‘I fought for this land’
His great grandfather fought in World War I, his grandfather in World War II, and he fought in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
This is James Leo Ferguson, the owner of the Lobhachhara tea garden in Kanaighat, Sylhet. A Bangladeshi freedom fighter of Scottish origin, Ferguson fought in Sylhet under sub-sector 5.
James Leo Ferguson lives on his tea garden in Sylhet, but his origins are in Scotland. He is known by his nickname Nanka. He was even elected as a people’s representative after the independence of Bangladesh. For a stretch of 17 years, from 1976 to 1993 he was the UP chairman of Lakshmiprasad, Kanaighat. After almost two decades, he has been elected once against as UP chairman, under the ‘boat’ election symbol. He recently visited Prothom Alo’s Sylhet office and spoke about his experiences.
Leo Ferguson said they were originally from Scotland and that his great grandfather Donald Ferguson had fought in World War I. Then his grandfather James Arthur Ferguson joined the British army too and took part in World War II.
Leo was born in Kanaighat, Sylhet. After the World War II, Arthur Ferguson retired from the army and took up a job with the India Isabella Tea Estate. Later Leo Ferguson’s mother June Ferguson became the manager of the Lobhachhara tea garden. She was the first woman tea garden manager in India and Pakistan at the time. Later they bought the tea garden.
James Leo Ferguson was a student of Comilla Cadet College in Mainamati. He graduated from the cadet college in 1971. One night towards the end of April that year, he ran away from Mainamati and came to Lobhachhara. With his mother’s permission he then crossed over into India, underwent training and joined the liberation war.
Perhaps the soldier’s blood that ran in his veins prompted him to join the liberation war. He agreed, but added, “I was born in this land. I fought for this land. My mother inspired me. I fought from August under sub-sector 5. I was a Scotsman and my comrades loved me. They were inspired by the war experiences of my forefathers.”
There are rare photographs of Ferguson’s grandfather and great grandfather on display at his bungalow at the Lobhachhara tea garden. Also on display is his own freedom fighter certificate.
In 1982 Leo married a Scottish girl Quinla. They have two sons. His wife and sons live in London. Being a people’s representative, Leo lives in Lobhachhara, but they travel back and forth.
Ferguson celebrates Victory Day quietly at his tea garden. Commander of Sylhet district Muktijoddha Sangsad, Subrata Chakrabarty, told Prothom Alo, “Nanka is a quiet person. As far as I know, he is the only Scottish freedom fighter of our war, but he does not seek any publicity. Last year on Victory day a few of us freedom fighters went to his garden to accord him a reception. Instead of accepting the reception, he spent the whole day chatting with the freedom fighters. It was indeed a warm commemoration of victory that day at his tea garden!”
The article originally published in Prothom Alo print edition is written in English by Ayesha Kabir.