Tagore, Nationalism, Patriotism and Culture.
Mohammad Gani
My recent write up "Bangladesh National Anthem, its Vision at Origin" has invited many interesting, meaningful and heavyweight comments from our distinguished "Bengali contributors". Some of our writers have come up with their articulate and delicately designed political statement to convince our readers of their logical lies and/or logical truth if not fictional tales.
My motive was not intended to generate any fog on Tagore's national and international reputation though visible derailment from Bangladesh national anthem to several other issues of conflicts between West Bengal and Bangladesh has surfaced. If Bangladesh national Anthem were written by Kazi Nazrul Islam or Kabi Shamsur Rahman; and was written for only specific purposes and vision other than "Bangladesh nation anthem", I would have come up with the same view as I have for Tagore's "Amar Sonar Bangla".
I was modestly critical of only the appropriateness of this song, not its writer Tagore himself. I also believe, along with a host of others, this song was written to rekindle the unified spirit of Bengal though it is said that the music of this song was inspired by the Baul singer Gagan Harkar's song "Kothay Pabo Tare". Tagore and Kazi Nazrul obviously are "Bengali poets" of Indian sub-Continent and not poets of West Bengal by any means.
In my following write up as "Rabindranath Tagore; A non-contemporary politician", I have highlighted a "general picture" on his political, patriotic, communal and cultural views. I think if Einstein was a politician, then Tagore was also a politician indeed which is certainly an interesting open discussion to explore.
Among all those carefully worded follow ups on Tagore, Nationality, Patriotism and Bengali culture from some of our self proclaimed researchers, atheist and beyond ordinary contributors, I have discovered their attractive logical lies and also political statements on Tagore's life as well as on Bengali culture.
Colors of Nationalism and Patriotism as logical lies: There is no moral basis in drawing boundaries and dividing the world and its people into countries and calling one of them of our own. It happened due to various social, economic and religious reasons over long period of time. Someone is accidentally or coincidentally born in a country and he is supposed to like, love and accept everything about it is known as patriotism! However, one never chooses to be born in a particular country but is supposed to feel proud and great about it irrespective of its past deeds or present stance or future intentions.
There is nothing noble about patriotism. It only helps countries to exist and survive. But there is no absolute morality behind existence of countries or the love for our own country. An individual may choose to love his country and feel proud of it, but that does not make a person who chooses not to, a traitor or a person of lower moral standing. A person has the moral right to refuse to recognize the existence of a country, its laws and its citizen's rights of ownership. One must have the strength and courage to do so and still survive in this world.
Logical truth, nationalism, patriotism and culture: Precious nationality of mother Theresa can not be defined (born in the city of Skopje, Macedonia) and citizens of Macedonia could call her a traitor for abandoning (?) her own nationality, thus having no "true patriotism" for her homeland in a true sense. She maintained no specific traditional culture and only embraced the culture of universal humanity. So, may we say that nationality and especially patriotism were indeed unimportant (useless!) to her? Did Tagore put and embrace humanity over traditional patriotism and traditional Indian culture? I have some difficulty to see Tagore, Banmkim and Sarat Chandra spinning around the same axis and have no difficulty to say that Tagore's opposition on establishing Dacca University was certainly a big political mistake.
Irrespective of some isolated incidents among Hindu, Muslims, Buddhist, Christians, Sikhs and all other races, the people in Indian sub-Continent have been living with love, respects and happiness for thousands of years until (from time to time) a few "politically ambitious religious fanatics" come up with a sword of racism and declare all out war by inciting "easy to sell quality" racial and religious hatred; only to achieve their own political mission of gaining control of nation's administrative power.
These "resources of hatred" are conspired, intelligently designed with the wicked wisdom to work as an effective political tool by this belligerent group of hatred from all religious groups. They find political power above all the humanity and are always alert for their prey as and when they find it appropriate to apply. We also have some individual-level intelligent, well-educated fanatics who instead of delivering positive messages, never stop digging dip to keep this "racism" tastefully active and alive for years and thus kept working for superior humanity!
I do not outright dismiss racism in religious groups in India and in Bangladesh, but those visible incidents are statistically far less than those we see in other countries of today's modern civilized world. Interestingly, sometimes it becomes almost impossible to recognize their true nature and identity whether they belong to or maintain clandestine ties with any political parties too.
A Bangladeshi agency namely Hindu, Buddha,Christian, Oikka Parishad (HBCOP) in NY is a brilliant example of its kind who have been spreading hatred, magnifying issues against people of Bangladesh and creating stonewalls between majority population and their politically designed "minority". If someone takes a close look on their activities, he will find no difficulty to discover that they are simply a political wing, like student wing of a leading political party of Bangladesh.
Should once their mission accomplished (of grabbing the administrative power of Bangladesh), you will find them taking several years vacation! I have not yet come across any such organization of "Muslim, Buddha, Sikh, and Christian Oikka Parishad" to protect the rights of "minorities in India"! Is it something that India has no such problem?
Cultural difference: Ordinary citizens in West Bengal and Bangladesh took a big bite out of their cultural difference based on religious belief many years ago and always feel free to live together peacefully for so many years. This identical Bengali Culture may have some differences as polarized at home cultures and those are mostly ceremonial; like (religious festivals) Eid, Puja, Buddha Purnima, Christmas etc and inter-religious marriage. Do we see the same cultural common grounds between West Bengal and Orissa or Punjab?
Finally, I see prospect of a "United Bengal" is very remote in a foreseeable future regardless of anyone likes it or does not. Current regional separation of two Bengal is the process and consequence of series of historical events. However, if a 3rd world war begins and spread covering entire Indo- china subcontinent, will certainly expedite the prospect of a "United Bengal"! But I prefer not welcome a "United Bengal" at the overall total cost of a 3rd world war!
http://bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate...000000000104479
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