16th December 1971: From East Pakistan to Bangladesh

[Al-zakir]

But please don't talk about Pakistan's loss in 1971, we are content with what happened, it would have happened anyway, & I wouldn't wish it any other way (except the scenario in which Bangladesh was never a part of Pakistan in the first place). It was a good thing for Pakistan that it got separated from Bangladesh. While 1971 was demoralizing, it was essential for Pakistan in the long run.

If it was good thing and if East Pakistan wasn't important to united Pakistan then what made west Pakistan based military to go into action against separatist groups. Why didn't they just allow East Pakistan go it's way without blood shed. We could have saved many lives(East and West) and humiliation.

However, I agree that considering the geography and some cultural difference, united Pakistan would not last for long. It would have been better if we could have formed federation after 47. I just don't know what was in the brain of the leadership back then.

 

[Al-zakir]

ah yah! as a believer of Khilafah, 1971 is a severe blow to me!!

And you people lost Valuable GDP. if East and West were united, by now Pakistan would have an Aircraft carrier already! East Pakistan is developing rapidly and your tone will be changed when it will become one of 25 largest economies to support a huge military!

You have a valid point. If we could have set our differences aside(both side), worked thing out then united Pakistan would have been one of the strongest among Muslim nations. We would have freed Kashmir and other muslim brothers trap in Indian. After the bloody separation, we shown middle finger to chances of khilafat and Ummah. Lanat on us.

 

[Syed Naved]

xactly bilal,i agree with al zakir.yes there might be some kinds of difference but also true is this Eastern Wing Not Only Create Pakistan But Also Create Muslim League.On 65 Due To Our Bravery Indian Army Have To Retreat.So We Were Always Important,Moreover We Were The Majority People,Which Mean We're The Main People As We Were The Majority.Federation System Would be the perfect system,because even in india many dont know hindi .culture are differents on every part of india.so if on that time we solve everything with patience ,pakistan would never be brooked.

 

[Syed Naved]

You have a valid point. If we could have set our differences aside(both side), worked thing out then united Pakistan would have been one of the strongest among Muslim nations. We would have freed Kashmir and other muslim brothers trap in Indian. After the bloody separation, we shown middle finger to chances of khilafat and Ummah. Lanat on us.

True.Quaid,Sher E Bengal Both Want United Pakistan.And We're Muslim,We're All From Undevided India.Means Same People & 4m Same Country,So When We Know Everything ,Why Can't we set our differences aside ...

 

[punisher]

Trust me, it was in Pakistan's interests to be separated from Bangladesh. There was only a traumatic effect on the people, but on the whole, it was a good thing for Pakistan. By the way, my father was raised in Bangladesh, & he did his schooling in Chittagong & Dhaka, & is fluent in Bangla. I had a lot of my family there as well before 1971. It was a sad chapter in Pakistan's history, but it's done & over with, & there's no point in thinking about it. In fact, Pakistan has managed to form reasonably warm relations with Bangladesh (something India hasn't been able to do with Pakistan since 1947) & has moved on, it is a certain section of Bangladesh (AL) that wants to exploit the sentiments of the Bangla people, & have been successful in doing that to an extent. The more Bangladesh ponders over the past, the more it reminisces over the trauma, & harder it is to move on for them as a nation.

In 1948, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first Governor-General, declared in Dhaka (then usually spelled Dacca in English) that "Urdu, and only Urdu" would be the common language for all of Pakistan. This proved highly controversial, since Urdu was a language that was only spoken in the West by Muhajirs and in the East by Biharis, although the Urdu language had been promoted as the lingua franca of Indian Muslims by political and religious leaders such as Sir Khwaja Salimullah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk and Maulvi Abdul Haq. The language was considered a vital element of the Islamic culture for Indian Muslims; Hindi and the Devanagari script were seen as fundamentals of Hindu culture. The majority groups in West Pakistan spoke Punjabi, while the Bengali language was spoken by the vast majority of East Pakistanis. The language controversy eventually reached a point where East Pakistan revolted while the other part of Pakistan remained calm even though Punjabi was spoken by the majority groups of West Pakistan. Several students and civilians lost their lives in a police crackdown on 21 February 1952. The day is revered in Bangladesh and in West Bengal as the Language Martyrs' Day. Later, in memory of the 1952 killings, UNESCO declared 21 February as the International Mother Language Day in 1999


If Pakistani's didn't hurt them why Bangladeshi's (East Pakistani's) dare to fight with West Pakistan. All wars started by Pakistan itself not by us.

