This is the first post in a series on the 1971 War, also known as the Liberation War of Bangladesh. The series aims to be an honest portrayal of both sides of the war and its aftermath, from the atrocities committed against the Bengali people, to those also committed by the Bengali Mukhti Bahini, to the refugees in West Bengal, as well as the later persecution of the Bihari (Urdu-speaking) people in Bangladesh. If you have a story you’d like to share, please let me know:
As many of you know, I am Pakistani. My allegiance to this country has been the driving factor when I decided on my educational focus, my career path, and of course, this blog. What many of you don’t know, however, is that my mother is Bangladeshi, and I am very proud of my Bengali heritage and family.
My quest to better understand my own identity frequently led me to study a pivotal moment in both Pakistan and Bangladesh’s history – the 1971 War, known interchangeably as the Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1971 Indo-Pak War, depending on your perspective. The conflict ended with the secession of East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh, but it also resulted in the loss of many Bangladeshi lives at the hands of Pakistani soldiers, (the death toll varies from 20,000 to three million depending on the source). The atrocities were endless, and many today label 1971 the “Bangladesh Genocide.”
Throughout my life, I never had to look far to learn about 1971 – the entire Bangladeshi side of my family was somehow involved in the war. What I heard first hand was haunting – stories of mass graves, protests, torture and defiance. But growing up in Pakistan, these anecdotes clashed considerably with how the war was presented and perceived in Pakistan. While I am very aware that there is no black and white to any conflict, such a discrepancy was a challenge to better understand and share my own observations of the war.
I write this piece fresh from a trip to Dhaka and a day after convincing my lovely cousin to accompany me to the Liberation War Museum, which displays the history prior to and during the 1971 War. The museum sits in a house in Shegunbagicha in Dhaka, leased out by the family of one of my cousins and managed by curator Akku Chowdhury.
The museum is rich with information, filled with remnants of a history that heavily defines the Bangladeshi collective. One of the first rooms you enter is a display on the 1952 Language Movement, which called for the recognition of Bangla as a second official language of Pakistan (Urdu was established as the sole national language after 1947). This protest over language, bringing men and women alike on to the streets, sparked a nationalist fervor and marked the beginning of the Bengali demand for their democratic and cultural rights. In 2000, UNESCO established February 21 as International Mother Language Day, in tribute to the movement and the subsequent lives lost.
Women during the Language Movement wore white saris w/black borders, now worn every Mother Lang Day
As I walked through the museum, jotting down thoughts and taking illicit photographs (please note: you are not actually allowed to take photos in the museum, my apologies to the museum staff who tried valiantly to stop me), several pieces caught my attention. The first was a poster of the iconic cartoon by ‘Patua’ Quamrul Hassan depicting former Pakistani president Gen. Yahya Khan as a demon, accompanied by the text, Annihilate these Demons. From my understanding, the “demons” referred to the Pakistani soldiers undertaking the military operation that began in March 1971.
Photos taken by crappy camera phone, apologies.
I was also struck by a copy of a memo written by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for former U.S. President Richard Nixon. Addressed April 28, 1971, the paper presented policy options for the U.S. involvement in the 1971 War. Nixon had checked policy option #3 – “An effort to help Yahya achieve a negotiated settlement,” with a scribbled note, “Don’t squeeze Yahya at this time.”
Policy memo with Nixon side note
In a recent article for the Daily Star, Asif Mahfuz noted that U.S. policy followed a course later known as “The Tilt,” due to Nixon’s friendship with Yahya and a strategic interest in China. He wrote,
By using what Nixon and Kissinger called quiet diplomacy, the administration gave the green light to the Pakistanis. In one instance, Nixon declared to a Pakistani delegation that “Yahya is a good friend.” Rather than express concern over the ongoing brutal military repression, Nixon explained that he “understands the anguish of the decisions which (Yahya) had to make”…. In a handwritten letter on August 7th, 1971, to President Yahya, Nixon writes: “Those who want a more peaceful world in the generations to come will forever be in your debt.
The museum display was a telling example of how strategic interests and realpolitik often outweigh what is morally right or acceptable. Walking through the Liberation War Museum, I was constantly reminded of this fact. Many of the rooms contained uniforms, photos, and belongings of the innocent civilians killed, as well as those of the Mukthi Juddha (“Liberation Fighters” who were part of the militia, the Mukhti Bahini). One particularly memorable and disturbing display featured the 70 skulls and 5392 other bones recovered from a “killing field” in Mirpur, Dhaka, where many who were killed by the Pakistan Army were discarded.
Skulls excavated from Mirpur.
Rape was also widely perpetrated during the 1971 War. According to the museum sources, allegedly 250,000 women were tortured and raped by Pakistani soldiers during the conflict. However, while many women were victims of the atrocities, I was also struck by how many were central figures in the war for independence, fighting alongside the men. The Liberation War Museum was filled with photos of Bengali women outfitted in white saris, holding rifles and conducting military exercises. One poster displayed in the museum encompassed this phenomenon perfectly:
Translation: "All Bengali Mothers and Daughters Are Liberation Fighters"
It has been 39 years since the 1971 War, and there are still many lessons for Pakistan to not only learn but also accept. As Imran Khan over at the blog ATP recently noted, “History must never be forgotten, no matter whether it is flattering to you or not. It is well know than each nation tells its people the lies it chooses. We in Pakistan have done this too, including on the events on 1971.” A nation, in my opinion, is strengthened by its ability to accept responsibility for its mistakes. This is applicable to today as it was back then.
I’ll end this piece with a rather telling poster from the Liberation War Museum, which showcases the secular nature of the Bangladeshi state that still persists today (for the most part). The text reads, “Banglar Hindu, Banglar Christian, Banglar Buddhist, Banglar Muslim – We are all Bengali.”
CHUP! - Changing Up Pakistan 
Kalsoom, Thanks for posting this. Indeed, a nation is strengthened by its ability to accept responsibility for its mistakes.
Seconded.
