Ignorant Muslim Bangladeshi celibrating Benglai new year: Nauzubillah Minzalik

[Al-zakir]

Is it Bengali New Year Celebration? Or,Stupid Bangladeshis are performing someone’s hidden agenda?

Thursday April 16 2009 20:44:15 PM BDT

By S. Ahmad,Bangladesh

Our forefathers never celebrated New Year. A subjugated nation does not celebrate anything, I suppose. When we were school children in fifties we never celebrated Bengali New Year and indeed we had no idea if New Year, Bengali or Gregorian, had any importance in our personal or social life. These days, all of a sudden, Bengali New Year fever seems to have inflicted most of the Bangladeshi people, especially our children, school going and those attending colleges and universities. Is it a manifestation of our affluence or we have become very cultural overnight? I have no correct answer to this question but surely I have some misgivings in my mind of the New Year fever of Bangladeshi population and soon I shall explain why.

Language movement and fight for the cause of Bengali language in early days of Pakistan was a very important cause for Bengali Pakistanis. People gave their life for it, we know. But who were those people that were killed and how much they knew about the cause they shed their blood for, I often wonder. Sporadic bullet killed a few people and they became martyrs by accident. That is fact and those who shoot were the very Bengali people and not Punjabis or Pathans. Was it not? But who dares to accept this truth? Fake patriots, bogus freedom fighters, outright ignorant nationalists and self-serving ‘Joy Bangla’ people will kill you if you speak the truth. Speaking lies for personal or greater group interest our religion sanctions but for self-destruction we wrongly use this religious endorsement very shamelessly.

No doubt language movement was an attractive issue to fight for and who did not support it as we supported creation of Pakistan? Punjab, Sind, NWFP did not endorsed Pakistan as the Muslim Bengalis did. And Language movement was the beginning of the end of Pakistan. No doubt we danced at the tune played by others and we had no guts to demand what we wanted. Destroy Pakistan and create Bangladesh if you wished so but one should feel one’s own need, if one is intelligent enough, is it not? Only stupid, I strongly say, needs to be said what he wants.

How many of us knew that our friends who helped us in our noble cause of making Bengali our state language had other agenda in their minds? And what is the status of Bengali in our national life even today? Leaders and politicians send their children to English medium schools and only 21st February we celebrate with fanfare putting on Kabliwala dress and chanting some stupid mantra. We cheat ourselves unknowingly but our leaders and politicians are diehard hypocrites and they cheat us for their rotten bones. What you can expect from hungry hyenas? If I need to discuss this point any further, I think, I am wasting my time and it is better than I do not proceed any longer.

I smell rotten eggs in over exuberant Bengali New Year celebration. The mysterious BDR massacre happened only a few weeks ago. Nobody knows who did it but rumour goes that some ministers and politicians are implicated in this heinous act. These criminals are foreign agents and indeed hungry dogs and they can do anything for getting some bones. The celebration could be, I have a feeling, an early exercise to unite Bengali people. A noble cause again and I have no problem with that objective provided one man one vote principle is respected and nobody is discriminated in a united Bengal on the ground caste, creed and religion. India was divided by upper caste Hindus, stupid, not by Jinnah, as we are told day and night by the strong media of our noble brothers.

Our superior brothers were afraid of one man one vote that caused them greatly during the pre-partitioned self-rule administrations of Muslim Chief Ministers of Bengal. That very fear is still in the mind of many on the other side of the boarder and India may like to merge Bangladesh with India but our brothers would never let it happen for the very same old reason. Then what is that they like to do with Muslim Bangladesh?

The answer is simple. They want a vassal state with no army, no foreign policy and an ever depended pariah neighbour. An over exuberant Bengali New Year celebration, I strongly feel, is the early exercise directed towards it. Ignorant Bangladeshis are just dancing in the tune of someone else of which they have no knowledge and they do not know who are playing the flute and for what.

Am I a fanatic Taliban and playing Jamat-i-Islami game? You may call me anything you like but think carefully about what I said.

By
S. Ahmad,
Chittagong,
Bangladesh
E Mail : sahmadctg@yahoo.com

This is an very good article written by Ahamad from Bangladesh. I do not know him but I share his view. His view exactly match mine regarding this Un-Islamic celebration of Bangla new year. I like to get discussion out of this. We are heading toward non existence for sure. Non Muslim members are welcome but restrain from unnecessary comments. Thanks
P.S: My title


http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=258296

 

[TopCat]

The writer is a complete looser with his twisted mentality....

 

[Al-zakir]

The writer is a complete looser with his twisted mentality....

Yes such comment is expected form some one like your Status. Getting a thank from Indian enforced it even further. I personally not surprise because such Un-Islamic activity is part of your so called high quality bengali culture thus it's OK to practice even if it goes against Islamic norms and value. Good for you and keep it up....

 

[gromell]

the celebration is okay, nothing wrong. Few people take it to the extreme...ah well they personally don't follow islam, just like lots of so called people with muslim name everywhere around the world including in Al-Zakir's soul-land pakistan or even Saudi do extreme unislamic things. do not equate that with bengali culture in general. some punjabis are religious enough to understand bhangra dance is really unislamic but a lot of Punjabi pakistanis just love this part of their culture. or dancing in wedding is a common scene in most of the pakistani weddings. Bengali culture does not have this. some now have started following the punjabis from india and pakistan but the large educated bengali muslim mass still avoid it. these things are really personal in nature and i do not see the point of labelling the whole nation with few people's lifestyles.

 

[gromell]

The name of this thread is highly objectionable. If any moderator is reading this, does the name abide by the rules of this forum??!

and the way it has been typed :"Re: Ignorant Muslim Bangladeshi celibrating Benglai new year: Nauzubillah Minzalik ", I have a feeling it was hastily written with much personal grudge against a specific community :S

Al-Zakir, come out of the circle of hatred.

 

[rubyjackass]

Our forefathers never celebrated New Year.

What forefathers? Bengalis or Muslims.?? Its hard for me to believe that Bengalis did not celebrate Baisakh before independence. Remember Jallianwalabagh massacre? Ut happened the same day in Amritsar. Also Bengal was the most politically conscious province pre-independence. So it doesn't fit.

Sporadic bullet killed a few people and they became martyrs by accident. That is fact and those who shoot were the very Bengali people and not Punjabis or Pathans. Was it not? But who dares to accept this truth? Fake patriots, bogus freedom fighters, outright ignorant nationalists and self-serving ‘Joy Bangla’ people will kill you if you speak the truth. Speaking lies for personal or greater group interest our religion sanctions but for self-destruction we wrongly use this religious endorsement very shamelessly.

He lost himself here.

No doubt we danced at the tune played by others and we had no guts to demand what we wanted.

The language movements in the west began due to policies trying to unite the West as ameans to come to a balance with the East. Correct me here.

And what is the status of Bengali in our national life even today? Leaders and politicians send their children to English medium schools and only 21st February we celebrate with fanfare putting on Kabliwala dress and chanting some stupid mantra....

self explanatory BS.
Bangladesh is far from being a vassal state to India.
Who posts half knowledged opinions?

 

[Rabbit.Rabbit]

Yeah and in Pakistan people celebrate Basant which is also technically a vestige of Hinduism.

Grow up people - don't go head-over-heels to please the Saudis.

Something tells me that the author would much rather prefer that Bangladesh become a satellite of Saudi Arabia than a satellite of India. Much more preferable, isn't it?

 

[toxic_pus]

[mod edit]
----------------------------------------
Tracing back the celebration

Dr. Muntasir Mamun.

THE first day of the Bengali calender-year is celebrated as the New Year in Bangladesh. As Enamul Huq has written: "The first day of the festivities performed to mark the commencement of the New Year is actually a specific festival day."


