Memory Eternal defaced
First a graffiti celebrating Baishakh and then a memorial commemorating those killed in 1971 have been defaced in the days preceding Pahela Baishakh. One was an attack against a shared heritage while the other seeks to deface our history. Memory Eternal, a memorial in the University of Dhaka with names of teachers, students and staff of the university killed in 1971, came under attack last Wednesday. The DU Vice-Chancellor blamed the "anti-liberation forces" for the vandalism.
Who are these anti-liberation forces? Judging from those who opposed our struggle for independence in 1971, they are those who want to see our country as a communal land, where minorities are under attack, where our cultural heritage is discarded, and our identities are defined only by our religion. In short, these are groups which oppose the secular values that the Liberation War enshrined. The two groups may not be the same, but their demands and acts are the same thing: subjugating our secular traditions and denigrating the Liberation War.
Writers and cultural activists are worried that we are bowing down to communal forces as their demands are getting louder. We may think removal of a symbol which stands for justice does not amount to much. But, who knows what the next demand might be? Our nation enshrines secular values that are epitomised by 1971. The secular cultural identity we fought for then, are now again coming under attack. It is our secular cultural heritage that is at risk of being defaced.
Today, as our celebrations are questioned, our artwork and history defaced, we must take a stand for plurality. Their words did not stop us from celebrating Pahela Baishakh and their words will not compel us to discard our secular values.
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