Bangabandhu: Bengalis’ Spirit to Hold Their Heads High

 

Bangladesh and Bangabandhu are synonymous entities. One cannot be imagined without the other. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the main leader or hero of the liberation war of Bangladesh. The glorious event in the hundred-year history of the Bengali nation is the 1971 War of Independence. The victory of the liberation war was achieved on 16 December 1971 by giving the fresh blood of 3 million martyrs, a disgrace to two lakh mothers and sisters, and boundless sacrifice. The heroic Bengalis have attained victory by defeating the Pakistani aggressors in 23 years of struggle and nine months of armed struggle. Many valiant sons of Bengal may have dreamed of breaking the shackles of the Bengali nation. But that dream has been turned into reality by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the best son of soil for a thousand years, the greatest Bengali of all time, the great hero of history, and the father of the nation. Sheikh Mujib's name will be revered as long as the Bengali nation survives.

Our liberation war was ignited by patriotism and human love. This ideology and spirit were the mottoes of our liberation war. The victory was ours. It is this existential vow of our non-communal spirit and humanity that accelerated our liberation and freedom. December is the month of victory. The name that comes up with the victory and independence of Bangladesh is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation. Under his strong leadership, in the month of 1971, Bangladesh, the independent home of Bengalis, was placed on the world map. Bangabandhu is the architect of this country and the freedom fighters are the crown of Bangladesh.

Our victory in the war of liberation established that unity of nationhood. But due to the different communities and ethnicities in the independent country, this idea did not fully develop. Independent Bangladesh did not get rid of communalism and violence. It was manifested in various political violence. However, we have struggled and fought for a democratic right. The liberation war of 1971 was the existential signature of our fighting spirit. Even after the absolute victory in the 1970 elections, the people of East Bengal were deprived of their due rights by the western ruling class. We had to swim in the river of blood for a long time. Our victory came in the existential wisdom of nationhood. The victory was the unity of humanity in the national consciousness. The subcontinent was divided on the basis of religion. But the Bengali nation manifested in the sense of national consciousness, elaborated the religious concept more in the light of non-communal consciousness.

This goal-oriented movement for the realization of rights continued till our liberation war. This fight was for mother tongue and motherland, for free opinion and the right to speak the truth, for the establishment of non-sectarian ideals, for human rights, and for healthy political ideals and cultural practices. Collectively which is the full exercise of Bengali national identity. Our great liberation war is the burning reflection of our national consciousness and traditional existence. Through years of intense cultural and political struggle, we have acquired a unique moral foundation and a pledge of democratic rights.

Bangabandhu loved the Bengali language and Bangladesh more than life. Before and after independence Bangabandhu had only Bangladesh in his mind. Because of this, he endured prison tyranny, and torture-torture all his life. Bangladesh attained independence on December 16, 1971, after 9 months of the continuous liberation war. Bangabandhu returned to independent Bangladesh on January 10, 1972, as a victor. He returned to his beloved people. He gave himself to the work of building the country. The people's struggle for economic emancipation began. People of the country struggle for other, clothes, and housing. Undoubtedly, Bangabandhu's objective was the development of his country and its people.

Bangabandhu's philosophy was to implement all the promises including industry, education, health employment, and poverty alleviation. In this, he chose art as an effective medium. To implement this philosophy of Bangabandhu through the industrial revolution, first of all, we need to change our mentality, develop positive thinking and apply innovative abilities. By following Bangabandhu's industrial thought and committing to a positive mindset, first of all, Bangabandhu's industrial movement in Bangladesh should be used in the right sense as a tool to build 'Golden Bangla'. There is no denying that industrial development has taken place in this country along that path. It is our moral duty to continue the progress of Bangladesh on the highway of development.

The independent sovereign state of Bangladesh was born out of a bloody war. As our independence was achieved through the bloody path of this great liberation war, it was also signed with a proud spirit - heroism, courage, morale, ideals, values, patriotism, human love, national spirit and unity. Through this liberation war, the Bengali nation has set a memorable and inspiring example in the history of the world. The heart of all freedom-loving people has been revealed in self-glory. We have crossed the path of more than half a century towards the much-desired independence. The ideals of freedom, values and the calculation of wants must therefore be matched now. We have to take responsibility for this hardest calculation.

We have shown the world the dream of struggling possibilities. We should also show the bright way forward. What were our ideals and values of the long struggle, keeping in front of which we embarked on a hard movement, floated in the sea of blood, sacrificed ourselves tirelessly, and mixed the excellence of millions of women's lives with all our efforts to keep the national spirit and sense of unity united. Starting from the sun-bright pledge of the Immortal Language movement, it is the signature of goals and ideals that have become one in a deep breath of the flame of 1971. Through a historic war at the cost of the holy blood of our hearts, we have achieved the much-desired freedom and motherland of our dreams and ideals. Our liberation war is signed by the spirit of struggle and ideals of values which are freedom from the chains of slavery, sovereignty, nationality, human rights, democracy, non-communalism and equality.

It is essential to harness the inherent strengths of the industry and ensure sustainable development. Bangabandhu was a pioneer for the liberation of the oppressed people of the world. A leader to advance the country. Whose thought was only Bangladesh? He has struggled throughout his life to creating an exploitation-free society. He sacrificed himself to create the minimum requirements of food, clothing, shelter, education, medical treatment and work opportunities for the life of every people in Bengal. He was uncompromising in realizing the rights of the people of Bengal. He continued to fight for the rights of the people despite the danger to his life. He thought about how the country will be prosperous. So, focus on agriculture. He undertook various plans to bring about the industrial revolution.


PR Biswas is a Senior
Staff Correspondent
of The Asian Age.