Very insightful.. Each nation chooses to tell its history in its own perspective, so have we done in Pakistan and so did others. The important part is, what did we learn from it? We still are living in the past, but not learning anything from it. Here, I must speak for Urdu speaking population of southern Sindh, who are openly mocked upon and made fun of.. given the names of traitors and terrorists… They may have done mistakes, but who else has not? And then, there are Baluchis, asking for their rights.. so are we really serious about addressing these issues , or are we waiting for some big turmoil?
Rumaisa,
I think you make some really good points – and Imran in his piece for All Things Pakistan notes how we haven’t really learned anything from 1971, as is evident in our policies towards FATA and Balochistan.
One interesting addendum about language – from my observation, Bangla is the language that truly unites Bengalis and much of this stems from the 1952 movement, which my mom told me was like an “awakening” of the Bengali culture, particularly since pre-1971, Bengali schoolchildren were even banned from reciting Tagore in schools (Urdu was enforced). That pride still persists today.
Excellent read! Thanks! I wonder though, of the pictures/posters of the women that were in the museum, were there any of women, presumably Muslim, wearing Hijab, or a Burqa?
Thanks again!
-Zoobee
Zoobee,
Not as far as I noticed. I actually very rarely notice Muslim women in Dhaka wearing hijab or burqa today, even. 🙂
Such a nice thing to see/hear women being so liberated.
I say if Women must wear a Burqa then Men must also wear a cloth over their eyes like a horse. Why should women suffer and men not? Its only fair. I understand this is totally unrelated but just a thought.
I am disgusted with the obsession on hijab in a blog that has nothing to do with it. It would be nice if people research the history of hijab and burqua.
It was first worn by Hirondules(sacred prostitutes) of Babylon who initiated and taught sex to young men to prevent identification.
Just to educate read
http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Veil.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab
I never noticed that many women compared to men in Bangladesh on the streets though 🙂
I think the fuller answer is more regional. When I was working down in Cox’s Bazaar area the communities were a lot more conservation, burqua’s being quite common. Indeed it was identified in numerous UN evaluations of female empowerment programs that the typical pratice of giving supplies to women and such didn’t work that well everywhere as in many areas women were refused service by shop keepers or banned from markets entirely. It wasn’t a majority problem, but given this is Bangladesh you are still talking about millions of people.
Great Observations. We being young generation from both side should join together, dig the history & bring the truth out. The move forward accepting the responsibilities.
Excellent post! We have not learned anything from our past mistakes and after 40 years we are in a similar mess. Looking fwd to the upcoming posts from this series.
Lessons to be learnt by whom ? … it was the army of Pakistan then and it is today !
Can a nation of 170 millions not put in place the Chief of Army of Pakistan and his Corp Commanders ? … a handful of men holding Pakistan to ransom actually for the poppy fields of Afghanistan and doles of money from the US for themselves ?
… Strategic Depth they talk of ? … what advantage would the location of East Pakistan have been today … Ya Ali !!
What will it take to tell the US to stop giving money to and communicating directly with the army of Pakistan ?
The US was the accomplice of the army of Pakistan in 1971 as much more it is today.
It cannot be difficult to learn from past mistakes … the Army of Pakistan must have to be taught.
Great work Kalsoom
Thank you SO MUCH for posting this Kal! Great work-
Excellent post!! I am specially impressed with responses from young Pakistanis who have hopefully emerged from a state of denial and are now ready to recognize the horrific consequences of their nation’s past mistakes. Sadly though, Kalsoom through her writing, walked me down memory lane……..once again!!
Excellent piece Kulsoom!
Over the past few years I have met many Pakistanis who are completely ignorant of what took place in then East Pakistan. As you mentioned ” each nation tell its people the lies it chooses” and so many have denied the occurance of any such war or have blamed many of the atrocities that took place on Indians in their ignorance. I hope this piece and your future articles on Bangladesh manage to establish the actual historical facts of not only the Liberation War but what led to it. I believe many people would find it more credible and easier to accept the happenings of the Bangladesh liberation movement coming from someone whos from Pakistan then from a Bangladeshi.
I sincerely hope your writings helps to enlighten those who are in denial and acknowledge the genocide that took place in 1971.
ps Akku uncle was also a freedom fighter. I hope you got a chance to talk to him about the war as he must have loads of stories to share!
Thanks Zeeshan!
I wish I had had more time in Dhaka to do some face-to-face interviews, but I’ll try and get in touch with him and others in my family and family friends who were all Mukhti Juddhas. It might be a good idea to a compilation piece of their experiences.
There is a book that Prothom Alo , the bangladeshi daily brought out called ” Ekaturer Chithi” ( Letters of ’71) which is a compilation of all the original letters that were sent by family members and friends to each other during the war. I dont know if you can read Bangla and I am not aware of any english transalation as the book came out last year- but that would be a good one to read as it really reflects what was happening and the experiences that people had during that time.
Kalsoom, I appreciated this piece because it educated me on a topic not covered at all in Western history classes. This was both insughtful and informative and encouraged me to expand my understanding of the issue.
Ij there a Razakar/Pak fauj moojeum in Pak-e-watan to the mind-boggling invasion of India by 93,000 of the tallest, fairest members of the Arabo-Turkic martial race and occupation thereof for 2 whole years?
The Dhaka moojeum must be a short, dark place serving rice I am soor.
Read “A Golden Age” by Tahmima Anam. Great book set during this time.
[…] people, to those also committed by the Bengali Mukhti Bahini, to […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan allegiance, anecdotes, atrocities, bangladesh liberation war, bengali, bihari, career path, […]
Excellent! Thanks for this post, Kalsoom! I think we need more voice like this promoting ‘acceptance of mistake as a sing of strengthe and national pride’. I feel Pakistani nationalism (or any other for that matter) are defined so much by how much you ‘defend’ the country at all cost and not so much from reflection and being brutally honest about the past (both good and bad aspects).
One thing that always fascinated me and made me respect Bangladesh so much is their literacy rate, which is higher than that of Pakistan, who is a richer country.
Brilliant point about the literacy rate. Comes as a shocking surprise to many Pakistanis.
