Pabitra Kumar Ghosh----THE BENGALI MOTHERLAND
BangaLakshmi AntarJaal
T H E B E N G A L I M O T H E R L A N D
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Translated from the Bengali newspaper 'Bartaman'.
by Pabitra Kumar Ghosh
The National Puja Association of Bangladesh ('Puja Udjapan Parishad')
protested against the extreme level of torture and persecution faced
by the Hindu minority in that country. The persecution reached
another
climax in 1993. The organization took the decision that there would
be no Durga Pratima or deity in any of the Durga Puja Mandaps in
Bangladesh. There would be puja but only 'Ghat Puja'. There would be
no Dhak (puja drums). There would be no festive lighting.
This conclusion was not reached haphazardly. Since 1947, the Dhaka
government and the ruling elite did not hesitate to convey that the
nation belongs only to the Muslims and the Hindus are not welcome.
This attitude forced millions of Hindus to flee East Bengal (now
Bangladesh). This vicious display and continuous propagation of this
attitude have caused the Hindus to suffer from severe inferiority
complex and fear. But,
the majority of Hindu East Bengali refugees and their descendants on
this side of the Padma (i.e. in West Bengal, Assam, etc) have not
forgotten that the nation with the Rupsha Meghna Dhaleshwari rivers
(i.e. East
Bengal, now Bangladesh) is their Homeland. Even after 50 years of
continuous societal and mental persecution. Their feelings for their
motherland remain inextinguishable.
Therein lies the tragedy. The Bangladesh Government estimates its
present Hindu population as 15 million. NGOs place the figure at above
20 million.
Comparatively, Palestine has only a few hundred thousand residents,
mostly Muslims. But there have been major international movements in
support of the Palestinians' human rights. There has been conferences,
wars, treaties, terrorist activities, etc. to restore their lost
rights and liberties. But not even a tear has fallen for the 20
million Hindus
in Bangladesh.
It is known with certainty that Islam is a newcomer to East Bengal.
The Muslim community there is only a few hundred years old. Hindus
are there since ancient times. In Bengal Hinduism has been respected
as the
Eternal Religion since time immemorial.
The rulers of West Bengal are very well aware of this harsh cruel
reality, but they don't let anyone know about the gory events in
Bangladesh. The grievances and persecutions of the Bangladeshi Hindu
community do
not have a place in the West Bengal media.
Therefore, today the Bengali Mother is weeping all by herself.
Whenever even a minor persecution occurs in any far-flung nation in
the world, the 'brave' intellectuals of West Bengal generate mass
protests.
But if a Hindu from Dhaka or Bhola suffers severe persecution, the
'Progressive Patrons' of Calcutta stay silent on the subject. This
heartless cruel hypocrisy is unmatched anywhere.
Shilpi Rani Mondol
shilpi...@yahoo.com
Editorial Staff, Mayer Dak (WWW.MAYERDAK.COM)