Our victory against the oppression

Sultana Firdousi :
In the months following that of December 1971, the soil of our land had an indelible smell. So putrid and pungent, it clung to our skins and permeated our souls. Mass graveyards outnumbered houses and shops, and bony, orphaned children populated the streets. Women left ruined according to society, and men with hardly any limbs intact, tried to dust off the rubble and rebuild their lives. But the stench of rotting flesh and frankincense had seeped in too deep. And to reverse the brunt of such heinous violence and trauma, would take years to come.
Bangladesh is a country of many precedents. What sets it apart from other nations similar in oppression, is its people. So full of grit and tenacity, that at the face of injustice and corruption, they refused to cower and endure for long. In 1952, when mere college students protested against their language being snatched from them, the bloodbath of 21st February ensued. But it had ignited a spark, and soon after, the flames grew. With courage pumping in their blood and lungs filled with devotion, the forefathers of our land didn’t hesitate to dive head first into a bloody revolution, ready to be martyred for the freedom of their kin.
For the meager East Pakistan, who had hardly enough to eat, let alone afford proper weaponry or a stable militia, the only option was hidden guerilla warfare. In a short span of 9 months, justice was served and history welcomed a new country into its books. Bangladesh, a nation forged in blood and born from the ashes of its people, was a benediction to all those who had suffered and dreamed to be free on their own soil.
This year we mark the 51st anniversary of our independence from Pakistan, on the esteemed 16th of December. Victory day serves as a reminder of not only our loss and despair, but also the valor and vision of our ancestors. Yet as we enter a new era of democracy and patriotism, the youth seem to grow further away from their bloodied past.
As our historical dates get smothered by fanfare and the glorification of reputed figures, the true heritage of our land, the stories of the common people in the war, never see the light. The leaders of the war undoubtedly had an essential role in our victory, but the burn of conflict was truly felt by the common folk. The collateral damage is often swept under the rug, and their smaller roles that accumulated for a big shift in our Liberation War are left unappreciated.
As the new generation is now in charge of our country’s future, if they fail to retain their identity, their heritage and their true history, then who will? Therefore I implore you, our youth, to enlighten yourselves, of the unspoken horrors that once shrouded our land in darkness. I ask you to be curious of your history, so that you can truly empathize and feel sincere reverence for our people, who fought for the rights we now freely enjoy, rather than superficial respect. By carrying their essence within us, only then can we become passionate, dutiful and model citizens of our country. You are its future, and so you must be aware of its past.

(The writer is a Bangladeshi
expatriate and poet).