Bangladesh has very good Human Development Indicators – literacy, maternal mortality etc – an has always been a surprise in that regard (better than India, Pakistan etc). Many hold it up to be a relative success in development aid pointing out how much of this is funded by aid organisations. Bd gets a massive amount of external aid and has an incredible amount of NGO’s operating, both local and international, and of course the para-statal al powerful BRAC 🙂
Excellent Post. A MUST Lesson in History if we in Pakistan want to move forward…which we must. We must also embrace our Bengali Brothers & Sisters & Bangladesh as a Modern Muslim State (and doing well economically) that respects all Beliefs & most of all, the rights of women as stated in The Holy Quran ( correct interpretation, not the one by those crazy Fundus). Your ending is a Lesson for all of us here in Pakistan to Practise & preach…….we are all Pakistanis! InshAllah, that day will also come mainly because of our Younger Generation like you & many or most of your readers on this Brilliant Blog.
God Bless!
“We must also embrace our Bengali Brothers & Sisters & Bangladesh as a Modern Muslim State ”
Please let Bangladesh be Bangladesh. We have seen how a country whose identity is based on Religion is working out. We dont need another Islamic Failure Republic to be in our neighbourhood.
Excellent written! Mashallah. I’m myself a Pakistani and am very often in a discussion with my bengali fiance regarding the war. My parents chose not to give me a general pakistani-biased view of the situation but let me learn from school what was an objective view of the war.
However one thing I have thought about is regarding the anger Pakistan felt. As there is always 2 sides of a coin, the same thing follows here. Are there no biography’s, texts, litteratures, doctrins or any sort of documentation whatsoever to clarify the thoughts behind the government of that time? Is the country to corrupt that the goverments after 1971 have destroyed those facts? There has got to be some sort of declaration of war statement with a clear notion of why they actually decided to have a war… Or correct me if I’m wrong, it wasn’t a declared war?
Nevertheless, that was a minor point. The actual thing one needs to focus on is the point you mentioned about learning from history. It is about time that the generation of today set things straight. I’m doing my part, Im going to marry someone from the “other country”. =) The elder generation, (of both Pakistan and Bangladesh) with all due respect must stop being so narrowminded and understand that what happened is part of the past and nothing one should keep on living in.Life doens’t work that way.
Excellent article. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. By the way have you had a chance to talk to people in Bangladesh about the execution of Mujib’s killers and the overturning of the 5th amendment? I find the recent developments so fascinating.
Thanks Rabia-
I just spoke to my khala and she said people in Bangladesh are very happy because there is finally some sort of closure on the assassination of Mujib and his family. I’m going to see if there are any editorials out in the Daily Star about this today.
So thoughtful. This is certainly your best post by far. I think it’s partly because it really came from the heart. Great work!
I guess that from outrightly rejecting the possibility of Pakistan’s villainy in the 1971 war to now trying to look up the facts and realizing something’s amiss in the state-sponsored propaganda, things have improved.
However, a common man still perceives the events of the 1971 war through the state-sponsored propaganda. It is also understandable how the lies survived for so long considering it was the mighty Pak Army covering up it’s lies.
I guess it’s big time we realized the terrible deeds we have committed towards Bengalis and admitted that we were indeed at fault.
Wow, Kalsoom. Thanks for the Bangladeshi perspective on history. Not something we hear too often. Very impressive and appreciated.
Kalsoom I appreciate the objective view of the museum in your writing. I hope someday you will be able to give a more indepth insight of that dark period of the history when 3 million Bengalees were wiped out to please the wimps of a few power hungry people who potrayed themselves as leaders. Unfortunately we never learn from history and such attrocities and genocides are happening world over even now. From the Museum we have begun to observe Oct 21 as a ‘Never Again’ day when we want to remember all genocides and reiterate our commitment to tell our leaders ‘never again’ commit or support crimes against humanity, attorcites, genocide.
The Liberation War Museum began its journey on March 22 1996 and was formed by 8 individuals who were all involved in the liberation war in 1971.
Thanks Akku Uncle-
I’m Moni Khan’s niece btw (Babli’s daughter). I’ve heard a lot of incredible things about you!
Some time back because of my curiosity to know the truth behind the real saga of Bangladesh and the atrocities committed by the then Pak army, I studied several books by Bengali authors and came to the conclusion that there is a history in all men’s lives. I still vividly remember the scenes described in these books, the way thousands of Bengali’s were assembled in a stadium in Dhaka and then massacred on spot. Majority of Pakistanis still don’t know what our army did there as history was always kind to us for we wrote it. However, I still believe we can overcome this gloomy past as we all like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
What about murders,rape done by bengali muktis ! Don’t forget this part of history while trying to be too honest !
There were a hell of a lot, as in any civil war (which I guess this one could be termed as). In short the rape, extortion and explusion that accompanies an conflict with so little monitoring (though there are more and more videos surfacing) isn’t mentioned, while the murders are celebrated as acts of resistance. I remember one lady featured in the papers one day as she got her award who was famos for killing bengali collaborators with her macheti.
Kalsy !
I am so proud to be your khala !! Sadly your stay was a very short one and yet you achieved and presented something so huge, not only for us who have been a part of our Liberation War but most importantly for the younger generation of Pakistanis AND Bangladeshis all over the world. Great job !! Looking forward to your future posts. Your Akku Uncle would recognize me as Moni bhabi (Shentu bhai’s wife !).
Thanks Kalsoom for this report. I will be looking forward to your posts.
I hope this will clear many misconceptions and make people understand what went on in those nine months in 1971.
The liberation war museum site is a great resource for info:
http://www.liberationwarmuseum.org/
These are also useful resources:
International Newspaper reports
http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/?page_id=12
An E-Library of Bangladesh Liberation War related Texts
http://www.wcsf.info/library/index.php
Kulsi,
A brilliant piece of writing! You have captured the essence of the Liberation war in a nutshell. I am glad you took the opportunity to visit the museum even though you had so little time, truly goes to show the passion you had to know more about what happened!!
Will look for more stories on your blog!
To the author:
Honestly speaking, a blog on Bengali version of a Bengali-perpetrated genocide from a museum under Bengali government?
