Oscillating between despair and hope

PLEDGING that the high ideals of nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism, which inspired our heroic people to dedicate themselves to, and our brave martyrs to sacrifice their lives in, the national liberation struggle, shall be the fundamental principles of the Constitution;" so states the preamble of the Bangladesh Constitution. But recent events in the country may have given us cause to question the relevance of the statement at this point. The past few weeks have generated much frustration and despair for most Bangladeshis who are asking, why is it that forty two years after independence we are still struggling to protect the founding principles based on which the country's hard-earned freedom was achieved?

Yes, I am referring to the challenges posed by the protest rally organised by Hefajat-e Islam on April 6. Like most of the nation, I, too, have been unnerved by the wave of Hefajat supporters ominously marching into Dhaka city with their thirteen-point demand agenda. I will refrain from discussing the merits and demerits of the demands since they do not deserve a place in any rational discourse. However, I am outraged that the extremist religious right has the gall to propose that we pronounce judgments on who is a Muslim and who is not. And I am stupefied that these so-called guardians of Islam are demanding that women's behaviour and dress code be modified according to their interpretation of the Sharia and the Quran!

The resurgent extremism in the country contradicts the basic principles of the Bangladesh liberation movement. The nation was created to ensure religious freedom and equality for all citizens -- Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Jews. The irony is that the Jamaat-e-Islami Party never believed in an independent Bangladesh. In fact its leaders colluded with the Pakistan army to counter the efforts of the brave heroes fighting for our freedom. It's indeed bizarre that the Jamaatis are now pretending to be the mascot of Bangladesh's welfare!

How did it come to this? Is it a failure of the current administration that initially caved in to the forces that are determined to push us back to the cave age? Or did the Hefajat movement gain momentum from the brazen support of the leading opposition party? The very same movement that would, on religious grounds, bar the leader of the opposition from participating in an open discussion with her male colleagues! But then politics finds strange bedfellows and its workings are generally beyond the grasp of us ordinary folks.

Whatever may have caused this national crisis, we need to confront reality rather than play the blame game. The fact is that the well-organised and well-trained religious right is determined to force its dogmas on the country with zeal and passion. The moderates, on the other hand, believe in inclusion and pluralism and are basically averse to conflict. With time this could result in a gradual surrender of the liberal forces to entrenched interests. Should we then concede that bigotry would finally win over liberalism?

As I was struggling with these disturbing thoughts, a simple poster inviting children to participate in a painting competition on Pahela Baisakh set me thinking on a different track. I remembered that the Bengali New Year is around the corner and happy memories of past Pahela Baisakh festivities crowded out the negative emotions from my mind. I humbly saluted this joyous cultural event which straddles across race, religion and economic strata.

As you read this piece on April 14, the clouds in the Bangladesh sky will have parted, allowing the sun to spread its light on our tormented country. The nation will sing "Esho he Baisakh" in unison and the festival of Pahela Baisakh will swing into motion. The passion play of life will unfold with renewed hope for the coming year.

The city parks will come alive with the sound of music. And the streets, which have now become danger zones of protest rallies and cocktail bombs, will be once again filled with the happy chatter of women in red and white saris and men in colourful attire. In the true spirit of Pahela Baisakh, Bangladeshis will demonstrate their artistic sensibility in a blend of sensual and cerebral pleasures that are secular and inclusive.

Perhaps Pahela Baisakh, with its all-embracing message of love and tolerance, will help dilute the nation's differences and push back the reactionary forces of fundamentalism. This could be a small but significant step towards restoring the secular ideals of the country's Founding Fathers.

The writer is a renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and a former employee of the World Bank.