A poignant tale of a freedom struggle
Mohsena Reza finds much symbolism in a novel
16 November 2007, 18:00 PM
Inseparable
Haroonuzzaman
Pathsutro
This is November, a month very close to the twelfth month of the year, the memories of which are painful and at the same time joyous. Joyous because 16 December reminds us of our victory over inequality, repression, animosity and oppression of the genocidal Pakistani soldiers. This month brought the laurels of victory to the very valiant, fearless and patriotic nation that is Bangladesh.
The bitter memories of the upsurge of the general mass to overthrow the pitiless and cruel government of Pakistan and liberate the crushed Bengalis are still fresh in our minds and in the minds of those who have lost their near and dear ones.
To enjoy the fruits of liberation the nation had to pay a very colossal price. Men were slaughtered, women raped, houses looted and burnt down. The heart-rending and distressing facts of our battle for basic human rights were noted by every democratic country.
To free the nation from the barbaric Pakistani fetters, our brave young men spontaneously joined the guerilla war, some never to return. The struggle of the Bengalis for their survival during the nine months of the war and the country's liberation in such a short span of time is a record that remains unprecedented in history.
Haroonuzzaman, through the character of Sheema, has given the whole document a very symbolic additive. Sheema's painstaking struggle for life and her disease can be compared to the then sick East Pakistan.
The day the Pakistani military crackdown on the unarmed Bengalis begins, Sheema gets to know from the doctor that she has a malignant tumour in her breast. Since then, on the one hand we discern her family's forbearance of her disease, while on the other hand innocent Bengalis fight a war thrust on them by the Pakistani military junta during the same period.
Sheema dies of cancer the day the freedom fighters liberate their country from the clutches of the marauding hordes. This is how Sheema's nine-month long struggle for life is inextricably linked with the arduous struggle of the Bengalis for freedom they are "Inseparable". Sheema's death is a manifestation of the death of Pakistan's dominance and authority over Bangladesh.
The liberation war occurred thirty six years ago and Haroonuzzaman has written this true story, Sheema being his sister, to liven up the experience of those troubled times to pass them on to people who might have either forgotten them or might want to know about them.
Inseparable does not directly talk about the war but rather dwells on the impact that it left on each and every individual during that time. As far as this reviewer is concerned, there can only be admiration for Haroonuzzaman's audacity and gallantry in bequeathing to readers a very honest and vivid delineation of a crisis which is not only praiseworthy but worth emulating. He has placed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman where he should be and it is precisely such courage of conviction which is laudable.
At a time when Bangladesh's history is in danger of being distorted and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's name, which for some is taboo and an inspiration for millions, is at risk of being pushed into oblivion, Haroonuzzaman's Inseparable is rather a historical document in the form of a novel. The lucid depiction of the events of the liberation war is of utmost importance for the generation that grew into adulthood hearing tales of the war.
"A reign of terror has been let loose on the unarmed mass, people are being killed and their rights trampled, is there anyone to protect the teeming millions?" The whole saga revolves round this question.
"The mass exodus seemed like a trip to eternity. The young and the old, the poor and the rich, mostly on foot, had embarked on a journey to the unknown." It was so because the Pakistani occupation forces had geared up their bestiality. The bottom line of the story rests on the fact that we do not always get what we cherish because there are people who are born only to give.
The doctor consoles Sheema's brother Habib, by explaining that Sheema's death could be taken as a sacrifice for the independence of the country. It is evident that "you have to give something to get something" they are 'inseparable'.
One would do injustice to the cause, if one did not mention the fact that the Pakistanis had never accepted us as brothers who had equal rights to everything the nation owned. They always took us as money spinning machinery, people for whom a luxurious life was a mirage.
When Habib takes the white cloth off from the face of Sheema, he sees a round spot like a sun on her forehead, which he feels is the red sun on the flag of Bangladesh. Here Harronuzzaman comes forth with a very symbolic touch to the story's end.
The author has dedicated the book to his sister who battled leukemia for nine months. Alongside his passion for writing, he has been into broadcast media as a newsreader in Radio Pakistan, Dhaka, and Radio Bangladesh. He was the only Asian to read the prime time English news on Qatar broadcasting service. Besides, he was into journalism for about six years at The Independent and UNB. At present Haroonuzzaman teaches at Independent University, Bangladesh. He has been teaching English for over fifteen years, both at home and abroad.
Mohsena Reza, who studied English literature at Dhaka University, is Past President, Inner Wheel Club Of Dhaka North.
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