Is that your version of “honest portrayal of versions from both sides of the war”?
How easy, isn’t it? What happened to ‘not telling chosen lies’?
If you’re even barely serious about what you call, “my quest to better understand”, go ahead, read the research papers referenced on the link below. Think about them, analyze them and reflect upon hundreds of first-person narratives in there. Museums don’t speak originality, they just relay. Museums only tell you what they’re “engineered” to tell.
http://waqqasakhtar.blogspot.com/2009/12/discussing-pakistan-of-1971.html
Regards,
— Waqqas
“Honestly speaking, a blog on Bengali version of a Bengali-perpetrated genocide from a museum under Bengali government?”
1. The genocide, whatever Zaid Hamid and other right-wing Pakistanis who feel that patriotism equates to state propaganda might tell you, was not perpetrated by Bengalis. The fact that you would think that is actually a pretty sad indication to what information you’ve been fed.
2. If you haven’t been to the museum don’t make a sweeping generalization of it. Pray tell, which other museums are “engineered” to tell you a certain half-truth? I was of the mind that most museums are supposed to convey history based on research.
3. “Hundreds of first person narratives”? If you read my post, you would know that that IS what this museum is filled with. And please don’t patronize me with your holier than thou attitude, I’ve been researching and filing first-person narratives since I was 15 years old, 12 bloody years ago.
4. The museum wasn’t funded by the state government. It was founded by individuals who had all been a part of the war. The house was leased out by a cousin’s in-law’s family. Know your facts before you start quoting BS to me.
5. Sarmila Bose was a former professor of mine, and believe me I know how tilted her work was first hand. Don’t you dare quote her to me.
I personally don’t engage ignorance like yours, but on behalf of the people I personally know who suffered in the war, I thought I’d at least address your haphazard accusations. Please don’t come again.
Thank you dear!! Ths a spunky reply to the person. We all know who and what Zaid Hamid and their ilk are. Ostriches mouthing innanies and a Nation listening and applauding because they know nothing else!
The uncanny similarities to Nazi Germany is frightening.
Pray tell, which other museums are “engineered” to tell you a certain half-truth?
>>>>>>
Its a joke comment but – that creationalist museum in the US 🙂
I think most museums have an angle on the information they portray, even if its something like in the case of the British Museum the right to show you what they do!
As for the liberation war museum I liked it. Yes it suffers from neglect and cash problems but what public building doesn’t in Bd (bar the political ones of course). I think it was a good attempt from such a young country to try and record a lot of the painful memories and tell them in a way younger generations can understand if they visit.
Listen, I personally don’t like to talk or discuss to the people who don’t know the truth themselves and don’t find any interest in finding it either. In your case, first u blamed the Muktijuddhas for raping some imaginary women figures. Who did they rape? Their own girls? Or did they fly to West Pakistan to rape your girls? Think before you talk. Specially when you don’t have any authentic proof against historically proven facts.
And then came the War Museum Dhaka:
“In the book titled:
<>
published by the Liberation War Museum, Dhaka, I came across the same photo of the Sur father and son’s dead bodies. It is printed twice, one a close-up of the child only, with the caption: ‘Innocent women were raped and then killed along with their children by the barbarous Pakistan Army’. Foreigners might just have mistaken the ‘lungi’ worn by Sur for a ‘saree’, but surely Bangladeshis can tell a man in a ‘lungi’ when they see one! And why present the same ‘body’ twice?”
Quoted from: “The truth about the Jessore Massacre” by Sarmila Bose.
http://waqqasakhtar.blogspot.com/2009/12/discussing-pakistan-of-1971.html
“Honestly speaking, a blog on Bengali version of a Bengali-perpetrated genocide from a museum under Bengali government?” – What amount of mistrust against the Bengalis!
I once met one Pakistani teacher in Dhaka whose mother was a Bengali, and she told how she had to hide her maternal identity from the school where she teaches because this would be a humiliation. This might be an isolated incident.
But I will tell a family story.
My father, a graduate from Karachi University and a journalist with Pakistan Radio working in the port town of Bangladesh was coming to home from his work. He was apprehended and cordoned off with some Bengalis near his home because the Pakistani army heard gun shots nearby. They lined them up on a wall, started questioning why did they fire and was ready to shoot. They did not bother about IDs or even ignored a few people’s request to provide proofs that they are innocents. The replies were constant slurs… “Bengalis are all gaddars, we don’t trust them at all. You are all Muktis” His Bihari neighbor came up to them with a Quran in her hand and literary saved him and a few others. But others were not that lucky.
He was not politically affiliated, and did not want to break Pakistan. But after that he had no doubt that Pakistan has disowned the Bengalis.
Oh and for the record: the Liberation war museum is an independent Trust – not govt. owned.
1971 is not only a year of our history, not even a chapter which me must understand.
it is something far more than that, we must realize the factors behind loosing a wing. today when there are so many problems in Pakistan we can find so many similarities among the situation of now and than. we must wake up now as we can not afford to loose this country again. all those factors which created an air for the separation of East Pakistan are the facts which we must keep in mind, specially our so called leaders must think in a broader sense because the chapter of 1971 was actually initiated by the “leaders of nation”
Kalsoom
I don’t even have to cut paste my comments from Tariq’s post. Some reader have raised the question why most Pakistanis are still not aware of dark realities behind the creation of Bangladesh
Answer is very simple; most of our history text book (especially taught in schools) from the days of Zia ul Haq have either been completely changed or modified with their authors presenting the most ridiculous fact and figures promoting superficial glory of Islam, our mighty army with their ever delusional state of mind (the strongest muslim army in the world, the last standing legion against the hordes of infidels), how gora with its cunning sinister evil plans overthrew the great Mughal empire (again not highlighting the aftermaths of Aurungzeb’s brutal regime) and last but not the least how a sinister Indian regime with the help of Mukti Bahni, was able to cut Pakistan into pieces without ever highlighting the role West Pakistani establishment and its totally oppressive stance towards Bengalis. Bangladesh may have come into existence in 1971 but the process started in 1947.
