STOP BASHING B'DESH & B'DESHIS NOW: MY RESPONSE TO SUKHAMAYA BAIN
mwz...@aol.com
BANGLADESHIS
M. Waheeduzzaman
It seems to me that it is time to respond to Dr. Sukhamaya Bain's non-stop
propaganda against Bangladesh and Bangladeshis. It is apparent that Dr. Bain
has developed some kind of phobia about Bangladesh, notwithstanding his
constant allergy about Muslim identity. He has been telling the world that
Bangladesh is a land of Islamic fundamentalists where Hindu minorities are
systematically oppressed and suppressed. In his jaundiced eyes, Hindu
fundamentalist BJP party is better than Islamic fundamentalist party
(Jamaat-e-Islam) of Bangladesh. For Bain it is o.k. to equate BJP of India
with BNP of Bangladesh. According to Bainian analysis, Indian Muslims are
better off in India than Hindu population in Bangladesh. (reference: SuBain’s
“Across the Bengali Divide” in Soc.Culture.Bangladesh—SCB, Feb 28, 1999)
According to Sukhamaya Babu, most Bangladeshi secularists are “pseudo-
secularists” who are not good enough to meet his fanatically ascertained
standard of secularism. Let me quote Dr. Bain what he wrote in response to
one of my posts in SCB (March 19, 1999): “…. I would suggest to him that no
matter how many pseudo-secularists want to portray Bangladesh as secular now,
the fact of the matter is that the intelligentsia of Bangladesh on an average
is yet to learn what secularism is. Note that I do know that there are
secular Muslims in Bangladesh, but their number is too small so far.” Most
of Bain Babu’s NFB postings (latest one on March 22) are also full of
demeaning falsehoods and unverified allegations about Bangladesh and
Bangladeshis.
I think that Dr. Sukhamaya Bain has every right to hold and express his own
opinions any way he sees fit. Unfortunately, it seems to me that Dr. Bain has
lost "his" patience in refuting or countering the arguments or observations
of many writers. Yet, I don't wholly understand why Bain should have the
"patience" to launch personal attack on many Bangladeshis with whom he might
have disagreement. Like Jai Maharaj Sunil Sethi, NanaFadnavis, Mo, Hulagokhan
and their Indian fanatic cohorts who have recently littered SCBs with their
deliberate lies and fabrications about Bangladeshis and Bangladesh, Dr.
Sukhamaya Bain loves to style or project himself as a BJP “fanatic”. That’s
his choice. However, his arrogance surprises me. His patronizing comments and
insulting characterizations about Bangladesh and Bangladeshis have often been
squarely refuted by many readers of News From Bangladesh. Yet, Bain has
shamelessly continued to expose his own hidden agenda through spreading
blatant falsehoods and distortions about Bangladesh and Bangladeshis. He even
started doubting our sense of sensitivity! I don't think that Bangladeshis
are willing to accept Dr. Bain's politically motivated propaganda and
insulting sermons.
I am not willing to accept his narrow definition or interpretation of the
concept of secularism. In this commentary, I am not in a position to cut
through the layers of truths , half-truths, lies, fabrications, undocumented
facts and sensation-seeking exclusives pertaining to the divide and fault
lines between West Bengal and Bangladesh. Suffice it to point out that there
are many secularists on both sides of Bengal. Some of them also contribute to
NFB or SCBs. I am aware of some of those genuinely concerned individuals who
cherish to foster better friendship and enduring interactions between and
among the people of Bangladesh and West Bengal. I am deeply convinced that
Dr. Bain is not one of those secularists. An orthodox religionist or a
fundamentalist like Dr. Bain tries to excel through dissemination of
mis-information and distortions about Bangladesh and Bangladeshis. Such
anti-Bangladesh campaign has been launched at a time when the Hindu
Fundamentalist BJP Government of India is trying to pursue India's national
"interests" through "goading" and manipulating Sheikh Hasina's Awami League
Government, the most secularist Government in Bangladesh since the brutal
murder of the founding Father of the Nation.
Although my intent in this write-up is not speak to for or on behalf any
particular author, I would most respectfully point out that Dr. M.