---------- Post added at 01:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 AM ----------

The Bangladesh Liberation War (Bengali: Muktijuddho) was an armed conflict pitting West Pakistan against East Pakistan (two halves of one country) and India, that resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the independent nation of Bangladesh.

The war broke out on 26 March 1971 as army units directed by West Pakistan launched a military operation in East Pakistan against Bengali civilians, students, intelligentsia, and armed personnel who were demanding separation from West Pakistan. Bengali military, paramilitary and civilians formed the Mukti Bahini (or liberation army) and used guerrilla warfare tactics to fight against the West Pakistan army. India provided economic, military and diplomatic support to the Mukti Bahini rebels leading Pakistan to launch Operation Chengiz Khan, a pre-emptive attack on the western border of India which started the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.



1971 War

 

[Al-zakir]

This is completely rubbish paperwork. All the matters are solved previously. The Punjabis were gainer to achieve the Lahore. We were forced to sacrifice the Kolkata. Pakistan was not the hope of Bangladeshi. But Congress Agent Jinnah has betrayed with Bangladeshi Nation by using fluid by replacing state instead of states in Lahore Proposal which was raised by Sher E Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque(Basis of Muslim states in this region).As a result Brihot Bangladesh or Banglastan was not gained at 1947. We were prescribed to stay with the artificial country named Pakistan.

You don't know jack and what was going on before 47. If we were struggling for separate Muslim state from individual stance then we would have got zero. It was best option to have united effort to create a separate home land for Muslims. So we have got it. Be happy with what you got and if you have gut then why don't you try to take Kolkata, Bihar, Assam now. Who stoping you? Stop pointing finger at M. Jinnah. You are an ant(pipra) in front of his personality. Thank and pray for his departed soul and don't be so ehsaan faramosh.

By the way, Bangladesh now facing on of the difficult time, our left over soverenghty is in shaky condition, thanks to Ghaddar Awami. Let us save what ever we have left. There aren't any Punjabi around to blame anymore.

 

[punisher]

You don't know jack and what was going on before 47. If we were struggling for separate Muslim state from individual stance then we would have got zero. It was best option to have united effort to create a separate home land for Muslims. So we have got it. Be happy with what you got and if you have gut then why don't you try to take Kolkata, Bihar, Assam now. Who stoping you? Stop pointing finger at M. Jinnah. You are an ant(pipra) in front of his personality. Thank and pray for his departed soul and don't be so ehsaan faramosh.

By the way, Bangladesh now facing on of the difficult time, our left over soverenghty is in shaky condition, thanks to Ghaddar Awami. Let us save what ever we have left. There aren't any Punjabi around to blame anymore.

are you talking about cake shaped in Bihar, Assam, Kolkata. Then it's ok. But if You are talking about Indian state Bihar ,Assam and Indian city Kolkata. you must be living in fools paradise.

Any ways we will stop you.

 

[Syed Naved]

In 1948, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first Governor-General, declared in Dhaka (then usually spelled Dacca in English) that "Urdu, and only Urdu" would be the common language for all of Pakistan. This proved highly controversial, since Urdu was a language that was only spoken in the West by Muhajirs and in the East by Biharis, although the Urdu language had been promoted as the lingua franca of Indian Muslims by political and religious leaders such as Sir Khwaja Salimullah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk and Maulvi Abdul Haq. The language was considered a vital element of the Islamic culture for Indian Muslims; Hindi and the Devanagari script were seen as fundamentals of Hindu culture. The majority groups in West Pakistan spoke Punjabi, while the Bengali language was spoken by the vast majority of East Pakistanis. The language controversy eventually reached a point where East Pakistan revolted while the other part of Pakistan remained calm even though Punjabi was spoken by the majority groups of West Pakistan. Several students and civilians lost their lives in a police crackdown on 21 February 1952. The day is revered in Bangladesh and in West Bengal as the Language Martyrs' Day. Later, in memory of the 1952 killings, UNESCO declared 21 February as the International Mother Language Day in 1999


If Pakistani's didn't hurt them why Bangladeshi's (East Pakistani's) dare to fight with West Pakistan. All wars started by Pakistan itself not by us.

---------- Post added at 01:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 AM ----------

The Bangladesh Liberation War (Bengali: Muktijuddho) was an armed conflict pitting West Pakistan against East Pakistan (two halves of one country) and India, that resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the independent nation of Bangladesh.