Also our own elders, our dadas tayas nanis dadis must be equally blamed for not sharing the true picture of 1971. Our buzurgs who despite witnessing everything either remain indifferent/ point fingers at ZAB/accuse Indians for that fiasco.
Hamud ur rehman commission report with its actual facts never came out. There are no text books history books journals no documentaries available. Hence our state of ignorance leading to the state of utter and complete denial about our history, role of establishment and its backers, our ideology, friends and foes.
Kalsoom even now Punjabis are still defiant in stubbornly defending their role for ‘71 events. Forget apologizing, they don’t even want to acknowledge their blunders.
Welcome to the doomed republic of Pakistan
That’s a wonderful post! I’d seen the ‘demon’ poster before which emphatically demonstrates how much our military was hated back then (and perhaps even now).
Our military is still hated by a section of people (terrorists) I hope that situation don’t lead us to the further break up of federation.
Truth is liberating. If truth had been acknowledged after 1971 war, Pakistani society would have seriously thought of putting their army back into the barracks and placing it under a civilian rule. Truth was not revealed, army’s genocide was swept under the carpet for no one to see. Result is: Pakistan’s army is still all powerful. It keeps propping up and imaginary ememy to the west while real enemies are within its borders.
Suneet
Correction:
I meant “imaginary enemy to the east” (namely, India).
One question. Why has the Pakistani govt not apologized to the Bangladeshis and offer some closure?
Is it ever going to happen-Owning upto the mistakes and apologizing- in Pakistan?
I think Bangladeshi govt demanded an apology recently when Mushy was in power. His govt rejected the demand.
Musharraf actually did do an apology during his government:
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/30bang.htm
dear kalsoom,
please go through the site http://www.gendercide.org/case_bangladesh.html
In her ground-breaking book, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, Susan Brownmiller likened the 1971 events in Bangladesh to the Japanese rapes in Nanjing and German rapes in Russia during World War II. “… 200,000, 300,000 or possibly 400,000 women (three sets of statistics have been variously quoted) were raped. Eighty percent of the raped women were Moslems, reflecting the population of Bangladesh, but Hindu and Christian women were not exempt. … Hit-and-run rape of large numbers of Bengali women was brutally simple in terms of logistics as the Pakistani regulars swept through and occupied the tiny, populous land …” (p. 81).
Thanks Kalsoom for this brilliant work. Actually I have a thought in my mind that what is the thought of pakistanis specially the young generation about Liberation War of us. I am glad to learn from this blog that they are thinking about the fact. As a bangladeshi, I used to hate pakistan but from now I am not so. The wrong was made by the Generals at that time. But the most bizzare think is that why most ( I think )of the pakistanis arenot so familiar about the fact. At the ending edge of Liberation war at 14 th december 1971, most of our intellectuals were killed with the help of some local people (called Al-Bodor) by the pakistani army. You all please answer a question that where more than 55% peoples mother language was Bangla ,how Muhammad Ali Zinnah announced in 1952 in Dhaka that “URDU..URDU MUST BE THE ONLY STATE LANGUAGE OF PAKISTAN”. But ours demand was not only the bangla . We damanded bangla as the state languages of Pakistan.From that time there started hatred with Pakistanis.In 1971, when Pakistanis rolled steam roller , how can we love Pakistan?? say?
I am from a northern district of Bangladesh called Nilphamari.There are many Pakistanis in our districts who came from Pakistan before the Liberation War. I personally talked some of them about there thoughts of Liberation War. They are also against the war. Many of my school friends are pakistanis. They now become part of our culture. I think, If a made anything wrong, there is no hesitation in me to say sorry. We the bangladeshis demand an official appology. I think this can make friendships among us and we are no longer hatred with Pakistan..
shuvobangla71@yahoo.com
Thanks Kasloom!!!
I learn a lot about subcontinent just by reading your posts 🙂
Keep doing the good job!
Something I thought in the museum that wasn’t highlighted as much as it could be was the targeting of Bengali intelectuals and graduates. The fact so much happened when Pakistan was undeniably losing just highlights what a vindictive vicious strategy it was as it was soley designed to destroy the chances of Bangladesh beng able to function after they were forced out. Not so much for the people I talked to under say 50 or so but those who were older couldn’t help but wonder if things could have been better today without that destabilising attack.
A lot of the strategies followed were awful, even trying to portray the represson as directed against Hindu’s and get support that way didn’t work. I do wonder what was going through the pak miltaries mind during all of this and how they were framing their strategy. Did they honestly think normal repressive measures would work when India was sitting their ready to expose their position as weak (as all dictatorial rules tend to fail the minute the population thinks those in charge are weaker than them)?
I’ve moved from Dhaka to Kolkata (I’m stuck with Bengali’s it seems) and I’ve now met a lot of people whose story is often a lot sadder. As well as losing most of their families and becoming refugees a lot tried to go back to bangladesh afterwards only to find either their villages total destroyed or houses taken by others. Most seemed to try and make a go of it but found they couldn’t resist anymore the occasional upswings of repression directed towards minorities and moved to poverty in West Bengal. I’ve asked a few (there is a community near to here I’m living I think or they are helping each other aas a air few work in and around where I live) why and the answer is always they feel safer here and normally that there was nothing to stay for.
Interesting article! Its high time that Pakistanis realise their own mistakes and try to make up for them.
Kalsoom
Very touching post and I guess tries to captures nuances of a troubled period…Unfortunately most people relegate museums to a corner they think there is nothing to look at or reflect from.
I think I had shared once before, this blog below has excellent archives of the events and lot of research on the 1971 events and preceding months:
http://www.docstrangelove.com/2008/12/16/the-last-days-of-united-pakistan/
This is my first visit to the site. I was 19 yrs old when I was arrested in Sindh, Pakistan for distributing leaflets in Karachi and other parts of Sindh against the army action in Bengal. I was not alone many friends were arrested by the military regime for protests against that army actions. We took out processions in Sindh University and many parts of Sindh against the army action.
I just wish that the Museum records the protest by folks in Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP and Punjab. I don’t think any of us wants any recognition as we tried to do what we thought was the right thing to do. We did our part but unfortunately we were just not enough.