Rashiduzzaman is the target of Bain’s latest vicious attack. This time
Rashiduzzaman’s “Calcutta Book Fair and West Bengali Intellectual Elite”
(published in Daily Star on March 16 & in NFB on March 17) is the source of
Bain’s discontent. According to Bainian view, Rashiduzzaman’s article is
nothing but “rubbish” or “crap.” (ref: Bain’s NFB letter dated March 19 and
his multiple posts titled “Rashiduzzaman’s Rubbish” in SCB March 18 and 19).
Paradoxically, Dr. Bain seems to be very upset with the writer of this
“rubbish” article! He also seems to have lost his cool with the Daily Star
and NFB for publishing Dr. Rashiduzzaman’s “crap.” Doubtless, Dr. M.
Rashiduzzaman has decided to spell out his observations in many of his
write-ups. That’s his prerogative. Although any reader reserves the right to
critically evaluate the contents of any published material, neither Dr.
Rashiduzzaman nor any other author for that matter should need or seek
validation from Dr. Bain.
However, I don’t think that Dr. Rashiduzzaman or anny other writer can claim
to have cast his or her observations and conclusions in concrete. No
objective observer of Bangladesh politics can claim to have said the “one
best” or “final” word about the relationship between West Bengal and
Bangladesh. The very sensitive nature of the topic invariably leaves a wide
scope for debate and differences of opinions. Instead of throwing up in
public and then chewing up his own “rubbish,” the self-proclaimed
“secularist" Dr. Sukhamaya Bain should try to refute the observations,
generalizations and conclusions of the author. If Dr. Rashiduzzaman’s
observations are credible, there are plenty of readers to read this article
both inside and outside of Bangladesh. If the article is "rubbish" or
"nonsense," Bain Babu should not have to worry about its dissemination.
After all, nobody cares to read rubbish or non-sense! Bain Babu is on the
record in one of his NFB write-ups of last year that he does not read
Rashiduzzaman’s articles. Who told Dr. Bain to pick up the rubbish? Who told
Bain to agree with Rashiduzzaman's "non-sensical" contentions? Should Dr.
Bain decide to have disagreement with the conclusions of the said article,
Bain can come up with his own observations and conclusions. Yes, I am willing
to read Bain Babu's response with open mind.
There is no reason whatsoever to loose mind over NEWS FROM BANGLADESH (NFB).
I think NFB should be treated as an open forum for facilitating free and fair
discussion. It should not be employed or projected as a mouthpiece of any
party or one particular set of beliefs and ideologies. If NFB can print
Bain's personal and defamatory insults and polluted “garbage," there is no
reason why NFB should not post articles or letters from other authors. I
think that NFB has thus far published excellent articles even though I may
not be in total agreement with many of the authors' conclusions or
characterizations. Soumitra Bose’s “Bangla: A Culture Unified from Time
Immemorial” part one and two (NFB,March 5 and 7) is an example of excellent
and credible article on the issue. Bose's is the way to foster better
understanding of the inherent ingrirdients underlying Bangla culture. I think
Soumitra Bose's article desrves to be published in one of the newspapers of
Bangladesh. On February 24, NFB has also published Dr. A.H. Jaffor Ullah’s
commentary on the Calcutta Book Fair titled “A Tempest in the Teapot.” Jamal
Hasan’s “Naunces of Cultural Composite--” is a commentary (NFB, March 19) on
the issue. I have posted each of these articles in Soc.Culture.Bangladesh and
Soc.Culture.Bengali for wider dissemination even though my personal opinions
might have been at variance with some of the contentions or conclusions of
these write-ups. To my mind, such dissemination demonstrate that even the
politically loaded topics can be meaningfully debated and discussed without
any fear of intimidation or blackmail. Instead of disseminating name-calling
through NFB or SCBs or through proxies in the Daily Star, let us hope that
Bain Babu and his cohorts can come up with their own observations or
conclusions on Calcutta Book Fair.
It seems that Dr. S. Bain has also lost his "patience" with the Daily Star
for publishing Dr. Rashiduzzaman's article on "Calcutta Book-Fair." To the
best of my knowledge, the Daily Star has added professional excellence and
integrity to Bangladesh's journalism world. Instead of dismissing
Rashiduzzaman's comments as "rubbish", Bain Babu might serve his cause better
if he explores other respectable and credible options for invalidating the
contention of the author.
