Q, Zey †m K‡q`x †Rj-KZ©v‡`i‡K †Pv‡L †PvL †i‡L e¨½ K‡i wnw›` Mvb †M‡q †b‡P P‡j‡Qb A™¢yZ fw½‡Z| Ôwe-K¬vmÕ K‡q`x Guiv, wØZxq †kªYxi K‡q`x| cÖK…Zc‡¶, GuivB gvbecÖRvwZi ¯^vaxb AvZ¥v-ci¤úivi mePvB‡Z DrK…ó cÖwZwbwa| wbixn I f`ªfv‡e e›`xZ¡‡K †g‡b †bb bv Guiv| wKQy‡ZB ek gvbv‡bv hvq bv Gu‡`i| ¯^vaxb gvbyl‡K mK‡jB mgxn Ki‡Z eva¨ nq| †Rj-KZ©„c¶I mgxn K‡ib Gu‡`i‡K, mn‡R NuvUvb bv| Avgv‡`i AvjgMxi Gu‡`iB GK D¾¡j cÖwZwbwa|

wbh©vZ‡bi Gme NUbv cÖ‡Z¨K w`b N‡U bv| XvjvIfv‡e N‡U bv| †mB e„wUk Avgj Avi bvB| Zey GLbI N‡U wbh©vZb| Kg N‡U, wKš‘ cÖvqkB N‡U| †Kv‡bv K‡q`x ev evey-Rgv`vi Ab¨ †Kv‡bv K‡q`xi bv‡g Ôwi‡cvU©Õ w`‡j, gv‡b Awf‡hvM `vwLj Ki‡j, †Km †Uwe‡j Zvr¶wYK-wePvimfv e‡m| †Rj-KZ©viv †mLv‡b mv¶x-mvey` †`‡L ivq †`b| Awfhy³iv mywePviI cvb e‡U, Z‡e cÖvq-mg¯— †¶‡ÎB cvb kvw¯—| kvw¯— gv‡b GB me kvixwiK wbh©vZbg~jK e¨e¯’v¸‡jvi †Kv‡bv GKUv| Avevi, kvw¯— ej‡Z n‡Z cv‡i Ô†iwgkbÕ ev Ô†iqvZÕ KvUv hvIqv| cÖvq mK‡jiB †Zv mkªg Kviv`Ê| KZ©„c¶ cÖ‡Z¨‡Ki kªg ev KvR wVK K‡i †`b, ÔKvR-cvkÕ K‡i †`b| †mB Kv‡Ri cÖK…wZ Abymv‡i K‡q`xiv cÖwZ wZb gvm Kviv`Ê †_‡K wbw`©ó nv‡i Ñ 20 w`b 21 w`b 22 w`b BZ¨vw` Ñ †iqvZ cvb, d‡j Zvi †gvU mvRv K‡g Av‡m| AZ¨š— we‡kl e¨wZµg Qvov Gi †P‡q eo kvw¯— K‡q`xi Kv‡Q Avi wKQy bvB| a‡ib, GK eQi †Rj †L‡U Avcwb wZb gvm Ô†iqvZÕ AR©b K‡i‡Qb, GLb kvw¯— n‡jv Zvi †_‡K GK gvm Ô‡iqvZÕ †Qu‡U †`Iqv, G Lye ü`qwe`viK kvw¯—| †ewkifvM †¶‡Î kvixwiK kvw¯—i †P‡q A‡bK †ewk KóKi| wZj wZj K‡i †`Iqv Zuvi AgvbywlK kª‡gi wewbg‡q AwR©Z †iqvZ ev` †Mj| GLb Zuv‡K AviI †ewk †Rj LvU‡Z n‡e, AviI †ewk kªg w`‡Z n‡e| GKUv w`b †ewk †Rj LvUv Avi GKUv w`b Kg †Rj LvUvi g‡a¨ AvKvk-cvZvj Zdvr Av‡Q †h: ¯^vaxb gvby‡li mv‡_ e›`xi †h-Zdvr| Ô†iqvZÕ KvUv hvIqvUv‡KB ZvB K‡q`x‡`i fq †ewk| †mUv KZ…©c¶I Rv‡bb, d‡j Zuviv kvixwiK kvw¯—i †P‡q †iqvZ KvUvi wm×vš— wb‡ZB cQ›` K‡ib †ewk| †h-KZ©v e¨w³MZfv‡e e`, wZwb kvixwiK wbMÖ‡n Avb›` cvb, Avi whwb weP¶Y-`qvjy wZwb †iqvZ Kv‡Ub| Avevi gZvš—‡i, †h-KZ©v †iqvZ Kv‡Ub wZwbB wbôzi †ewk| kvw¯—i ˆewPΨ Avi gvÎvi †ni‡d‡ii Avi gvby‡li `qvi Avi wbôziZvi cÖKvi‡f‡`i G-GK wbiš—i cvcPµ|

†¯^”Qvq Xy‡KwQj weovj KvivMv‡ii cvcP‡µ, ïay GKUz LvIqvi ZvwM‡`, euvPvi Avkvq| A_P cÖK…wZ‡Z †RjLvbv bvB| weovj A_ev ev‡Ni Rb¨ †Kv‡bv e›`xkvjv bvB ebvbx‡Z| K¨v½vi“i Rb¨ †Kv‡bv KvivMvi KzÄe‡b bvB| cvwL‡`i Rb¨ wcÖRb bvB| Mi“‡`i Rb¨ bvB Miv‡`i e‡›`ve¯—| KzKz‡ii Rb¨ †Kv‡bv K‡q‡`i Kvievi bvB| ¶zav jvM‡j GKUv cÖvYx Ab¨ cÖvYx‡K wkKvi K‡i Lvq wVKB, wKš‘ e›`x K‡i iv‡L bv| LuvPvq, †Luvqv‡o wKsev wPwoqvLvbvq Ab¨ cÖvYx‡K e›`x K‡i ivLvi e¨e¯’v cÖvK…wZK bq| Avw`‡Z gvby‡li R‡b¨I †Kv‡bv †RjLvbv wQj bv| gvby‡li Rb¨ †Lv`v evwb‡q‡Qb cvnvo, b`x Avi AvKvk| gvby‡li Rb¨ wZwb m„wó K‡i‡Qb wRÁvmv, †KŠZ‚nj, m„RbkxjZv Ges ¯^vaxbZv| m„Rb K‡i‡Qb gvbyl‡K wZwb Rb¥m~‡Î ¯^vaxb wn‡m‡e| gvby‡li Rb¨ wZwb m„wó K‡ib wb KvivMvi| gvby‡li Rb¨ wZwb m„wó K‡ib wb `vmcÖ_v|

(iPbvwU †jL‡Ki cÖKvwkZe¨ ÔKvivMvi ¯^vaxbZv m„RbkxjZvÕ MÖ‡š’i GKwU Ask|)

লেখাটা এর আগে প্রবাসী বাঙালিদের ওয়েবসাইট ইউকে বেঙ্গলী 'তে (http://ukbengali.com/Columns/Col-2008/Col-0805/Col-080504-Selim-Reza-Newton-History-of-Jail.htm) এবং রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ইংরেজি বিভাগের শিক্ষার্থীদের পত্রিকাশাশ্বতিকী 'তে (১ম বর্ষ ৩য় সংখ্যা জানুয়ারি ২০০৯) প্রকাশিত হয়েছিল।