One friend Afrasiab Khattak is now a senator from NWFP and he is also Gen. Sec of the ANP. A few names that come to mind were Shahid Hussain, Hidayat Hussain, Mehar Hussain Shah, Mir Ahmed Thebo, Jam Saqi among many are still active in Pakistan in one way or another but not politically. we all feel good about what we did at those tumultuous times.
My best wishes are with the people of Bangladesh.
Regards.
Bengalis are easily one of the smartest people in the sub-continent. In India, one can often find the departments of physics and mathematics in universities filled entirely by Bengalis. If you count the percentage of Bengalis in the Nobel Prize winners of India, you’d find it abnormally high for their share in population. Fact is, Bengalis were the originators of Indian cultural renaissance, and the eventual freedom of India from Britain owes a LOT to Bengalis.
It is very sad for Pakistan to let go off her share in this brilliant crop of human beings in such a fashion..
Thanks Kiran for your comments.
Kalsoom, a really difficult piece to write- i admire you for writing it. i think you have, indeed tried to be neutral and say it like it is. i agree with one of your readers, that what makes a country and its people great is admitting their wrongs. i want to tell you that i was supposed to be out the door for work but i got drawn into this article! e brava, K! best wishes, shayma
ps there will always be rude, narrow-minded fanatics who will disagree with you, but this is YOUR blog and YOUR opinion, based on facts, so let them eat their heart out!
This is nicely done, Kalsoom. I remember meeting you at ESIA, where we both went to school, and wondering how you reconciled your Bengali and Pakistani halves.
Great read! It’s very insightful. Keep it up
Cheers,
Dear Kulsoon, good effort to post things from our horryfying past. But I must say you only showing single side of picture, why dont you mention massacre events of Mukti bahini militants against non Bengali citizens. I am not justifying army operation in Dhaka in march 1971, but I just want to say that you should listen both sides of stories. There are also horryfying stories of Mass killing,rape and torture of non bengalis.
Shahidrizvi, I think what u r talking about is rather based on the rumors than the facts. The reality is, the Biharis were on the support of Pakistani force and they used to slaughter the Bangalees randomly and raped the girls. There are a lot of documents, witnesses and proofs in support to this heinous genocide. The biggest proof of the holocaust done by this community is the killing field of Mirpur. Thousands of untreated dead bodies were found without heads. Several people who luckily saved from the killing ground made their statements against these non bangalees. They used to kill the people by big knives keeping the victims’ heads on an old well. Similar to the process we slaughter the animals of Eid-ul-Azha.
In spite of this horrible experience, some groups active in Bangladesh are talking about giving the new generation of this community our nationality!!
Could you please check your proofs and facts again before you talk supporting their liabilities??
by the way, i forgot to mention, there were also some biharis who supported us and actually helped us in many ways. i know a Bihari who was a freedom fighter himself but his family was killed in 1971 due to be Biharis. In spite of this, he still lives in Bangladesh and loves this country from the bottom of this heart. I am sorry as a Bangladeshi for being cruel to the innocent biharis. I am extremely sorry for this.
I just can’t but to put a comment here.First of all, thanks for such a revealing article.
”Each nation tells its people the lies it chooses” -not just but it has become the mantra of every nation state; this is not only true for Pakistan but ,to be honest, also for Bangladesh. By way the way, I’m a Bangladeshi.
In Pakistan, the Pak Establishment tries to feed a different story to her population about 1971, the genocide and systemic rape. Here in Bangladesh, we, the general people, also deny the fact of killing Biharis out of wrath or as an act of vengeance or ethnic hostility whatever may be the reason.
Off course, there is difference; Bengali were killed by state sponsorship as a part of military policy where as Biharis were killed because of largely mob’s wrath or of personal interest.
Anyway, our younger generation is also becoming vocal or at least acknowledging the killings of Biharis, in many case, innocent Biharis. (just because they were Biharis).
Pakistan should accept its misdeeds back in 71 and They can initiate the process by seeking apology to Bangladesh officially.
Apology is not always the sign of weakness but at time, it’s a sign of prudence, wisdom
Very well written. As well, very insightful. I was born in Bangladesh, then moved to USA when I was 11. I still have not had a chance to go back to visit Bangladesh. I have many close Pakistani friends here. So, with many questions on mind, and confusion, it was very informative to read your post. Thank you for giving me a better understanding! 🙂
To Noor Alam Shuvo,
I’ll take my grown up daughter and boys to Bangladesh for a visit. To learn.
That’s a promise.
Anjum,
you are most welcome to my great country and to my great culture.
To Shah,
Respect – and thanks!
Assalamulaikum Pakistani brothers & sisters,
Just deeply observe and feel what your senior leaders had done to our country — the Bangladesh, actually please tell me, what was our fault ?!!!!???? Were we not muslims ? Was holy Islam not our religion ? Did the bangladeshi not know how to recite the holy Quran, Kalema Taieba ? Did we not know that Almighty Allah is the only creator and His only friend Hazrat Muhammad Mostafa [Swm] is the true last prophet ? In 1952,The Bangladeshi had just wanted another Language, a soft tongue touch Bangla vasha[ just think, India has so many languages but they had never been seperated, collided, conspired & divided each other between their communities]. And Finally , in 1971 General Yeahia Khan, Niazi, Tikka and Zulfikar Ali Vhutta…….. just try to feel and think what they done to your Pakistan Nations. During that times they had ordered the Pakistani army to kill the innocent Bangladeshi peoples like the most worst way of massacre , and very lastly my questions to the Pakistani mothers, sisters and women associations that how could a Pakistani muslim soldier rape another Bangladeshi muslim lady/woman ??????!!!!!! Is this our holy Islam saying to maintain ????!!!!
Kulsoom,Thanks for the insight regarding the 1971 war and tragic separation of EP. I was in school grade 9 at that time.
After reading your article I went through the memory lane and remembered my father how sad he was when Chisti Mujahid the then English newsreader announced on PTV
” The situation in East Pakistan is grim”
Kalsoom,
This is indeed a great piece of writing. I am 20 years old from Bangladesh and haven’t seen the Liberation War of 1971 myself, although I have heard of it countless of times. It is very nice of you to write this post since you come from Pakistan and know the mindset of the people of that country.
