What Indira Gandhi Said About Bangladesh And Refugees In Her 1971 Independence Day Speech — Listen In
India's 78th Independence Day coincides with political unrest in Bangladesh. A darker situation prevailed in 1971, the year of the Bangladesh Liberation War, in which Indira Gandhi played a key role.
India's 78th Independence celebration comes at a time when the neighbouring Bangladesh, once a part of undivided India, is going through a massive political upheaval. Sheikh Hasina's ouster was followed by rampant loot, arson, robberies, police ceasing to work, Khaleda Zia's release from jail, and finally the formation of an 'interim government' led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. What has emerged as a major point of worry for the country's minority community is reminiscent of the situation in Bangladesh in 1971 during its 'Liberation War' to seek separation from Pakistan — the persecution of Hindus.
The present violence has also targeted Hindus, with temple being vandalised and Hindu homes set on fire. The issue has been raised even by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Congratulating Muhammad Yunus for taking over the reins of Bangladesh, PM Modi said: "We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities."
My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024
Although not as large-scale as in 1971, the situation during the recent turmoil in Bangladesh is definitely a grim reminder of the pogrom during the Pakistan-Bangladesh partition.
The 'Mukti Bahini' of erstwhile East Pakistan got big help from India as then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to send Indian troops to fight the war alongside them.
Indira Gandhi had been instrumental in Bangladesh's separation from Pakistan — corresponding with world leaders to rally them in favour of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and facilitating funding, training, and supplying weapons for the 'Mukti Bahini'. She also gave place to refugees, mostly Hindu Bengalis, fleeing Bangladesh.
In the months preceding the 1971 India-Pakistan war, Indira Gandhi spoke about the persecuted in Bangladesh, mostly Hindus, in her Independence Day speech on August 15, 1971.
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'They Are Not Merely Refugees...'
"While we have been striving to give people their rights, the opposite has happened across our border. Elections were held there just as elections were held in our country. Like in our country people there too came out to vote. But where we have been trying to fulfil our promises, a great tragedy has befallen there. As a consequence of this tragedy, 7.5 million wounded, sick, and starved have left their homes and country to take shelter in India," she said.
"We have always kept our doors open for the displaced persons. But they are not merely refugees; they are partners in a movement which is very significant. It is a movement similar to our own and launched in many other countries to secure the rights of the people. When we talk of the prices, let us not overlook the price these people from Bangladesh are having to pay for the freedom of their country," she added.
She said anyone in the world who cares about freedom cannot remain quiet on the matter of Bangladesh's freedom. "But we need to ensure our steps should make us strong... wherever there is a struggle for the progress of humanity, India and its people will always come out in their support," Gandhi said.
Indira Gandhi, in the weeks preceding the Independence Day celebrations, addressed the Parliament over the issue of the refugees. On May 24, 1971, she told the Lok Sabha, that the migration of the persecuted was "unprecedented in recorded history". "About three and a half million people have come into India from Bangladesh during the last eight weeks. They belong to every religious persuasion – Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian. They come from every social class and age group. They are not refugees in the sense we have understood this since Partition. They are victims of war who have sought refuge from the military terror across our frontier," she had said.
ALSO READ ON ABP LIVE | Minorities, Especially Hindus, 'Increasingly Feeling Helpless' In Bangladesh, Religious Rights Body Says
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