Religion is superficially binding. The real cohesive force is the language. Devout Muslims may not permit the marriage of their children to other religious groups, but they would not be able to prevent it. Last night, for example, a reception was held for a couple of Muslim wife and Sikh husband. The marriage occurred in London, and none had to be converted.
It would take many more years, at least another century, when the fear and hatred will disappear between communities. Today's generation, a large number of whom were affected by the partition, will have their doubts. But a small begining has been made. It is no denying that the bengali culture is predominantly hindu culture. There is no point in blaming Tagore for not doing anything for the muslims. Muslims, in his days, were downtrodden and he probably never felt his country would be divided along the religious lines.
Whatever the history is, some people in bangladesh have made a small begining. They are trying hard to establish that religion cannot be the basis of nationalism, a fact Maulana Azad had said million times before. Bangladeshi dramas reflect this change of attitude. A drama in ATN BANGLA,JALKONA, is a point. A muslim girl falls in love with a hindu man, looks after his daughter when her hindu mother dies. In Bangladesh,it was always hindu girls kidnapped by muslims. This fear was so much prevalent fifty years ago, and even today, that hindu parents send their daughters to India as soon as they get a chance.
There is a change in the air,and we welcome it.
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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration:
Call For Articles:
http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68
http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585
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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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