AMOR EKUSHEY / Ekushey Amader Porichoy
Though the 'language movement' of 1948-52 began as a demand for Bangla instead of Urdu as a State language of Pakistan ( Bangla was, by the way, considered the provincial Stae language of East Pakistan from the beginning), many people believe now, in retrospect, it was a foil for a huge regret --a regret for the creation of Pakistan. A large but late relization dawned on the conscience of Bengali Muslims that they should not have taken part in the break-up of India on the basis of religion alone.
Looking back, remembering the excitement and panic in my family with three of my uncles imprisoned in Dhaka Central Jail in February 1952 for taking part in the 'movement', I see it as a movement for an idealism that cried for a secular state. Our identity -- our 'porichoy' is through our language and culture. Our religions are parts of our culture, not separate entities outside it.
The whole idea of a 'State language' was and still is a mid-20th century hoax -- an imported idea from Europe thrown in the midst of India as a golden apple of Strife -- yet another colonial trick to keep the former colonies forever fighting amongst themselves. [Please read that excellent book, Language and Politics in Pakistan by Tarique Rahman, who traces the history of the British imperialist efforts to communalize the Indian languages]. I am so glad that the day is being commemorated today as the International Mother Language Day
The idea of a 'State religion' is even more foreign, imported from Fascist Europe, and utterly against the grain of our national character, tradition and history. We must do everything in our power to resist this attempt to turn Bangladesh into a Fascist country under a totalitarian regime of Wahhabi Islam. Say NO to STATE RELIGION! What a pathetic sleight-of-hand trickery is this question -- If State language why not state religion?
Farida Majid
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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
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MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
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German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
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Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
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