I am short of words at this point, and so would like to thank you for reminding me that people still remember and mourn the countless sacrifices made in my motherland. 🙂
Thank you once again
Redwan
Kulsum:
A good piece written with honesty and no nationalistic baggage. I have also read with great curiousity the comments from younger Pakistanis who were born after 1971.
At the outset, I should make my background known to the readers of your blog. In March 1971, I was a student of Physics in Dhaka University and my family lived in the Farmgate area of Dhaka. Starting on the night of March 25, we were deafened by the sound of gunfire including fire from recoilless rifles, tanks and mortars. I was only 19 at that time and had never been to or seen war but the sounds that night easily defeaned many WWII holywood battle scenes. The mayhem continued for 48 hours non-stop.
We went to our roof to see what was going on and the night sky of Dhaka was lighted with fire from the shanties and bazars that were set aflame by the Pakistan Army. Sadiq Salik, a Pakistan Army ISPR man gives a vivid decription in his book “Witness to Surrender”. Antother Pakistani Journalist, Anthony Mascarneas in his book “The Rape of Bangladesh” gave an account of what he saw from his hotel room that night.
When curfew was lifted and we went out, in front of the Fram Gate bus stop, I saw the street littered with corpses. I counted about 12 and then did not have the stomach to count any more. The dead were poor lungi clad men, women in dirty saris who clung to their infants in even in their death. One of the people killed that night by the Pakistan Army was Dr. G C. Dev, the provost of Jagganath Hall of Dhaka Univ. and the head of the Department of Philosophy. A couple of years ago I went to a “Milad” where Dr. GC Dev, a Hindu, was the chief guest. He spoke on the life and teachings of Prophet Mohammad (Sm) and I have no hesitation in stating that speech is the most eloquent speech that I have heard in my life on our prophet.
On March 27, 1971, during the curfew break, I was picked up by Pakistan Army to be lined up and shot. An army truck came where many young men were packed like sardines and were driven to the banks of Buriganga and shot. I was lucky that the truck did not have any room to take me when my turn came to get up on the truck. I was told to wait for the next trip. By sheer luck, I was able to convince the Punjab Regiment Naib Subedar that I was an Urdu-speaking person and my ID card and my surname served as proof of my Urdu-ness. I joined the Mukti Bahini a couple of weeks later and was commissioned in Liberation Army in October 1971.
As I read through the comments of many of the readers, I can’t help but make a few comments.
1. There is a lot of stuff in Youtube now that document and catalog the events of 1971. Most of the reports are from western media who do not have a natural affinity for Bangladesh. Please see these and make your own judgement.
2. The same thing is true about books. I shall only cite Pakistani authors, e.g., Sadiq Salik, Hasan Zaheer, Abdullah Siddiqui, Anthony Mascarneas, etc.
3. It is also important to remember that Pakistan Government expelled all foreign journalists from Dhaka on March 27, 1971. Only one reporter (Simon Drik) from the “The Guardian” of London was able to escape the expulsion and he was the first one to tell the world what he saw in Dhaka.
4. Even after almost 40 years, the Pakistan government has not yet released the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report. I ask most humbly why? What are they hiding.
I am writing this to tell young Pakistanis we ( and I in particular) want renconcilation with the people of Pakistan who were mislead and misinformed by their government at that time. Reconcilation can only take place only when we confront the truth and the perpetrator makes reparations to the victim. I am not proposing that Pakistanis accept our version of the truth, not at all. Pakistanis must make up their own minds on what is the truth and what is false after a review of the facts. Remaining uninformed cannot be useful to reconciliation.
Finally, I wish the people of Pakistan well in their time of crisis.
i read a number of books but unable to get a clear picture of the happening of 1971 but no use, history is so biased and act as a black hole to whom you can have hypothesis and assumptions but no idea what is it. i wish the culprit of this happening must got the worse as one can get no matter its a begali / paki. dont know why humans for their own sake become animal for the rest of humanity.
Kulsum,
Good try to depict a vast scenario on a little article. I am a Bangali. I have meet a lot of pakistani people and lots of them are my very good friend as well. But they dont know the true history of the war. Still they think that was the fully fault of Bangali people, Great Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujibor Rahman”s fault and the indian politics. You people do not know the truth because your politician didnt and does not let you to know the truth because of their political advantages. Well, within only 39 years we achieved a lot of things and running forward.
Thank you again.
Hashi
Stockholm, Sweden
hashi019@yahoo.com
Kulsum,
Its good to know u that there are people like u also in Pakistan who try to understand the facts and then develop some opinion.
I’m also a Bengali (Indian Bengali)(My mother’s side frm Bangladesh so i’v also heard the true stories frm ma grandma etc).
I’v a few Pakistani friends, but they dnt know what the Pakistani army had done, they dont know that West Pakistani government(leaders) i.e. Bhutto, Yahya khan etc planned out the genocide ” Operation Searchlight” really pathetic governance it was…:-(
The West-Pakistani leaders dint give governance in the hand of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman even after the clean sweep in the election.. that was the main incident which showed that pakistanis dint trust and disowned the Bangalees..
Shukhriya,
Saurav Chatterjee (Mumbai- India)
saurav2006complex@gmail.com
Hats off to you my friend….. I wanted to say more, but I can’t find any words right at this moment…..
In the name of Allah!
what so ever i ll say z not to heart any one
I ll not give any answers as i hav my own answers n u shud hav urs, that’s what I think z freedom ov thought!
i hav questions n really a lot of them!
1. Starting from the last part of ur post “Banglar Hindu, Banglar Christian, Banglar Buddhist, Banglar Muslim – We are all Bengali.” i m not a religious fanatic but still a question comes to ma mind “WAS ETHNICITY THE MAIN PROBLEM OR RELIGION in 1971” ?
2. Did Pakistan waged a WAR(as it has been portrayed at most of the places) in its eastern wing in 1971 just for embarrassing itself?
3. Has Bangladesh got its Liberation OR has deprived herself status of a nuclear power?
4. Who has benefited the most from 1971?
a. India
b. Bangladesh
c. Pakistan
5. Majority of the people who lost their lives in 1971 were Muslims OR were from any other religion?
In the end i ll quote Dr IQBAL “Nahi Samjho gay to mit jao gay”
I hope n pray that v learn from our past n make this world a better place to live! Ameen
What a way of supressing freedom movement in 1971 in east pakistan by Yahaya and Tikka khan and later by Niazi.Even Angrez had not committed so horrific crimes on common men in India before 1947.Only INQUILABI were punished by them , not women raped and children killed on such a large scale. Giving Pakistani sunni punjabi musalmans a choice to live is also a criminal.Can IMRAN KHAN THROW A LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE ?
Salam,
I am from Sylhet, Bangladesh which is located north-east part of Bangladesh. During liberation war of ’71, our home was burnt by Pakistani soldiers; many villagers were brutally torchered, killed and raped. Ofcourse it is a matter of past now, our lives move on. But we must commemorate whatever happened so that new generations learn from our mistakes, so that this kind of history does not repeat again.
During British Era, Muslims of sub-continent dreamed for a separate state for themselves, and we earned it. But because of our greed and ignorance, we destroyed that state. Also there are some other unethical issues which must be brought under scrutiny.
As a Bangladeshi MUSLIM: I believe humanity comes before everything, even before religion. First we are all human, so all citizens of a country should be treated equally, no matter if he is a Hindu, Buddha or Christian , NOT ONLY THAT, WE MUST RESPECT OTHER RELIGIONS AND ETHNICITY .
Sadly, even Bangladesh is following in Pakistan’s footsteps in unenviable ways. For instance, how many Bangladeshi youth are accurately aware of the role Indian Armed Forces played in their liberation war? There actually exists a Bangladeshi forum on the internet where postors believe that Pakistani Army was defeated by Mukti Bahini alone. Any attempt to rewrite history backfires and any attempt to disown past leads to sycophancy.
Bangladesh got a second life in 1971. I would so not like to see her citizens waste it.
Kalsoom, really liked the post — thank you so much. This is December 2011, 40 years on — the memories of the war still creeps into the blood of Bangladeshi people. These memories always bring the nation together, albeit there are political differences in our version of the history.
On another note, I am glad to see that there is a resonance in the responses from other Pakistani youngsters. These responses show that history was told by the Pakistani leaders in the way they liked, in the way that thought it would glorify what is known as a black history of Pakistan. It is high time that the youngsters of Pakistan learn the true history well (like they do now) so that they do not commit the same mistakes their past leaders did. The 1971 war was a war that was imposed by power hungry Pakistani tyrants with double objectives. The first objective was to take full control of the former East Pakistan and the second was to showcase their military strength to India (since they very much enjoyed US support in those days). Unfortunately, and also much to the credibility of the Bangladeshis and Indians, none of these were achieved.
It is not in my jurisdiction to judge Pakistan as a state today. But from what I understand from many of my Pakistani friends is that it is a country with resources in plenty (unlike many) and the nation deserves to prosper. As I said that can only happen if the nation looks forward with a retrospective perspective.
Thank you for this lovely piece. We as a people seem to have refused to listen or learn from History. Therefore today, exactly 40 years later, we seem bound to repeat it. Whether that was a bigger tragedy or this is, will again be determined by History. Too sad.
any recommendations for someone who wants to read up on the history around that war?
Thank You for the very nice post and for your very neutral judgement on what you saw in Bangladesh , it is true that we Bangladeshi still have nightmares or psychological disorders on which we experienced in 1971 ,but still now people are scared of Pakistani people ( though general Pakistani people don’t even know what happened here ) , still Bangladeshi people misunderstand Pakistani people of being arrogant or cruel (though there are very humble Muslims in Pakistan) ,, one story that I want to mention here ,, In 1971 war time Pak army raided a house where all the family members were having Asre prayer in the afternoon, suddenly when they noticed that there house was surrounded by Pak army they started cryin or screaming , specially the children and women, they enclosed themselves in a room and locked the door , but Pak army broke the door and killed the males one by one in front of the ladies who were there mother , some were their wives and some children,,, later the old mother and two of the Daughter in Laws ( other girls were raped and murdered before ) were ordered to dig graves for those dead men in the front garden and then threw the deads in the grave , and the ladies were later ordered to jump inside the grave alive were they all were burried including those two alive women, this is a true story and we know that there are many mass graves for LIVE PEOPLE or UNCONCIOUS . Not only this , some very innocent Muslim Bangladeshi boys went to serve water to a Pak army camp, where they set their camp it was a village , but the Pak army shot some bullets in return of their hospitality!!!!
I know the young Pakistani do not know what happened in Bangladesh at that time , but , these poor mothers , or fathers ( most of them are dead till now ), brothers , sisters cannot forget the horror or terror that chase them till now ,
If the war took place for a discrepancy between these two muslim nations then why Pakistani do not follow our beloved Prophet Muhammed (SAW) , and come to Bangladesh only to pacify these unsatisfied and sad souls ? Because Islam does not believe in discrepancy among human . You will be surprised to know that when some Bangladeshi were sheltered in India (about one crore Bangladeshi people ) , the Hindu people welcomed those Muslims as guests and gave them shelter in their Hindu Temple where they had there Idols , in their prayer room , we were surprised to see that my Muslim brother being so cruel to me and chased only for some worldly matters and how our Hindu neighbours saved us from those Muslim brother”s cruelty, and didn’t think about their Temple being UNSACRED by Muslim footstep .
We r not proud or boast for a war that we won , but it was sad and all the war in the world are devastating and destroy a family forever.
I feel that it is embarrassing for me when people ask me about our Muslim brothers to be so cruel to us and say that we Muslim are quarrelsome nation or we love Fasad or Jhagra all the time , they indicate to Pakistan, but I feel if Pak politicians become friendly to us now and say some words only to pacify those martyred families and express sorrow , I think Allah will also be happy on them.