The flip side
As a Bangladeshi, I wonder why some of us feel shy to call ourselves Bengalees; even on informal occasions. Bangladeshi is a new political label which had to be introduced (for formality) some three decades ago. We have the largest Bengali population in the world, and we are proud that the land of the Bengalees is called Bangladesh.
The old Bengal of British India was divided in 1947, and the Indian part is called West Bengal. I was born in British India (Calcutta); and our family migrated to Dhaka after 1947 (father was in the Civil Service). Bengal was divided once during the British period, but it did not last long. The term Bangle is in common use. The former East Pakistanis fought for Bangla language, and created Bangladesh, through the language movement. Now the Mother Language Day has been introduced by the UN, in recognition.
The Bengalee nature had been dissected for centuries, when traditional old Bengal exported culture and art to different parts of Asia, Today, politically, we show certain traits, which are supposed to be a part of our nature. We have the gift of the gab; and treat debating as a pastime. It has a strong effect on the proceedings of our parliament--the opposition boycotted the sessions most of the time (regardless of the names of the parties).
We have good head, but are we ruled by the heart? Blinded by too much passion, most of the time. Our hartals are world famous. We seem to flourish in an environment of negative attributes. We take things to heart, too easily, and too quickly. Are we prisoners of our emotions and passions?
Today, what has happened to our display of patriotism, and other qualities of a new nation in the making? What matribhumi means to us--dictated politically?
How to account for instituti-onalisation of corrupt practices in almost all the sectors of society? It is an anti-climax from the spirit of '71. What happened to our hopes and aspirations? Why our dreams turned sour? We seem to have gone off the rails. Are we reluctant to ditch our undesirable top leaders, when required? Not to be confused with nepotism--it is something different. We are moral wrecks today. How to find the tunnel with light peeping from the other end?
It is the leadership, not the masses, Hitler led Germany to nowhere; while Churchill's role was different. Saddam was not a foreigner in Iraq; but foreign judgment brought him the death sentence. There are other examples in history on man's inhumanity to man.
History has a vibration effect--we can feel it in Bangladesh today. The Pakistanis are also realising new passions and perspectives today. The Kashmir and the Palestine issues are half a century old. Human civilization has no solution? Many new states in S America and Africa cannot get out of the vicious circles of immoral governance. Now the Tibetans are at the receiving end.
I have strayed from the topic in the opening paragraphs; for a global perspective of human and political global partners.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments