Anisul Hoque’s novel Ma was based on a true story of an ordinary housewife, Shafia Begum, who rose to an extraordinary height during a historical transition point in Bangladesh, the liberation war in 1971. From a wealthy merchant father to a new engineering grad husaband who made his fortune in business in newly born Pakistan, she never saw hardships in her life. With wealth Mr. Chowdhury, the husband, acquired second wife. Shafia decided not to see his face during her lifetime. She left home with her only child, Azad, by abandoning all the wealth and secure life to take shelter to her only sister. In his failed attempt to bring Shafia back, Mr. Chowdhury poisoned Shafia’s only sister and evicted Shafia from her rightfully owned property. Jaed was the son of Shafia’s this sister.

Nevertheless, Shafia and Azad survived by selling her jewelleries. Shafia struggled hard all the way to have Azad finish his Masters from Dhaka University. But the turning point came with the 25^th of March, 1971. The Pakistani regime carried out one of the worst genocides in history in the so-called East Pakistan, especially in Dhaka. This pushed the Bengaleese towards an armed struggle for liberation. The nucleus of the war was formed by guerrilla fighters, who were mainly students, farmers and masses that took up arms to free the country. Azad became part of a crucial urban guerrilla group; his home became one of the important hideouts and weapon hoards in Dhaka. Initially, his mother, Shafia faced a huge dilemma to consent to all of these activities.Conscience, however, did not allow her to forbid Azad to support the war.

Ferdous Ahmed Jaed was a teen-ager at that time. But he used to take part in the war by carrying arms and ammunitions from one Muktijoddha shelter to another. And he was an all-time companion of Azad.

Azad’s guerrilla group became formidable and terror to the Pakistani army and their collaborators. On August 30^th, 1971, the Pak army cracked down on Azad’s house. A gun battle took place.

Pakistani army arrested some major freedom fighters along with Azad. However, despite extreme torture, the army could not get any information out of Azad. Then they asked his mother to convince her son to disclose the information in exchange of his liberty. During the arranged meeting, Shafia said to Azad, ‘Son, you’ll remain strong… don’t reveal anybody’s name…’ Azad agreed. But he had been starving for last two days. He requested Shafia to bring rice to the prison cell for him. The next day, Ma went to the prison with some rice prepared with immense care. But Azad was not there to taste the food. She waited 14 more years since then for Azad’s return and eventually chose heaven to meet Azad. In those years, she never tasted rice or slept on bed because Azad did not get those during his last days.

Jaed was hit by bullets in his abdomen and leg during that onslaught. Jaed was admitted to Holy Family Hospital. After several months of treatment, he was realesed from the hospital. To date he is still carrying a bullet in his body.

Jaed had always been with Azad’s mother, whom he called Amma, all those years through all the sufferings and economic hadrships. She died in abject poverty after those years. She never gave up her struggle for self esteem. She defied all the luxuries just for the love of the motherland and did the ultimate sacrifice. She was the real winner, real martyr. When the freedom fighters lay her down in the grave, rain drops started to fall from a sunlit sky, as if the Shaheeds (martyrs) were throwing flower petals down from the Heaven to honour her supreme sacrifice for the liberation war of Bangladesh. Her tombstone is still glowing with the inscription: Shaheed Azad’s mother.

Jaed is the curator of Azad’s mother’s grave in Jurain Graveyard. It was he, who has preserved the grave with permanent structure and put the epitaph on the grave written Shaheed Azader Maa.

Jaed was the main source of the story of the Novel Ma for the writer Anisul Hoque. Jaed gave him all the documents, letters of Azad and the mother, which were handed over to the Muktijuddha Museum.

Jaed has two sons, Moheb and Shoeb. After graduation last year Moheb joined Brac Bank as an officer. But witin 6 months, Moheb had to quit the job due to illness of his younger brother, Shoeb.

Shoeb has been suffering from Rectum Cancer and is being treated at Vellore, India. His father, Jaed, has spent all his belongings for his treatment. But he did not let Anisul Hoque raise funds from donations by seeking help through daily newspaper, The Daily Prothom Alo’. Instead he asked for loan from Anisul Hoque.

Ferdous Ahmed Jaed and also Azad’s family came from Medenimandol village, Munshiganj. Now part of old Dhaka is their home. Jaed has a small business of Motor Parts.