The war broke out on 26 March 1971 as army units directed by West Pakistan launched a military operation in East Pakistan against Bengali civilians, students, intelligentsia, and armed personnel who were demanding separation from West Pakistan. Bengali military, paramilitary and civilians formed the Mukti Bahini (or liberation army) and used guerrilla warfare tactics to fight against the West Pakistan army. India provided economic, military and diplomatic support to the Mukti Bahini rebels leading Pakistan to launch Operation Chengiz Khan, a pre-emptive attack on the western border of India which started the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.



1971 War

First Of All Shukriya.Yes Our Ancestor Used Urdu,Personaly I Myself From A nawab & Jamindar Family.So I Know About This And Heard Many Things About Our Ancestor.We Used Urdu Not Because Only Islam But Also Because Most Of The Syed,Nabab Were From Iraqi Origin.So We Love Islamic Culture And Different Then Rest .But Yes ! We Also Know Bangla And Dont Have Any Hatred For It.
It Is Also true jinnah Said So.Because The Theme Of Partition Was " 1 for Muslim 1 for Hindu".And when Pakistan created like hindi he want that(urdu) as common language.As the main motive was all the muslim from both wings will be united .and i think ,Quaid want this ta'kii dono part mein kisi bhi type ki difference na rahein on all aspect but he failed to make it understand.But However Later Bengali get it's official language honour.But what actualy need on that time was bring urdu culture closer slowly to us.like now we all know hindi language,speak on it sometimes.if Jinnah said ,"URDU WOULD BE THE STATE LANGUAGE OF PAKISTAN AS WELL AS HINDI ON INDIA.BUT PEOPLE WOULD GET EVERY RIGHT TO USE THEIR REGIONAL LANGUAGE LIKE ON INDIA TAMIL ALPHABET USED IN KERALA,BANGLA ON WEST....." This misunderstanding would never create.Infact I think Quaid yehi bolna chaha,lakin iska galat matlab nikala gaya.quaid ka matlab ye tha urdu would be state language usi tarha jis tarha hindi on india.kiyun ki india mein hindi speaker very rare,a lot of people dont even undrstnd it still.

 

[Al-zakir]

are you talking about cake shaped in Bihar, Assam, Kolkata. Then it's ok. But if You are talking about Indian state Bihar ,Assam and Indian city Kolkata. you must be living in fools paradise.

Any ways we will stop you.

Abbey baykuf, I was making a point to fake Sheikh. Read and try to understand what I was trying to say.

 

[53fd]

I maintain East Pakistan had greater affinity towards their ethnic identity than their nationalistic one. The Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis, Balochis, Kashmiris, Hazaras have never demanded their languages be the national languages of Pakistan. They have learned & adopted Urdu, & accept Urdu as their national pride. They proudly accept & speak Urdu today.

Bangladesh was never part of the original plan of Pakistan, & I wish Bangladesh had never been part of Pakistan in 1947. If 1971 had not happened in 1971, it would have happened later. It was never a feasible model having the East surrounded by enemy territory in all four directions, & being separated from it by 1500 miles.

Pakistan is a young country, it is still shaping itself up everyday. Even the US had a civil war in Gettysburg where the South wanted to separate from the North & form a separate nation. The Sindhi, 'Mohajir', Pakhtun, Balochi, Hazara, even the Punjabis have faced severe injustices in this country (sometimes more than the Bangla people), but there has hardly been any secessionist movements, on the same level as the Bangla people. The Bangla people let their justified grievances against W.Pakistan be exploited by India in 1969 & 1970 to become secessionist ones, & that is what caused trouble.

The Pakistani people brought the Musharraf dictatorship down a few years ago, they did not start the secessionist movement like the Bangla people did. The Pakistani people today, despite the various grievances they have had, have always thought of the importance of the country & their nationalistic identity over their ethnic one, this is the difference between the Bangla people & the Pakistani people. The Pakistani people have used legal means to empower themselves, they feel Pakistan is their country & they own a part of this country.

 

[eastwatch]

You don't know jack and what was going on before 47. If we were struggling for separate Muslim state from individual stance then we would have got zero. It was best option to have united effort to create a separate home land for Muslims. So we have got it. Be happy with what you got and if you have gut then why don't you try to take Kolkata, Bihar, Assam now. Who stoping you? Stop pointing finger at M. Jinnah. You are an ant(pipra) in front of his personality. Thank and pray for his departed soul and don't be so ehsaan faramosh.