One such day is the Bengali New Year. Its main characteristic is that it is not a festival of the Hindus or the Buddhists alone. It is universal in nature. In fact, festivals not related to faith but secular in character are rare in the world. Enamul Huq visualizes this universality in the collected prayer for rain when men and women long for the clouds during the hot Bengali calender-year (corrsponding to Mid-April to Mid-May). He writes-"Praying to the clouds for water is another popular ritual of he Bengali New Year."


Another aspect needs special mention. The majority of the Bangladesh population is Muslims. But their new year does not commence from the Ashura and nor is it sorrowful. In this respect, too, the celebration of the New Year in Bangladesh is quite unique.

The history of the Bengali New Year is not very old.

Most probably the celebration of the Bengali New Year is connected with the Bengali year. In Bengal, Emperor Akbar started the Bengali calender-year on 10 March, 1585, but it became effective from 16 March, 1586 the day of his ascension to the throne. The basis of the Bengali year is the Hejiri lunar year (Muslim era counted from the year of Muhammad's (SM) going to Medina in 622 AD and the Bengali solar year. The Bengali year was accepted even at the grassroot level. A possible reason for this may be that the basis of the Bengali year is agriculture and the beginning of the Bengali year is a time of collection of taxes from the farmers. For instance, the farmer does not plough the field even if it rains in Chaitra (the last month of the Bengali year and corresponding to mid-march to Mid-April. The fields are generally ploughed in the month of Baisakh (April-May) and the prayer for the rains is also because of this.


However, the common man still refers to the Bengali calender of his day to day activiites and the city-dwellers to the Juliun calender. In this context, Shamsuzzaman Khan hasrightly remarked that Akbar had once started the pan-Indian Islamic year as well as the Bengali year. "The introduction of Bengali year had not only survived but at one time had also given the unique power of nationalistic feelings and pride to the separated and divided mainly joint Bengali socity."

The New Year begins in different seasons in different countries of the world. The Bengali New Year is in summer. Summer is not a pleasant time in Bangladesh. Festivals and merriments are not as much possible in summer as during the beginning of winter or spring.

Many people believe that the Bengali New Year should have begun in the month of Agrahayan (the eighth month of the Bengali year and corresponds to Mid-November to Mid-December) even considering from the point of agriculture as Agrahayan is, for instance, the month of reaping. Yet New Year is celebrated in Baisakh. Pallab Sengupta writes: "The New Year is calculated either from Hemanta or late autumn (between autumn and winter) or spring, that is from the time when new crops, flowers and fruits start growing. This, at least, was the custom initially. Later, with the passage of time, it shifted to other seasons due to practical necessities. The custom of beginning the year from January 1 or Baisakh 1 is thus quite foolish."

But that mystery has not been unravelled. As our country is located in the Tropics the importance of summer in this region is natural. Moreover, the drying up of the canals, rivers and streams at that time and the acute crisis for water makes the tremendous changes in season easily felt. And then comes the Nor'westers like wild buffaloes throwing everything in complete disorder. The rains start immediately lowering the temperature and making the conditions favourable for ploughing.

In any country the principal festival has been organised with respect to the particular season which has gained importance there. Moreover, the minor seasonal festivals are also regularly held. Bengal has a unique position in this regard. It is clear that its main seasonal festival was in summer. Just as elsewhere in the world, the main seasonal festival have been considered as the New Year festival, the main summer festival of our country is likewise considered as the New Year festival. One feels that the devastating form of nature and the consequent creativity of nature and the consequent creativity of nature that one witnesses in Bangladesh, must have made summer and the summer festivals so important in our ancient culture. Otherwise the New Year celebration and festival of Bangladesh would have been greatly influenced by religion. Our country is largely inhabited by the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians but "no particular influence of these religions are observed in our New Year celebrations and festival."


