Our pride: the liberation war

In 1971 I was in my early twenties. I had my loving parents, affectionate brothers, hearty friends and also someone to love. I had enviable educational degrees and reserved seat in the coveted Superior Service of Pakistan(selected by Central Public Service Commission). Leaving this rosy life I opted for the uncertain and risky life of a guerrilla fighter, not for anything less than freedom of my nation. My father an educationist bade farewell with a single sentence "Come back with honor". I could not face my mother at the time of departure.
During the days of war I realised the meaning of my father's words. It meant don't return defeated. To me victory was a must and we achieved it. In the war I found other guerrillas, some of them might have been less educated than me but their belief and commitment were stronger than mine. Many of them faced martyrdom with the full belief of liberation of their 'Sonar Bangla'.
War gave us many pains including death. But it gives us more pain, when someone with a nasty past ridicules our patriotism. We didn't join the war for women or wealth, neither to serve the interest of any foreign power. Rather the collaborators joined the war to rape, loot and serve their Pakistani masters.
Now if these criminals are not punished, we the freedom fighters feel defeated. Many of us are no longer in this world, many are crippled and old, still we can be the vanguard of our renewed struggle. But I shall urge upon our younger generation to join us to take our struggle to its logical goal. Otherwise, you will lose your national heritage and pride.