Leaders of the past
The present nation-state era was preceded by Imperialism and before that Feudalism etc. There is no point in maligning the national leaders of the past. Each of the nationalist movement was based on existing socio-economic issues of a particular place or a region.
The Bengal was inhabited for more than five thousand years by the Dravidians. For little more than two thousand years the Aryans became our rulers. This was a pre-dominantly Hindu nation until the arrival of the Sultan (Governor) from Delhi. The Sultans of Delhi and the Shah Shahebs (Private Adjudicator, Employing Agent and Re-conciliator) from the Arabian Peninsula and upper India spread the message of Islam.
In the modern era, the predominantly Muslim population first rejected feudalism under the leadership of Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haq. The Muslim peasants and workers rallied around Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani for his kind advice, cooperation, directives and guidance.
The irony is the President of the Bengal Muslim League and champion of democracy Shaheed Suhrawardy lost the leadership of the Bengal Legislative Assembly to Khwaja Nazimuddin.
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