Apparently, Bain Babu is not at all interested in refuting and challenging
Dr. Rashiduzzaman’s contentions. Rather, he has preferred to use his proxy
through Dr. A.H. Jaffor Ullah -— well-known Rashiduzzaman-basher to post a
personal attack on the pages of the Daily Star of March 21, 1999. I should
clearly note that any one including Jaffor Ullah has every right to agreee or
disagree with anyone's views, perceptions and beliefs. That's not the issue.
I think Jaffor Ullah should have written a strong rebuttal in response to
Rashiduzzaman's article on Calcutta Book Fair. Instead of doing that he has
once again launched a "hate campaign" against the the author. Dr. Jaffor
Ullah’s opinions are full of blatant lies and innuendoes which have no
relevance or bearing on Dr. Rashiduzzaman’s article on “Calcutta Book Fair
and West Bengali Intellectual Elite.” No personal vlification can or should
substitute for writing a strongly worded rebuttal on the CONTENTS of the
article. The principal intent of Jaffor Ullah's disjointed letter to the
Daily Star was to scare both the writer and the Daily Star. Shame on you,
Jaffor Ullah. Shame on you,Jaffor Ullah. You have done it again! Jaffor
Ullah’s professed motto is this : IF YOU MISERABLY FAIL TO CHALLENGE OR
REFUTE THE MESSAGE, GO AND STRONGLY ATTACK THE MESSANGER.
However, Jaffor Ulla's latest personal attack on Dr. Rashiduzzaman
demonstrates only his moral and intellectual bankruptcy. Instead of
specializing in the process of hate-mongering, vilifying and name-calling,
both Jaffor Ullah and Sukhamaya Bains should master the science and art of
ANALYZING, REVIWING, NULLIFYING, DISPROVING AND COUNTERING the posited facts,
contentions, assumptions, propositions, observations and conclusions of an
article. Apparently, they are not interested at least at this time of their
lives in an open and fair debate on the issue of furthering better
relationship between Bangladesh and West Bengal.
It needs to be pointed out that Dr. Rashiduzzaman's March 16 write-up was not
the first Daily Star article on the Calcutta Book-Fair. The Daily Star has
thus far published several articles pertaining to mistreatment of
Bangladeshi delegates to the Calcutta Book Fair. For example, Farooq
Choudhury’s “1999 Calcutta Book Fair: Frankly Speaking” was published in the
Daily Star of February 8, 1999 in which he was very bluntly critical about
the Book Fair. It seems that Bain Babu was not excited about the contents of
this article. It was February 23, 1999 when the Daily Star had published Mr.
Abdul Hannan’s article titled “O Calcutta! Pangs of Unrequited Love.” (I had
posted this article in SCBs on February 23 which actually generated further
discussion through various posts on this topic). Mr. Abdul Hannan’s article
was quite provocative in tone and tenor. Yet, Sukhamaya Babu did not get
impatient with Mr. Hannan’s article. He needed Rashiduzzaman’s article to
get started on hate-campaign after it was published in the Daily Star (March
16) and NFB (March 17). It is indeed a double standard to single out Dr.
Rashiduzzaman for making credible assessment of the Calcutta Book Fair.
The Daily Star was not the “only” newspaper in Bangladesh which had carried
critical news items, letters, editorials and features on the recently
concluded "Calcutta Book-Fair." There is no doubt that many fundamentalist
elements in Bangladesh might have used the sad experiences at the Book Fair
to further their deliberate anti-Indian propaganda and anti-Awami-League
slogans. The Jamaat for sure wanted to capitalize on the stories. Both BNP
and Ershad's JP have magnified the issue. Yet, it is preposterous to
characterize or dismiss "ALL" critics of "Calcutta Book Fair" fiasco as
JAMATIS or RIGHTISTS or FUNDAMENTALISTS of Bangladesh. The condemnation of
the humiliating experience at the Calcutta Book Fair was widespread in
Bangladesh. The most seething criticisms came from some of the most
articulate secularists which can hardly be dismissed simply as “a tempest in
the teapot” by any citizen of Bangladesh with self-respect. Both poet Shamsur
Rahman and Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui had openly criticized the
organizers of the Calcutta Book Fair.
