Letter

The meaning of Shahbag
Shahbag Movement in Dhaka has got far-reaching implications for the subcontinent (South Asia). It has brought back the spirit of the Language Movement of Feb-21, 1952—a patriotic, nationalist and secular spirit. It should not be confined to the urban population; it needs to be propagated to the common people of rural Bangladesh. People need mental education; this spirit will bring about the progressive, secular transformation of their heart and mind.

It is not against any religion. Religion is a personal matter to be practised at home. It has no role to play in public life.

A nation is known by its language, tradition, culture and history and not by any religion whatsoever.

Educated, uneducated, unlettered, illiterate—all think and dream in their mother tongue.

United Bengal was the cradle of Indian Renaissance in the nineteenth century. All Bengali minds irrespective of race, religion and caste are modulated by the spirit of that renaissance overtly or covertly wherever they are on this planet.

The spirit of the Shahbag Movement needs to be taken to the people at the grassroots level all over Bangladesh. The rural people, people in urban areas should be made aware of the spirit, convinced about its necessity and urgency and the right mental-makeup or mindset need to be generated among them. This process will isolate and marginalise the Pro-Pakistani fundamentalist crooks and cracks—the Jamat-Islami from the people at large. Government banning of Jamats is not wise and practical; it would be counter productive. The crooks will go underground and with Pakistani support and petro dollars will initiate terroristic activities.

Sisir K Majumdar, London

Frontier
Vol. 45, No. 40, Apr 14- -20, 2013

Your Comment if any