“I bought Bengali for a blood price, no one donated it” We are an exceptional nation in the world who painted the streets with fresh blood to establish the status of mother tongue. The masses united in the demand of language crossed the path of many movements and struggles and established the state of Bangladesh through the bloody war of liberation.
Today, after a long 70 years of the language movement, the question that has left a deep painful wound in the heart is whether the state has been able to give due respect to the language martyrs who gave their lives for the sake of language. Have we been able to protect the dignity of Bengali language ??
Yes, of course there is no denying that it is necessary. But that is why we have to ignore the Bengali language !? We have left only the formality of giving flowers at the Shaheed Bedi on 21st February and walking barefoot in the Shaheed Minar on that day. Apart from this, have we been able to do any practical work to protect the memory of the language martyrs !?Although the freedom fighters were given various state facilities, the families of the language martyrs were always neglected and deprived.
Sad but true, Bengali is neglected by the new generation! And our mentality is responsible for this. Nowadays we are buying English at a lot of prices. I mean, by teaching my children through English, I am expressing my aristocratic pride. I am taking the children away from the Bengali language little by little. Today, we are disregarding the Bengali language that our forefathers brought at the cost of blood, thinking it is old-fashioned by neglecting and disrespecting it. we know English needs more and more to keep pace with the new era. But why Hindi? Hindi language is not being used too much in the current generation?
The current generation is very much interested in Hindi serials and Hindi movie songs and as a result they have become accustomed to dance to the tune of Hindi songs in various programs. With further concern it is noticed that distorted pronunciation has started in the mixture of Bengali, English and Hindi, which is very werid . Can the state avoid the responsibility of creating reluctance towards its own language and culture !?
It is with deep concern that attempts are being made to distort the glorious history of the language movement from the highest levels of the state. Which is causing resentment in the minds of linguists and educators who are directly involved in the language movement. And confusing the new generation also. We must be extremely vigilant so that distorted history does not create confusion among us. Bangladesh and Bangla language were not created by anyone’s contribution alone. We have got our country and language in exchange for the fresh blood of thousands of young people. The correct history of bloodshed cannot be allowed to be distorted in any way.
Realizing the importance of language and culture in the national life, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman conducted various activities for the progress of culture of Bangladesh. So wherever you look in the cultural arena of present day Bangladesh, you will see Zia’s touch. The initiative taken by Ziaur Rahman, a well-to-do cultured personality, for the practice, education, cultural progress and development of Bengali language, was continued by Begum Khaleda Zia during her rule.
Like freedom fighters, language martyrs have the right to state honor. Their sacrifices are not inferior in any way so we will be able to give due dignity to the sacrifices of the martyrs by giving due state respect to the language martyrs, preserving their memories, providing state facilities to their surviving family members and using Bengali language properly at all levels. On this day, I pay my respects to the martyrs of 5 languages and soldiers of all languages.
