Bangladesh: The Aura of 10th January

The man who made a nation

by Anwar A. Khan

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as

it is the home of the brave."- Elmer Davis

10th January of 1972 was a historic day for people in Bangladesh and it will remain in its place with honour and dignity till the civilisation exists. On this gracious day of 47 years back, Bangladesh’s Founding Father Banganandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to his free, independent and sovereign homeland from his immurement from Pakistan like a great hero or a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength to lead his newly brought into existence nation. The worst thing for him would be to live in jail with death warrant on his head in Pakistan. He could not look at the clouds in that wretched country and it was hard to believe it was the same sun, the same clouds as people were seeing in Bangladesh. He couldn't help thinking that that cloud he was looking at might come down in the occupied land of Bangladesh by the devilish Pakistani military junta. He was a man who was separated from his people, family and his children for nine months. He was a majuscule politician who felt heavy infliction. But on 10th January, 1972, he celebrated the joy of being home again and being with those he loved so much.

His Homecoming Day highlights a thrilling victory by Bangladesh’s people over a demonic Pakistani regime. The crowd shuddered with sky-scrapping “Joy Bangla (Victory for Bangladesh)” slogan to welcome him. The bright sun went up. The crowd overfilled the stage, where their hero lingered, and gazed up at him in wonder, as if his very bright face was a sign from the gods. On arrival he was all smiles, but towards the end you could see his eyes started to glisten. The Bangladesh War is a textbook material for students in history. History – all those events – has passed us. But the entire trauma still lives inside us. It’s great for a great hero to be home. He received a hero's welcome; and a great hero’s welcome in his own homeland on 10 January 1972.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to the sacred soil of independent Bangladesh from his captivity in a jail of Pakistan on this day. On March 26 in 1971, he proclaimed independence of Bangladesh and urged his beloved people from all walks of life to participate wholeheartedly in the nation's war of liberation. At his clarion call, people fought valiantly like the words of James A. Garfield, “We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens.

For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue” and thus Bangladesh was finally born. But it is true that “the joy and happiness of our Victory Day remained incomplete in the absence of the figure that was the inspiration for the nation to fight against an enemy so overwhelmingly superior. When people learnt about his homecoming it was yet another celebration. All roads led to the old the airport on the day and the crowd swelled until it turned into a sea of people who were waiting with bated breath to greet the supreme leader on the soil of the new country. One can recall the moments when he appeared at the door of the aircraft and waved at the waiting crowd assembled there to have a glimpse of this man who had been instrumental in liberating them from the clutches of oppressors and exploiters. It was genuinely a hugely momentous occasion for the nation. The leader then moved on towards SuhrawardyUdyan where he was to deliver his homecoming speech. The wildly jubilant crowd moved along with him like a monolithic mass. They wanted to hear from him, as they had heard him on March 7, 1971. He spoke at length; to rebuild the country, a country that had not only suffered the destruction of infrastructure and communications networks but was also traumatised by the random and ruthless killing of three million people, loss of honour of thousands of women and the physical dislocation of ten million people. He did not promise them the moon, rather he advised them to be more tolerant and brace for more sacrifice to see better times. He inspired them, urged them on and instilled in them the confidence that was so necessary at that point in time.

Journalist Fox Butterfield of The New York Times, who witnessed Bangabandhu's homecoming, wrote a special report for his Daily titled "Sheikh Mujib Home; 500, 000 Give Him Rousing Welcome". Narrating Bangabandhu's return to home, he wrote, "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman received a tumultuous, triumphant welcome today on January 10, 1972 from a crowd of half a million Bengalis as he returned to his native land for the first time since he was arrested nine months ago by the Pakistani authorities." The exultant crowd showered Sheikh Mujib with flowers and chanted "Joi Bangla" ("Victory of Bangla") as their leader stepped from the British Air Force jet that had brought him to his newly born country," the report said. Saying about the dream of the supreme commander of the country's Liberation War, he also wrote, "Sheikh Mujib though looking tired but elated by his reception, later said at an enormous rally at the Dhaka Race Course, “My life's goal has been fulfilled. My Bengal is independent." His voice then broke with emotions. He delivered his coup de grace: "He is a poet of politics, and a fighter for just causes!"

