What it means to stand on the right side of history
By: Moureen Ahmed (Sacramento, USA)
--
Shamsul Islam, my dada, served in Pakistan’s army when East and West Pakistan were one country. He used to travel between East and West Pakistan, and was once stationed in Karachi. On March 25, 1971, Operation Searchlight was carried out by the Pakistani Army, in which they invaded and attacked East Pakistan. As the war broke out, my dada joined the Freedom Fighters, and sacrificed his life for the country that is now known as Bangladesh.
My father, the youngest of five siblings, was only 5 years old when the war broke out. On March 30, 1971, his entire family was taken from their home and imprisoned in a nearby school with other Bangladeshi captives. My dada, on the other hand, was separated from his family — and his body was never found again. After five months, my father and his family were finally released from the army’s custody. My father believes that families were released at various times throughout the war once the army confirmed that the head of the family had been killed. My dadu searched for her husband’s body endlessly, but ultimately was unable to give him a proper janazaa. She and her five children were homeless until Victory Day, and she raised all of them alone without ever remarrying.
My family’s sacrifices have shaped my outlook on life. I never want to lose sight of my history along with the values that it brings, despite living a privileged life in America. Bangladesh’s Independence Day is more than just a holiday where I dress up in saris and attend melas with my family. This day rejuvenates my values and purpose in life, and what it truly means to stand on the right side of history
Glossary
Dada — paternal grandfather
Dadu — paternal grandmother
Janazaa — burial prayer in accordance with Islamic rituals
Mela — festival/fair