During the last four hundred years, that is after the introduction of the Bengali year by Akbar, many festivals connected probably with agriculture and seasons have become associated with it. And the first of Baisakh gradully changed in this way to become the New Year. To the special features of the Bengali New Year that Enamul Huq has mentioned, we can add here that the Bengali New Year saw the addition of a new political dimension from the 60's of the present century. No season in any other country has such a political aspect.

In Bangladesh many secondary matters are linked with the New Year. Some of those have become obsolete while some still exist in certain special regions only.

However, the practice of opening fresh account-book is still in practice specially among the business class, On the New Year's day the businessmen complete the accounts of the past year. For this purpose many use a special type of ledger book bound in red-cloth called the Khero Khata. The customers are greeted with sweets on that day. Moreover many middle-class people of Dhaka buy sweets and have good food on the occasion of the New Year.

The most important function of Baisakh and the first day of Baisakh is the fair. The New Year fairs of our country are also nothing but the changed forms of the oldest 'seasonal festivals' and 'agricultural festivals' of Bangladesh. This is because local agricultural products and handicrafts are sold in these fairs even today. According to a survey, about two hundred fairs are organised throughout Bangladesh on the first day and the first week of Baisakh.


It has already been mentioned before that in Bangladesh celebration of the first day of Baisakh began as a part of the cultural movement and it added a new dimension to the political movements. During the regime of Ayub Khan in the late sixties, when attack was made against Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore Song) and the Bengali culture, the Chhayanat group organised a programme of Rabindrasangeet on the first of Baisakh under the banyan tree at Ramna to celebrate the New Year. It was a protest against religious fundamentalism. This endeavour by Chhayanat gradually became popular and in the perspective of the freedom movement the Bengali New Year was celebrated in a grand way as a protest against the ideology of the ruling class. After the independence of Bangladesh, the Bengali New Year was declared as public holiday. Thus with the celebration of the New Year at the grass-root level was added the endeavour of the urban people.


We may conclude that the only secular festival of Bangladesh, in every sense of the term, is the Bengali New Year. Its speciality lies in the fact that in spite of being the festival of a country where the majority are Muslims, it is not melancholic. Although the state has been successful in the other areas it has failed to incorporate the religious factor in this case. Moreover, the New Year still adds a new dimension to the movements against tyranny. Considering all these aspects we can refer to the Bengali New Year as a festival of the world which has rare characteristic.
................................................................
Excerpts from the book, The Festivals of Bangladesh, by Muntasir Mamun.
---------------------------------------------------
I am glad that people like Mr Al-zakir do not exemplify popular and intellectual Bangladesh.

 

[Al-zakir]

Al-Zakir's soul-land pakistan or even Saudi

I assume you like my name. you have been mentioning a lot lately. My soul land ahhhh...

Bengali culture does not have this. some now have started following the punjabis from india and pakistan but the large educated bengali muslim mass still avoid it. these things are really personal in nature and i do not see the point of labelling the whole nation with few people's lifestyles.

It came from Hindu culture. It's their thing so they should celebrate it. No one labeling whole nation but those who do it and support it.....

The name of this thread is highly objectionable. If any moderator is reading this, does the name abide by the rules of this forum??!

and the way it has been typed :"Re: Ignorant Muslim Bangladeshi celibrating Benglai new year: Nauzubillah Minzalik ", I have a feeling it was hastily written with much personal grudge against a specific community :S

Al-Zakir, come out of the circle of hatred.

Tittle isn't offensive at all. Those who celebrate this anti Islamic cultural event in the name of Bengali culture are ignorant.

I neither hate nor support Hindu Bengali culture....

 

[toxic_pus]

My soul land ahhhh...

More like fatherland...

It came from Hindu culture. It's their thing so they should celebrate it. No one labeling whole nation but those who do it and support it.....

Really, it appears to be different from what you are saying though.

