Artistic depictions of Bangladesh Liberation War
Encyclopedia
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
during and since the War both at Bangladesh and abroad. The concert for Bangladesh organized by members of the Beatles was a major happening in 1971 for protest music. The songs recorded for and broadcast on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was a radio broadcasting centre in the Indian city of Kolkata during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. This station played a vital role in increasing mental state of Bangladeshis during the war. In 1971, radio was the only media reaching to the far ends of...
are still considered to be the best of Bangladeshi protest songs.
The four documentaries made during the War - Zahir Raihan's Stop Genocide and A State Is Born, Babulal Chowdhry's Innocent Millions, Alamgir Kabir's Liberation Fighters - are described as the first films made in Bangladesh, as earlier films were all made in Pakistan or India, larger entities that Bangladesh belonged to. Muktir Gaan, based on footage shot by Leer Levin during the war, by Tareq and Kathrine Masud is critically the most acclaimed Bangladeshi documentary. The directors followed the film with two sequels - Mukitr Katha and Narir Katha. Their feature film on the same subject, Matir Moyna, won the FIPRESCII award at Cannes Film Festival.
There have been numerous poems and novels written on the Liberation war, including Shamsur Rahman's famous poems written during the War. Arguably it is the most often used subject for Bangladeshi literature since 1971. The monuments made to commemorate the War are the highest esteemed monuments in Bangladesh.
Films
- Stop Genocide – documentaryDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
by Zahir RaihanZahir RaihanZahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
, (1971) - Nine Months to Freedom: The Story of Bangladesh – documentary by S. Sukhdev (1972)
- Shei Rater Kotha Bolte Eshechi ("I Have Come to Speak of That Night") – documentary by Kawsar Chowdhury (2001).
- Muktir Gaan (Song of Freedom), Muktir Katha and Narir Katha – three different Bangla documentaries by TarequeTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
and Catherine Masud - Matir MoinaMatir MoinaMatir Moina is a Bangla film directed by Tareque Masud, a Bangladeshi film director. The film was released in 2002...
directed by Tareque MasudTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
, (2002) - winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals... - Border, a 1997 BollywoodCinema of IndiaThe cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
war filmWar filmWar films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
directed by J.P.Dutta. This movie is an adaptation from real life events that happened at the Battle of LongewalaBattle of LongewalaThe Battle of Longewala was one of the first major engagements in the Western Sector during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the Indian border post of Longewala, in the Thar Desert of the Rajasthan state in India.The Indian infantry...
fought in Rajasthan (Western Theatre) during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases... - Aguner Parashmani – feature film by Humayun AhmedHumayun AhmedHumayun Ahmed is a Bangladeshi author, dramatist and director of film and television. He broke through since the publication of his first novel, Nandita Naraké...
- Shyamal Chhaya (Greenish Shade (of Bangladesh) – feature film by Humayun Ahmed
- Ekattorer Jishu (Jesus of 71) – feature film by Nasiruddin Yusuf
- Joy Jatra (Victory Procession) – feature film by Tauqir Ahmed
- Arunodoyer Agnishakshi (Witness of the Sun Rise)
- Dhire Bohey Meghna (The Meghna River Flows Slowly...)
- Raktakto Bangla (The Blood-stained Bengal)
- Ora Egaro Jon (They were a group of 11..)
- Shangram (Struggle)
- Bagha Bangali (Bengal Tigers)
- Kolmilata
- Megher Onek Rang (Clouds have Many Shades)
Literature
- Ami Virangana Balchhi (I am the Heroine of War, Speaking...) – memoir by Nilima IbrahimNilima IbrahimNilima Ibrahim was an Indian, East Pakistani, and later Bangladeshi educationist, littérateur and social worker. She is well known for her outstanding scholarship on Bangla literature but even more so for her depiction of raped and tortured women in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War in her book...
- Ekatture Uttar Ronangaon ('71 Northern Front) – Factual War Accounts (in Bangla) by Muhammad Hamidullah KhanMuhammad Hamidullah KhanM. Hamidullah Khan was the Sector Commander of BDF Sector 11 Bangladesh Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. An Air Force officer by career, he successfully led 22,800 troops under his command of Sector 11...
