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aazidane
The problem is not Bengali nationalism (or Bangladeshi nationalism for that matter).
The secular Bengali nationalists intended to form a sort of antithesis against the Islamists, who during the British days heavily opposed modern progression of Bengali Muslims during the British days. The Bengali secularists felt that it was their fault that our kin fell behind our dear
dadas next door. That psyche was a big part in breaking Pakistan into two.
But, are we more progressive than our
dadas next door? Let's have a look.
Bengali nationalism heavily politicizes the issue of Bengali culture, like music, poems, arts, artists like Tagore and Islam (who by the way weren't part of our clan), stories and most importantly, language. But is that level of politicization creative or destructive? Bengali nationalism started out as underground politics, and perhaps still is.
How much of the young generation of Bangladeshis embrace the old-school Bengali culture like music and arts? What about the local movie industry? To what proportion do they watch local films to that of let's say, Hollywood ones?
Compare to West Bengal.
I have seen a program on Zee Bangla some time back showing very small children singing traditional Bengali songs very beautifully. What beautiful children they were. That is what they embrace, along with the generations that follow. And you know what? They don't politicize those things at all. Since when did our
dadas chant
Joy Bangla?
What do our young embrace? What is the essence of our society? Do we embrace what the secular Bengali nationalists had in mind? The results may shock many.
That being said, unlike what those Bengali nationalists envisioned, West Bengal is culturally far more advanced than that of East Bengal.
Sure, old Islamists haven't done anything for the society in the past long, but what have the Bengali nationalists done for thy nation? That is the million dollar question.
They still engage in underground politics. Absolutely no change into a mature ideology. And they aren't one bit democratic at all. No accountability or responsibility whatsoever.