Some reflections
As victory day approaches I cannot but think of our great national days like Shaheed Dibash (February 21), and Independence Day (March 26), too. It may be shocking to many that I no longer see any meaning and purpose behind celebrating any of these glorious days in the life of our nation, only for the sake going through the motions of celebration. These anniversary days have simply turned into days of sadness and mourning for me, rather than of celebration and rejoicing. For me, who lost one of his illustrious brothers two days before the birth of Bangladesh, these celebrations for celebration's sack carry no real meaning. We have systematically trampled over and murdered all that December 16, 197, stood for. We have, in all these 35 years of our independence, continuously flouted the founding principles on which we fought and gained our independence.
Come February 21; it has simply turned into a series of songs which, however, begins with Amar Bhayer Rakte Rangano etc, where people, young and the old, donned in their best of Bangladeshi "lebas" march towards the Shaheed Minar to lay floral wreaths in memory of the martyrs of the day. The same ritual is followed year after year. A book fair is held in the premises of the Bangla Academy, the centre of excellence in the development of Bangla language and Bangla literature which, with the passing of each year becomes less and less functional, constrained by lack of resources and support from the government.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. They say that Ekushey symbolises the very core spirit behind our war of liberation and independence. Be that as it may, I ask myself as to what we have done to honour or preserve that glorious heritage? Very little indeed. On the other hand, instead of upholding that spirit we have simply turned it into yet another day of merrymaking and family picnicking. The way things are proceeding, in the coming 25 years or so, there will be fewer and fewer people who would be interested in the study and advancement of Bangla literature and culture. Like all the other national days, February 21 has also become highly politicalised. It has become one of the most important tools of the trade in the hands of both the administration and the opposition alike. What is the point in recalling the sacrifices made by those martyrs when we neither follow their spirit nor translate it into action for the peace and progress of the country?
Why do we celebrate the Independence Day? Are we really independent? Are we not progressively suffering more and more under the burden of poverty, except for the selected few? Are we not reeling under the vicious cycle of religious extremism and acts of terror? Are we not being steamrolled under the curse of rising cost of daily living? Politics and political activism in the educational institutions have become more and more acute since we gained independence.
The government will have illuminations and lights burning bright in public buildings and street corners all over the capital city, just like any other year, in the name of celebrating Independence Day. Can anyone tell me as to what the celebrations can mean when people are crying for water, and electricity in their homes because their children are unable to study and prepare themselves for their examinations, and when the various industrial units are out of operation due to inadequate power supply?
Maybe we should celebrate, since a group of powerful representatives of the west have twisted the arms of both our major political parties and the government into submission, to start the process of dialoguing and do all that is necessary in order to hold "proper" national elections. Are we to celebrate since we can no longer manage our own affairs? Are we to celebrate because our judiciary is far from being independent? Are we to celebrate since the office of the Election Commission is far from being free?
Oh yes, the Victory Day celebrations. Apparently the day relates to our victory over the Pakistan occupation forces. We had been able to drive them out of our sacred soil some 35 years ago, yet there is no denying the fact that their ghosts still stalk our sacred homeland under tacit support of some of our politicians and parties. The evil forces we thought we had driven away often seem to have returned with a vengeance.
The problem with us is that we, as a nation, are incapable of any form of collective thinking. We see, but can neither observe nor contemplate. We are fiercely selfish. We can neither say thank you, nor do we know how to be grateful.