"Wiping flower petals from his head, Sheikh Mujib inspected an honour of guard of the army, navy and air force of Bangladesh. As the flower-bedecked truck on which Sheikh Mujib rode from the airport passed slowly through the crowd, there were long rhythmic chants of "Sheikh Mujib, Sheikh Mujib, Joy Bangla and Joy Bangla", the report further added. Thousands of voices also chanted, "A new nation has come upon the earth -- Bangladesh! Bangladesh! A new ism has come to the world --Mujibism! Mujibism!" Narrating the Bengalis emotions, he also wrote, "Many exited spectators tried to touch their leader and who managed to break through police lines hugged him in long embraces. “Describing Bangabandhu's outer appearance, he also said, "The 51-year-old Sheikh Mujib, who is tall for a Bengali and has a thick mustache and heavy shock of graying hair, was affectionately hailed today, as Bangabandhu or Friend of Bengal. He was wearing a black suit with a high buttoned collar." Writing about Sheikh Mujib's popularity, the NY Times reporter Butterfield wrote, "Sheikh Mujib's popularity is so great that his word has virtually become law with many Bengalis."

But some brutish and disgruntled military officers of his own country launched an assault on him and most of his family members in August 15, 1975 and Mujib fell along with them heroically. Like Kathy Hansen, we wish to say, “He is living proof that one man can make a difference” and he truly made a difference in his struggles for us. He stood by his people and died for the cause of his people. On the black night of March 25, when it was suggested that he should go into hiding, he flatly refused and retorted: “I must share the sufferings of my people along with them. I must share. I cannot leave them in the face of fire. I cannot.” Really he did not flee to safety from the war-torn country. He willingly became the first prey to the marauding force. Love for the motherland had prompted him to take such a risk. On that historic day of 10 January 1972, addressing a huge gathering in SuhrawardyUddyan, Bangabandhu declared: “Bangladesh has earned independence. Now if anybody wants to seize it, Mujib would be the first man to sacrifice his life for the protection of that independence.”

It is very sad that our people did not recognise the inner enemy. On the basis of this inner realisation, there should take a form in our new movement leading principles as well as the tendency, which in our conviction are alone capable, not only of halting the decline of the people of Bangladesh, but of creating the granite foundation upon which someday a state will rest which represents, not an alien mechanism of economic concerns and interests, and or petty political interests but a national organism: A Bangladesh State of Bangladesh’s Nation. The Sheikh Mujib is above all a warm, forgiving and open human being. We can say about him in the words of H Glenister Taunton, “If we are to bring about any form of harmony between the peoples of this planet, he is our role model. He is a giant of a man who humbles us all.” Because he made such a huge difference to so many people's lives in the third world, but he is also a true inspiration for people of all walks of life all over the world.

Saltburn A Barr’s words are appropriate to him, “He recognised the need for dignity in the lives of others, and respected it as much as his own.” He was a tireless campaigner for social justice and peace within a democratic framework. He wass a true hero of the people; and he was a global figure. The 1971 war veteran late Syed Shahidul Hoque Mama remembered, “Sheikh Mujib has stood out as a man of honour: straightforward, honest, and fearless in the face of the Pakistani regime. He inspires us all to hold true to what we know is right and to have the courage to speak out when others are silent. One of the most influential politicians ever, who has remained true to himself.” He is the most significant political figure of our time, in terms of his engagement with our own concerns, perceptions and dreams.

He is like the words of Pete Hewitt, “He is uncompromising in standing up for what he believes is right and does not stand on pleasantries.” Bangabandhu’s policy of unity regardless of ideology was essential to the Grand Victory of 1971 that defeated the neo-Hitler, Yahya Khan and his coterie in 1971 War. His able and dynamic leadership indicate a worldwide respect for the man who stood up against the neo-Nazis. He showed the diversity of his talents and was able to assert supreme power over his beloved people. He was the victor at the end of the bloodiest episode in Bangladesh’s history.

Bangabandhu led by example, caring for the poor and needy. He attracted many followers by living simply. He was known as a politician, and world leader. He was noted for his courage to stand by the oppressed people. Like Frederick Douglass, he reminds us: "I go to suffer with them; to toil with them; to endure insult with them; to undergo outrage with them; to lift up my voice in their behalf; to speak and write in their vindication; and struggle in their ranks for the emancipation which shall yet be achieved.”

His ability to summarise the range of human emotions in simple yet eloquent words and phrases has led to his enduring popularity and power and the standard to which others do not hold. Eleanor Roosevelt’s words can be echoed here, “One thing I believe profoundly: We make our own history. The course of history is directed by the choices we make and our choices grow out of the ideas, the beliefs, the values, the dreams of the people. It is not so much the powerful leaders that determine our destiny as the much more powerful influence of the combined voices of the people themselves” and Mujib brought in the combined voices of his people together and made history. There is that great proverb – “that until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." We have our own historians. We ask Bangladesh’s people and our historians to dim their lights in remembrance of him.

Way down in the valley we the dull lights of a small village; it was dark and the path was stony and rough. The waving lines of the hills against the starlit sky were deeply embedded in darkness and a coyote was howling somewhere nearby. The path had lost its familiarity and a scented breeze was coming up the valley. To be alone in that solitude was to hear the voice of intense silence and its great beauty. It was quite dark by now and the world of that valley became deep in its silence. The night air had special smells, a blend of all the bushes that grow on the dry hills, that strong smell of bushes that know the hot sun.

The rains had stopped many months ago; it wouldn’t rain again for a very long time. The great silence with its vast space held the night and every movement of thought became still. The mind itself was the immeasurable space and in that deep quietness there was not a thing that thought had built. To be absolutely nothing is to be beyond measure. The path went down a steep incline and a small stream was saying many things, delighted with its own voice. It crossed the path several times and the two were playing a game together. The stars were very close and some were looking down from the hill tops. Still the lights of the village were a long way off and the stars were disappearing over the high hills. Be alone, without word and thought, but only watching and listening. The great silence showed that without it, existence loses its profound meaning and beauty.

We honour the legacy of our founder Father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by leveraging the gifts of knowledge, compassion and creativity, to care for all – every day. We witnessed an extraordinary bravery and patriotism in him. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history. He was truly an outstanding political figure who served as a role model for his people, as well as the oppressed people of the Third World, with his love, patriotism, spirit, and dedication. His energy and enthusiasm permeates the political arena, and his dedication to the oppressed is unmatched. His politics was purely: 'Government of the People, by the People, for the People.'

An almost sky-touching figure, he would not revisit this land but his supreme sacrifice, love, patriotism and courage to stand up against the unjust causes will remain immortal as inspiration in our collective memories. We bow our heads to commemorate him; and it is somethingfor us to do, generation after generation. People have placed Mujib at this position, place, and time in our history. In teary eyes, we remember those memories in order that those last a lifetime. When we bring back knowledge from memory on this great son of this land, we wish to emotionally remember him in the language of Abraham Lincoln, "Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem."

There is an extraordinary feeling about that: the wonder, the strangeness, the miracle of a fresh morning that has never been before, never will be. We live by memories. We live by knowledge, acquired or inherited, and that knowledge is what we are. The self is the knowledge of the past experiences, thoughts and so on. The self is that. The self may invent that there is something divine in one; but it is still the activity of thought. And thought is always limited. You can see this for yourself, you don’t have to study books and philosophies; you can see for yourself clearly that you are a bundle of memories. And death puts an end to all that memory, therefore one is frightened.

Today, we must read him to a great extent and tell our people as history. Before I go, I better clear up one thing…"Let Mujibbe! And all is light.” Joy Bangla. Joy Bangabandhu. My Golden Bangladesh, we love you.Bangladesh, for us, has been the pursuit and catching of happiness. May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! And we proud to be Bangladesh’s people, where at least we know we are free. And we won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to us.

-The End -

The writer is an independent political observer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centered figures, current and international affairs.