, Sector Commander 11, War of Independence – BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south... - Ghum Nei (Sleepless Nights) – memoir by Nasiruddin Yusuf
- Ami Bijoy Dekhechi (I have witnessed the Victory) – memoir by M. R. Akhtar MukulM. R. Akhtar MukulM. R. Akhtar Mukul was a Benaglee author and journalist from Bangladesh; earned fame for Chorompotro, a radio programme from Shwadhin Bangla Betar Kendro.- Chorompotro :...
- A Tale of Millions – memoir by Major (R) Rafik Ul Islam
- Ekattorer Dinguli (Days of 71) – memoir by Jahanara ImamJahanara ImamJahanara Imam was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is most widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial...
(1986) ISBN 984-480-000-5 - Maa (The Mother) – novel by Anisul HoqueAnisul Hoque-Life:Anisul Hoque was born in Rangpur in 1965 . His father is late Mofazzal Hoque and mother is Mst. Anwara Begum. He was the student of Rangpur PTI primary school, Rangpur Zilla School, Rangpur Carmichael College....
(2003) ISBN 984-458-422-1 - Jochhna o Janani'r Galpo (The Tale of Moonlight and the Motherland) – novel by Humayun Ahmed (2004) ISBN 984-8682-76-7
- Of Blood and Fire –
- September on Jessore Road – poem by Allen GinsbergAllen GinsbergIrwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
- A Golden AgeA Golden AgeA Golden Age is the first novel of the Bangladesh born writer Tahmima Anam. It tells the story of the Bangladesh War of Independence through the eyes of one family. The novel was awarded the prize for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2008. It was also shortlisted for the 2007...
– novel by Tahmima AnamTahmima AnamTahmima Anam is a Bangladeshi writer and novelist. Her first novel, A Golden Age, was published by John Murray in 2007 and was the Best First Book winner of the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize.- Education :...
Music
- The Concert for BangladeshThe Concert for BangladeshThe Concert for Bangladesh was the name for two benefit concerts organised by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, held at noon and at 7 PM on August 1, 1971, playing to a total of 40,000 people at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
, New York, 1971 - Song for Bangladesh - song by Joan BaezJoan BaezJoan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
- Bangla Desh - song by George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
Art
- Jatiyo Smriti SoudhoJatiyo Smriti SoudhoJatiyo Sriti Soudho or National Martyrs' Memorial is a monument in Bangladesh. It is the symbol of the valour and the sacrifice of those killed in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which brought the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule. The monument is located in Savar, about...
(National Monument for Remembrance) in SavarSävarSävar is a locality situated in Umeå Municipality, Västerbotten County, Sweden with 2,672 inhabitants in 2005.It is located by E4 about 15 km north of Umeå, Sweden. Sävar is mostly known for being the last battlefield of the Finnish War....
, DhakaDhakaDhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... - Aparajeyo BanglaAparajeyo BanglaAparajeyo Bangla is one of the most well known sculptures dedicated to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. It is located in the campus of Dhaka University, just in front to the Arts Building. In Bangla, the phrase means "Unvanquished Bengal".-External links:*...
(Invincible Bengal) – sculpture in Dhaka University - Shabash BangladeshShabash BangladeshShabash Bangladesh is one of the most renowned sculptures in Bangladesh. It is located at Rajshahi University premises. Shabash Bangladesh is another state of the art sculpture created to pay tribute to those killed in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.Nitun Kundu is the sculptor of Shabash...
(Bravo, Bangladesh) – sculpture in Rajshahi UniversityRajshahi UniversityRajshahi University or University of Rajshahi is a public university located in Rajshahi, a city in north-western Bangladesh... - Shoparjito Shadhinota (Self Achieved Freedom) – sculpture in Dhaka University
Museums
- Liberation War Museum, Dhaka
- Shahid Smriti Sangrohoshala (Martyr Memorial Museum), RajshahiRajshahiThe city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
See also
- Artistic depictions of the Bengali Language MovementArtistic depictions of the Bengali Language MovementThe Bengali Language Movement was a political effort in East Pakistan that advocated the adoption of Bengali as an official language. The movement faced violent opposition by the government before finally succeeding...
- Liberation War MuseumLiberation War MuseumThe Liberation War Museum is a museum in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh that commemorates the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan....