kalu_miah
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cross posted:
Even in 1971, Awami League wasn't stating it wanted independence: Srinath Raghavan | Page 3 | Pakistan Defence
@asad71 Bhai, thanks for the post above. I found more info on this Larkana conspiracy issue here, and also a lot of other interesting info:
History of Bangladesh
Muktijuddho (Bangladesh Liberation War 1971) part 2 - oath of allegiance, future Prime Minister Mujib, Larkana Conspiracy, Bhutto meets Sheikh Mujib - History of Bangladesh
Bhasha Andolon (Bangladesh language movement 1948-1952) part 4 - Jinnah declaration, Arabization of Bangla - History of Bangladesh
Untold Facts » Blog Archive » Road to March 1971: Birth Pangs of a Nation
In the larger scheme of things, in the broad sweep of history, arrival of Islam in Bengal, formation of Pakistan and then its division in 1971, must be looked at from the larger perspective. Most non-Muslim societies and powers in the world have viewed Islam and its geopolitical goals with suspicion, as it has been a major force in the world since its birth. So whenever the question of secularization of Islamic or Muslim societies arise, there is agreement on this issue among non-Muslim powers. So the "secular Muslims" must be looked at with suspicion in any given Muslim society, as agents of non-Muslim imperial powers (or even non-Sunni powers) from near or far. In Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia and even Pakistan, we can see examples of this phenomenon.
So 1971 could be looked at as setback for Islam and the Muslim world and a win for the non-Muslim world, but it does not have to be. As long as our population in Bangladesh rediscovers Islam and rediscovers the value it provides against colonial oppression of non-Muslim powers from near or far, we will be on the right track.
Whether due to Indian design, or due to our own fault, particularly the fault of shortsightedness of our leaders, or a mixture of both, for which 1971 war precipitated and as a result bridges between these two Muslim communities have been burned to a large extent, it will take a lot of work to rebuild it. I think brinkmanship of Mujib and shortsightedness of communist leaders, even our venerated Bhashani, who supported an Islamic version of socialism, were specially responsible for the conflict, because they failed to see the nature of Indian threat for an independent Bangladesh. I will not mention the fault of the feudal and military elite of Pakistan who did not want to share power with an uppity East Pakistani political class, mainly because they rightly judged that the commitment of these East Pakistani leaders (Mujib, Bhashani, Shiraj Sikder et al) towards the integrity of Pakistan was questionable at best.
My personal view is that the rebuilding of bridge should start with the foundation of a neutral UN sponsored investigation, in order to delegitimize propaganda from any side, specially from our sworn enemy.
In order for us to build bridges with the greater Muslim world, there is some unfinished business. One is the matter of an Arabic as well as an English script for Bengali, which I would like to see that we start on a limited basis. Script does not make or break a living language, but changing them can make us more open to other cultures. Since we would like to limit our relationship with India and enhance our relationship with the wider globe as well as the Muslim world, I think the time has come to shift away from the Devnagari based Bangla script in a long series of steps. We do not need to abolish the original old script, but one should be able to choose the script one wants to use from among English (Latin), Arabic and original Bangla script.
@M_Saint Bhai, your kind comments please.
Even in 1971, Awami League wasn't stating it wanted independence: Srinath Raghavan | Page 3 | Pakistan Defence
@asad71 Bhai, thanks for the post above. I found more info on this Larkana conspiracy issue here, and also a lot of other interesting info:
History of Bangladesh
Muktijuddho (Bangladesh Liberation War 1971) part 2 - oath of allegiance, future Prime Minister Mujib, Larkana Conspiracy, Bhutto meets Sheikh Mujib - History of Bangladesh
Bhasha Andolon (Bangladesh language movement 1948-1952) part 4 - Jinnah declaration, Arabization of Bangla - History of Bangladesh
Untold Facts » Blog Archive » Road to March 1971: Birth Pangs of a Nation
In the larger scheme of things, in the broad sweep of history, arrival of Islam in Bengal, formation of Pakistan and then its division in 1971, must be looked at from the larger perspective. Most non-Muslim societies and powers in the world have viewed Islam and its geopolitical goals with suspicion, as it has been a major force in the world since its birth. So whenever the question of secularization of Islamic or Muslim societies arise, there is agreement on this issue among non-Muslim powers. So the "secular Muslims" must be looked at with suspicion in any given Muslim society, as agents of non-Muslim imperial powers (or even non-Sunni powers) from near or far. In Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia and even Pakistan, we can see examples of this phenomenon.
So 1971 could be looked at as setback for Islam and the Muslim world and a win for the non-Muslim world, but it does not have to be. As long as our population in Bangladesh rediscovers Islam and rediscovers the value it provides against colonial oppression of non-Muslim powers from near or far, we will be on the right track.
Whether due to Indian design, or due to our own fault, particularly the fault of shortsightedness of our leaders, or a mixture of both, for which 1971 war precipitated and as a result bridges between these two Muslim communities have been burned to a large extent, it will take a lot of work to rebuild it. I think brinkmanship of Mujib and shortsightedness of communist leaders, even our venerated Bhashani, who supported an Islamic version of socialism, were specially responsible for the conflict, because they failed to see the nature of Indian threat for an independent Bangladesh. I will not mention the fault of the feudal and military elite of Pakistan who did not want to share power with an uppity East Pakistani political class, mainly because they rightly judged that the commitment of these East Pakistani leaders (Mujib, Bhashani, Shiraj Sikder et al) towards the integrity of Pakistan was questionable at best.
My personal view is that the rebuilding of bridge should start with the foundation of a neutral UN sponsored investigation, in order to delegitimize propaganda from any side, specially from our sworn enemy.
In order for us to build bridges with the greater Muslim world, there is some unfinished business. One is the matter of an Arabic as well as an English script for Bengali, which I would like to see that we start on a limited basis. Script does not make or break a living language, but changing them can make us more open to other cultures. Since we would like to limit our relationship with India and enhance our relationship with the wider globe as well as the Muslim world, I think the time has come to shift away from the Devnagari based Bangla script in a long series of steps. We do not need to abolish the original old script, but one should be able to choose the script one wants to use from among English (Latin), Arabic and original Bangla script.
@M_Saint Bhai, your kind comments please.