1971 War Recounts – The War Bangladesh Can Never Forget

Before beginning my story, I’d like to say that having my roots from Bangladesh; I don’t lack a sense of identity. I am an Indian. But back at my house in Kolkata, my grandparents still speak Bangladeshi Bengali, the cooking recipes are a distinct spill-over from their past, and as I had read somewhere a person can grow only as strong as your roots are, I can say I am subconsciously rooted with the country I have never visited.

Today let me share with you memories of the 1971 war as told by my grandfather.
I or those who are like me will best understand growing up to grandparents narrating beautiful tales of their deep love for their ancestral place, the school, the childhood games they played, the communal harmony shown during the festivals, the delicious food made out of edible roots that we are unaware of, a feast of fresh fish caught from the rivers, the vast property and land, family riches, the ghosts stories, 'Mukti Juddho' and the list is endless.
These stories have painted memories of happy days which the border that runs through us can never fade.

 

Mukti Juddho (মুক্তিযুদ্ধ) - Liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan

The nostalgia of the ‘desh’ keeps revisiting in our debates over the superiority of ‘Bangal’(those from former East Bengal) vs ‘Ghoti’(those from West Bengal) to our accent and use of vocabulary, to food habits, taste quotient and even recipes to supporting East Bengal over Mohun Bagan football clubs.

However, as my grandfather spoke of the ‘মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (Muktijuddo; Liberation War)’with a ‘Bangal (a Bengali dialect)’ tone , only a handful times though, I still remember the distant look in his eyes as the horrors of the war opened in front of my eyes. His voice would break in between as he walked down the pages of history.

The 1971 LiberationWar, Mukti Juddho, has not only given us an independent Bangladesh. It has given people sorrow, loss of ancestral home and land, an age-long battle of resettlement and last but not the least signs of Pakistani’s brutality everywhere.

When the country was set ablaze with the brutalities of Pakistan, thousands of civilians including our grandparents had to flee overnight leaving behind their entire possessions so that they could survive to tell the stories of those who did not.

They are the keepers of the gruesome story of killings, bloodsheds, genocides, rapes and tragedies by the Pakistani Armies that will move the readers. History has kept alive the war crimes that Pakistan wanted to bury.

The official figure released by the Bangladesh Government stated that nearly 3 million people were killed and half a million women were raped, that, was the intensity of the genocide.

The scars are so deep that Bangladesh can never forget it although Pakistan remains in denial. Well, that is the best option for Pakistan because denial is much better than feeling guilty.

Pakistan lost Bangladesh in 1971. Defeat was inevitable for the simple fact that tyranny can never win over freedom struggle.

Pakistan repeats 1971 war crimes in Balochistan

Forty seven years on, Pakistani history books still promote false narratives about Bangladeshi independence. The tragedy thus remains unpunished and known to only war survivors. But Pakistan continues to repeat the infamous atrocities of the past now in Balochistan. History of 1971 is repeating itself in Balochistan. But, the question is,

‘Could ‘Balochistan’ be the next ‘Bangladesh’?’

“A Cry for Justice: Empirical Insights from Balochistan” by Kaiser Bengali may be the answer.
He says, “East Pakistan was a part of Pakistan and there are reasons why it’s not a part of Pakistan now.” 

Balochistan's Freedom Struggle from Pakistan

After 70 years of being a slave, the little fire of Balochistan’s Freedom struggle has been ignited and the flame is spreading.