The making of a nation against all odds

The making of a nation has many turns and twists, particularly when it has to emerge first out of the grip of a colonial power and then from an equally, if not more exploitative, intriguing and brutal neo-colonial regime. Those turns and twists mark the milestones in a nation's history. Of course, not all of those are enviable and some may indeed expose the meanness, frailty and failure to respond to the duty's call. Yet some nations have the proud legacy of earning their emancipation from the subjugation of alien oppressive rulers but others languish perpetually in servility.

To the credit of the Bangalee people, it has successfully carved out a niche in the human history for its glorious liberation war. Only a few nations on this planet have such an elevating history of its own. It was a war the Pakistani rulers and their political stooges in the western wing imposed on the unarmed Bangalees, thinking that they could keep the latter subjugated forever. Their calculation was based on the logistics of military might and hardware. Moreover, they had for them a strong ally in Richard Nixon, then president of the United States of America.

However, the genocide, rape and repression the marauding Pakistani army committed in then East Pakistan made people the world over, including the Americans, their Congressmen and Senators, raise their voice in support of the liberation war against the Pakistani oppression. The freedom fighters trained in India for mostly guerrilla wars were ill-equipped but their bravery and love for the land were the clinching factor. To their advantage they knew their respective localities like the palm of their hands and could unleash surprising attacks on the enemies causing severe casualties.

This time around in 1971, the liberation war was heading for conclusion but not before a final dramatic twist to the fast moving events. With India formally recognising Bangladesh as a sovereign country on December 6, 1971, the USA slashed a significant part of its aid to the former as a retaliatory measure. China went a step ahead, denouncing India's recognition of rebel Bangladesh regime. It also called it India's 'expansionism' and a ploy to annex, according to the New York Times, East Pakistan.

But the ultimate dramatic turn of events was yet to unfold. With India joining the war against Pakistan following the latter's attacks on India on December 3, the Pakistani occupation army was retreating from all war fronts. The war entered its decisive phase and it was clear that the fall of Dhaka was a matter of time. On December 15, just a day before the surrender of the Pakistani forces in Bangladesh, the US 7th Fleet sent by President Nixon in support of Pakistan 'entered the Bay of Bengal, at a distance of 1,760 kilometre' from Dhaka. With bated breath, the leaderships of both India and Bangladesh were waiting for the outcome.

Right at that time the Soviet Union had despatched its 10th Operative Battle Group of the Pacific Fleet under Valadimir Kruglyakov. In fact, the Soviet fleet was trailing the 7th Fleet all the while as the latter was called on to formation on December 10. At the same time the British Royal Navy had its forces sent to the Arabian Sea with the mission same as that of the US 7th Fleet task force. A war of nuclear powers on both sides was looming with the potential of turning into a third world war.

Mercifully the high drama ended with abortion of the missions by both the 7th Fleet and the Royal Navy forces at the presence of the Soviet Union's 10th Operative Battle Group. The looming shadow of a third world war also dissipated.

Today Bangladesh has been scrambling for narratives far removed from the unprecedented testing time the people of this land went through. Friends and foes may not remain so for eternity. But there are some basic principles, ideals and values that cannot and should not be undermined even if social dimension seeks newer courses. After 53 years, the flame of the liberation war seems to be flickering. Other concerns, some of which are extraneous, are getting the better of the undying spirit that has ever served as the beacon for this nation to march ahead.