Dr Jalaluddin was recently awarded D.Litt from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata. He is an eminent educationist in India whose contribution in literacy and mass education has been immensely important. Dr. AK Jalaluddin’s present contribution in Indian literacy drive drew international attention. His “accelerated literacy” model became a household name in United Nations educational projects. As a UNESCO advisor he had been invited to visit Bangladesh, which he had been doing during the last decade. Dr. A. K. Jalaluddin was born in Bhola, Barisal in the early thirties in the then East Pakistan. He actively participated in 1952's Bangla Language Movement. Because of that he was unevenly persecuted. In this interview he talks about the reason for going to India, although he was born in Bangladesh. Dr Jalal also talks about the areas of possible cooperation between India and Bangladesh. The second part of his interview will be broadcast & posted on Saturday.