You are hundred percent right when you say that without an united effort by the Indian Muslims there would not have been a separate country where muslims formed the majority. An ill effort to create a Joint independent Bengal would have bursted on the faces of those individuals who were talkg about it. Jt. Bengal effort was a Provincialism that no one would have supported. But, a Pakistan movement was successful. Why some ignorants should still talk about Jt. Bengal when the Bangali Hindus opposded it?

 

[53fd]

I wish Pakistan & Bangladesh have very good relations. Pakistan has learned valuable lessons from 1971, it has built up its defenses greatly, to the point that if some nation tries to do a 1971 in Pakistan again, it would be obliterated from the face of this earth before that happens. Even though OBL was found in Pakistan, the US did not dare to attack Pakistan. Pakistan was not capable of protecting itself in 1971, it took care of its vulnerabilities after it, & MashAllah today, it can fully take care of itself & its fate. Pakistan has grown economically & politically as well, & is improving itself everyday.

Pakistan is as united as ever today, united we stand & divided we fall (we saw this in 1971). This is what Pew Global had to say about Pakistan:

The nation-state is of great significance to Pakistanis, and despite important ethnic and regional differences, national identity is strong throughout the country. Overall, 89% say they think of themselves first as Pakistani, rather than as a member of their ethnic group.

We have accepted Urdu as our national language, we have pride in it, & we speak it with pride. This is the difference between the people of Pakistan, & the Bangla people in East Pakistan.

 

[justanobserver]

Pakistan is as united as ever today, united we stand & divided we fall (we saw this in 1971). This is what Pew Global had to say about Pakistan:

The nation-state is of great significance to Pakistanis, and despite important ethnic and regional differences, national identity is strong throughout the country. Overall, 89% say they think of themselves first as Pakistani, rather than as a member of their ethnic group

We have accepted Urdu as our national language, we have pride in it, & we speak it with pride. This is the difference between the people of Pakistan, & the Bangla people in East Pakistan.

Right. According to this recent (2011) Gallup Survey
Muslims first, Pakistani distant second say majority: Gallup poll – The Express Tribune

The results of the poll showed that a significant majority of Pakistanis (59 per cent) choose to identify themselves as Muslims first.
A little less than a quarter of the population (22 per cent) considers being Pakistani as its primary identity, while 10 per cent put their provincial identity first and seven per cent chose to identify themselves as human beings first.

 

[53fd]

Right. According to this recent (2011) Gallup Survey
Muslims first, Pakistani distant second say majority: Gallup poll – The Express Tribune

The poll is flawed, because the Muslim/Islamic identity is intertwined with the national Pakistani identity, it is not a distinct identity. Pakistan is the Islamic republic of Pakistan. And the other poll was comparing national identity to ethnic identity, not Islamic identity. Even your poll showed that only 10% of Pakistani put their provincial identity first. The fact that both the Pew Global & the Gallup poll shows 10-11% preference for provincial/ethnic identity shows that Pakistan consider their Muslim identity same as their national Pakistani identity.

 

[Al-zakir]

I maintain East Pakistan had greater affinity towards their ethnic identity than their nationalistic one. The Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis, Balochis, Kashmiris, Hazaras have never demanded their languages be the national languages of Pakistan. They have learned & adopted Urdu, & accept Urdu as their national pride. They proudly accept & speak Urdu today.

Here are some fact about Urdu in East Pakistan.

1-Historically, unlike northern British India, in Bengal Urdu was confined among elite class and religious institution. Sometime elite class didn't allow this language to flourish among common man. You can call it a "racist" act.

2- There were a strong presence of Bengali intellectual in East Pakistan. They played crucial role to keep this language away to preserve their own interest.

3-Unlike West Pakistan, East Pakistan had 20% Hindu population and they were strictly against Urdu language due to Arabic scripture.

4-Most teachers were from Hindu background so they also played key role to emotionally blackmail Muslim masses in the name of mother toung to preserve their interest.

Over all comon Muslims were played in the hand of Hindus and Tagore loving Islamic named mushrik intellectual to preserve their interest. Mother tongue has nothing to do with it. I am personally fluent in Urdu and Bangla. I can personally conclude that with given time Urdu would have replace Bangla in East Pakistan.