"Most probably the celebration of the Bengali New Year is connected with the Bengali year. In Bengal, Emperor Akbar started the Bengali calender-year on 10 March, 1585, but it became effective from 16 March, 1586 the day of his ascension to the throne. The basis of the Bengali year is the Hejiri lunar year (Muslim era counted from the year of Muhammad's (SM) going to Medina in 622 AD and the Bengali solar year. The Bengali year was accepted even at the grassroot level. A possible reason for this may be that the basis of the Bengali year is agriculture and the beginning of the Bengali year is a time of collection of taxes from the farmers. For instance, the farmer does not plough the field even if it rains in Chaitra (the last month of the Bengali year and corresponding to mid-march to Mid-April. The fields are generally ploughed in the month of Baisakh (April-May) and the prayer for the rains is also because of this."
Tracing back the celebration by Dr. Muntasir Mamun.

If anything, it's root seems to have a Midas touch of Islam. Are you going to celebrate it, now that you know that it is not entirely un-islamic.

 

[gromell]

you are saying Bengali calender and new year celebration come from hindu culture.

Now that's what can be termed as ignorant. The official celebration of Bengali new year was a mughal invention to encourage the farmer's growing rice after the conquer of Bengal by Mughal subedar. Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar's court was the first one to issue official start of the celebration of Bengali new year. This does not mean there was no Bengali calender system before but it is related to agriculture than anything else. There is no hindu other than Bengali hindus??! well most hindus are non-bengali and they dont celebrate bengali new year! Bengali new year started long after the hindu religion came into being. Infact by the time the celebration of bengali new year became popular, Islam was common among Bengalis. I can cite historical records that tell us at least 300 years before Bengali new year was first officially celebrated, Shah Jalal Rahmatullahi alaihi started preaching Islam in Sylhet. Since 1205 AD greater Bengal has been ruled by Muslim sultans and kings.
There your assumption that Bengali new year has religious affiliation to hinduism is dumped.

 

[gromell]

Really, it appears to be different from what you are saying though.

"Most probably the celebration of the Bengali New Year is connected with the Bengali year. In Bengal, Emperor Akbar started the Bengali calender-year on 10 March, 1585, but it became effective from 16 March, 1586 the day of his ascension to the throne. The basis of the Bengali year is the Hejiri lunar year (Muslim era counted from the year of Muhammad's (SM) going to Medina in 622 AD and the Bengali solar year. The Bengali year was accepted even at the grassroot level. A possible reason for this may be that the basis of the Bengali year is agriculture and the beginning of the Bengali year is a time of collection of taxes from the farmers. For instance, the farmer does not plough the field even if it rains in Chaitra (the last month of the Bengali year and corresponding to mid-march to Mid-April. The fields are generally ploughed in the month of Baisakh (April-May) and the prayer for the rains is also because of this."
Tracing back the celebration by Dr. Muntasir Mamun.

If anything, it's root seems to have a Midas touch of Islam. Are you going to celebrate it, now that you know that it is not entirely un-islamic.

Absolutely correct! you just cited what I had to say!
DR. Muntasir Mamun is a very learned man. I actually saw him couple of times in the local masjid in Dhaka where we both used to go for Jumu'ah prayer on Friday

 

[Jako]

Well,now that all your suspicions has been done with by gromell and toxic pus,SUBHO NABOBORSHO TO AL ZAKIR AND IDUNE......HOPE YOU JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS NEXT YEAR.......CHEERS

 

[notsuperstitious]

Tittle isn't offensive at all. Those who celebrate this anti Islamic cultural event in the name of Bengali culture are ignorant.

Whatever is un-islamic is automatically anti-islamic?

Then i hope you also don't celebrate your (or pakistan's) independence day, navy day, army day etc etc?

 

[SurvivoR]

Whatever is un-islamic is automatically anti-islamic?

Then i hope you also don't celebrate your (or pakistan's) independence day, navy day, army day etc etc?

The point is not that if it is anti-Islamic or not after all we also live and befriend with anti-Islam elements from bharat and US and other countries.

The point is promotion of such festivals are aimed at eleminating one's faith by those who wants to distort one's faith and in case of Islam we all know we have many enemies of our faith.