The Power of ‘Joy Bangla’ Slogan

 

Remarkable political movements always employ slogans that encapsulate in a few powerful words the aspirations of those fighting for a new world.French revolutionaries fought under the banner, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” words that still resonate with radicals. The first words of the U.S. Constitution—“We the People”—have quickened the hearts of generations of populist activists. Emiliano Zapata’s soldiers longed for “Tierray Libertad,”and the peasant armies of Mao Tse Tung went to war for “Land to the Tiller.” “Joy Bangla” is such a slogan having great power, force, potency or effect and also most patriotic slogan for the people of Bangladesh.

Every slogan has a context, circumstances that give rise to the words and make them effective. For example, when the Chinese communists were waging their long struggle against the army of Chiang Kai-shek, they relied upon mass support from peasants, who formed the base of the Red Army. By pronouncing the slogan of “Joy Bangla”, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman echoed and reverberated millions of voices at the speed of light from one end of the country to another to liberate Bangladesh from the brutal hands of Pakistan military junta and its local hellish accomplices.

The imprecise nature of political slogans is a virtue. Actual political programmes do not derive from words alone but from the balance of class forces that exist at a particular point in time. What slogans do is clarify the most basic political cleavages; and they help people develop the mindset most suited to active participation in whatever struggles are at hand.“Joy Bangla” slogan has its glorified context. Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971 was valiantly fought against the blood thirsty Pakistan’s Army and their mango-twigs in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and enunciating “Joy Bangla” slogan.

Words change meanings. In our daily life, we listen and say many things to justify our conversation - some words stay out in our mind, many go away with time. With human psychology, nobody can remember everything but when we say “Joy Bangla” our mind may immediately pick up that we are talking about Bangladesh. Although slogans work slowly, but this slogan is electrifying and its mighty power is ever lasting.

The political slogan gives a good feeling to the people. Slogan is sewed with our political name and is used everywhere along with it … so it technically works as a shadow for a political party’s name. “Joy Bangla” slogan, undoubtedly is the most powerful slogan which united the whole nation of Bangladesh into a solitary political platform in 1971 to fight and achieve our own country, Bangladesh.

A political party name cannot stand alone as compressed communication to speak for its people. Thus, political slogans have a key role in communicating the essence of a political party. Slogan is appealing as well as elaborate as compared to the one-word noun. A phrase with a meaning is apparently easier for people to relate to and remember. Thus, the impact of this noun is accentuated with its shadow i.e., slogan. And “Joy Bangla” slogan is standing on this glorious spirit.

A slogan actually works as a DNA for any political party. It also helps in garnering the necessary support from the people. “Joy Bangla” slogan is much more than that.

Slogans are usually based on ashort sentence easy to remember words, long lines are hard to memorise so the shorter the better! Since the political name cannot specify the essence of its goal, it has to make something memorable that represents the party and the country itself. We should keep an eye on the sound it produces and the nerves it touches when it strikes the people’s mind. “Joy Bangla” slogan truly touches our nerves to fight the evil forces.

For more than 100 years, political parties have used slogans in their political movements. All political parties have used catchy phrases to tell their people what makes their political philosophy or service special or different. When done well, a slogan can become the centre-piece of a political party’s identity. “Joy Bangla” slogan is not only the centerpiece of Bangladesh Awami League but also the centerpiece of the country, Bangladesh.

Political parties use slogans because it is an easy and quick way to grab the attention of the public by using simple and catchy phrases and “Joy Bangla” slogan is such a simple and catchy phrase but its power is strong-boned and strong-willed for emancipation of the people of Bangladesh. A very productive route for a political party to go down is a reliable slogan and “Joy Bangla” is such a reliable political slogan.

“Joy Bangla” sloganhas been exerting great power over the people of Bangladesh since long because it can give meaning to the name so it needs to apply to their everyday lives and should connect emotionally with them.The Sheikh’s electrifying voice on Mar 7, 1971will remain alive all the time in our life, when he roared: “My brothers, today I appear before you with a heavy heart...The audience at the-then Race Course Ground (now Suhrawardy Uddan) hung on to every word of his 19-minute-long speech amid pin-drop silence 52 years ago.  The crowd repeated after him when he was seen saying: “He didn’t agree with me, rather he (President Yahya Khan) yielded to Mr. Bhutto’s demand.”And people assembled there erupted in an echo when he was heard uttering those immortal lines: “...The struggle this time is our struggle for emancipation, the struggle this time is the struggle for our independence.”The crowd endorsed in unison as the deep resolute voice of Bangabandhu was heard saying:“You can’t keep seven crore Bengalis subjugated. Now that we have learnt to court death, no one can dominate us.”People there present resonated with the cry of “Joy Bangla” as the speech concluded with that immortal slogan.

Every day we see millions of messages and catchphrase everywhere from print media to online advertisements. True, there are some slogans that we know by heart but a million of them have come and gone that we hardly ever noticed. What is it about a political slogan that catapults it into fame? Here is a solitary one: “Joy Bangla”.

It is simple, catchy, short and easy to remember and it perfectly defines Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his political party. It makes the personsto feel the taste and remind them of the slogan, “Joy Bangla.”It also highlights our pre-independence exploitation, oppression and persecution by the Pakistani rulers and various facets of the Bengali struggle. 

It is very indignant that after 1975 to till 1990, people, especially the young, used to feel shy in voicing the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan because they were taught that they shouldn’t utter it by the shenanigan politicians like Gen. Zia, Gen Ershad and a subscript politician like Begum Zia. What is the meaning of the two words of that distinguished slogan? … The meaning is victory of the Bangladesh. Joy Bangla’— the slogan of the 1971 liberation war— is raised by Awami League and its affiliate organizations and all people of Bangladesh during our glorious Liberation War in 1971. But the Joy Bangla slogan is not only the slogan of Awami League…it is the slogan of our independence…it is the slogan of Bangladesh…The future generation must utter the slogan louder shedding the shame.

 Because the most popular and memorable Bengali slogan is "Joy Bangla" or "Hail Bangladesh.” Now the slogan is on everybody's lips. Joy means victory. So, Joy Bangla means victory for Bangladesh. This was the war cry used by the Freedom Fighters during our Liberation War in 1971.The country is moving forward and the youth will make the country forward further through their hard-work and merit. And this will be the future Joy Bangla. We must work hard for full revival of the spirit of Liberation War; and we all need to work together so that the future generation chants the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan in a louder voice.For, the reasons that the underlying spirit of Bangabandhu’s unique political activities were embodied in the slogan of Joy Bangla. The basic spirit has not changed since the country’s founding and will never be changed. The large crowd gathered to hear the historic speech of Bangabandhu was at its enthusiastic best, shouting 'Joy Bangla' slogan and beating drums by dozens. Peoplethere thenwere moved.

 Our tactical line should be to destroy the anti-national, anti- independence and anti-liberation forces from this sacred soil of Bangladesh as the end result.Long Live Joy Bangla. A diamond is forever. The power of dreams is for a limitless time.The taste of a new generation will grow up for “Joy Bangla” slogan.His master’s voice will remain eternal. We repeat to rebel is justified.Smash the obnoxious nexus of anti-liberation forces from this country once and for all crying out in a very louder tone “Joy Bangla.” Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the “Joy Bangla” slogan are synonymous. In point of fact, the spirit of “Joy Bangla” slogan will remain immortal in the history of Bangladesh.


Anwar A. Khan is a freedom
fighter who writes on politics
and international issues.