Lest it be thought that I am “overstating” the nature of the reaction of the
critics of Book fair. Let me quote some excerpts from Abdul Hannan’s “Oh
Calcutta! Pangs of Unrequited Love” (reference: The Daily Star, Feb. 23, 1999)
in support of my own generalizations:
"As manifest by the proliferating newspaper reports, post editorials and
published comments here by columnists and delegate members returning home
after attending the Calcutta Book Fair, there is angry reaction, widespread
frustration and deep disenchantment over seemingly cool and shabby treatment
the delegation received during their visit. The Chronicle of protest
denunciations over their bruised pride are: [I] The visit of the 81-member
strong official delegation headed by Prime Minister Hasina and comprising the
Foreign Minister, Education Minister, the Cultural Affairs Minister, the
Political Adviser to the Prime Minister, the Chief Whip, some MPs and eminent
Scholars, Writers, Poets, Artists and Journalists was handled in a slipshod
manner; [2] the authorities of West Bengal made a short shrift of protocol
formalities normally available during such a visit by a Head of the
Government of a foreign country; [3] she (Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister
of Bangladesh) was received on arrival at Calcutta by none representing the
Indian Government in Delhi; [4] the inauguration ceremony of the (Book) Fair
attended by Prime Minister Hasina as the Chief Guest and Chief Minister (of
Weast Bengal) Jyoti Basu was held in a very ordinary, pedestrian and
lackluster stage not befitting the grandeur of the occasion marked by the
presence of the Prime Minister of a foreign country.” [numbering and emphasis
of the items are mine].
In his “Oh Calcutta! Pangs of Unrequited Love”, Abdul Hannan also noted: “The
publishers and booksellers guild, the organizers of the fair, were rank
impolite when they repeatedly addressed Prime Minister Hasina as the chief
Minister Begum Hasina Wazed. Even Ananda Bazar Patrika was bitterly critical
of this glaring lapse and indiscretion. After Prime Minister Hasina had
finished her speech as the Chief Guest of the fair, the organizers requested
the Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad to Speak.” [According to one observer,
sudden request to speak caught the foreign minister off guard]. According to
Abdul Hannan, “poet Shamsur Rahman was requested to inaugurate the fair after
foreign minister’s brief speech was over. These were in clear breach of the
standard protocol; it was a left-handed complement to poet Shamsur Rahman
when he was asked to inaugurate the fair after the designated guest Nobel
Laureate Jose Saramago of Portugal failed to turn up at the last hour to
inaugurate the fair.” Abdul Hannan also made observations on the apathy of
the West Bengali intellectuals about the visiting Bangladeshi scholars in
following words: “The organizers of the (Calcutta Book) fair made a mockery
of Bangladesh as the focal theme of the Book Fair this year as no writers,
poets and intellectuals from West Bengal were present to hear Bangladesh
scholars speak at the discussions and seminar on Bangladesh culture on the
designated Bangladesh day on January 30; the cultural elite of West Bengal
was conspicuous by their absence at the reception held at the Bangladesh
Deputy High Commission in honour of Bangladesh delegation members; 26 book
Stalls of Bangladesh publishers were squeezed in an obscure and inaccessible
corner of the fair Pavilion.” (Reference: Abdul Hannan, “Oh Calcutta! Pangs
of Unrequited Love,” the Daily Star, February 23, 1999).
Instead of vilifying or branding or humiliating the genuine critics of 1999
Calcutta Book Fair, our efforts should be geared toward encouraging
pro-active and open line of communication between people of West Bengal and
Bangladesh. It is better to understand the nature of the hurt. In lieu of
sermonizing Bangladeshis to become more secularists, the detractors should
learn more about Bangladesh's track record of secularist heritage and our
long struggle for freedom from religious bigotry. Instead of patronizing and
mis-characterizing each other, let us remain engaged in furthering the cause
of genuine friendship and vibrant interactions between and among all
Bangalees.
With the deepest personal regards from Tennessee, USA. Sincerely, M.
Waheeduzzaman (Mwz...@aol.com).
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