বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/৭৪
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| দিল্লী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে প্রধানমন্ত্রী ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর ভাষণ[১] | ‘ইয়ার্স অফ এণ্ডীভার’ | ১০ ডিসেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
WHY THIS FIGHT
I AM HAPPY to be with you, to see your enthusiasm and to talk to you although I have nothing particularly new to tell you. What are we fighting for? We are fighting not only for our territory and honour but also for some high ideals which this country has upheld during the past several centuries. I am happy that in the present war not only our brave officers and soldiers but the people as a whole, including the students, are taking part in one way or the other. I am thankful to you for the purse of Rs. 1,01,000 which you have presented to me for the welfare of the Jawans. I am sure that you will be the pioneers in every work which the nation undertakes.
Students have played an important part in the freedom movement of their country, whether in India or abroad. If the student community had not been in the forefront of our struggle for freedom, we would not have achieved the success that we got. For the past many years, we have been trying to strengthen that freedom. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. We must always act so as to strengthen our unity and do so with firmness and courage. Also, these actions of ours should be meaningful for the people as a whole.
We have achieved a lot and yet you must be aware that we have not able to shape our destiny as we wanted to. Poverty and backwardness are obstacles in the way of the common man getting the fruits of freedom. Our people are not able to enjoy all the rights of a free citizen. While you have the opportunity to study in a university, there are lots of people in this country who do not yet have this privilege. Our freedom will remain incomplete so long as we are not able to give full opportunity for development every village, be they in the plains, on the mountains or in the deserts.
We are proud of continuously treading the path we have chosen for ourselves. Many have been our weaknesses and mistakes and many obstacles on our path. There were aggressions against us. There were natural calamities which weakened us, yet we went forward in spite of all this. We had not had a moment’s respite. Once again there is a big obstacle in the way of our progress and a big task before the people of this country. You have assured me of your loyalty and I am happy to know that the student community is prepared for the dangers facing this country. But we must know that mere enthusiasm is not enough. We have to understand the ideals and the fundamental principles for which we are fighting and which form the basis of this country’s unity.
We do not want to go to war. In fact we tried hard to avoid it. The whole world knows that we have been trying for world peace for the past 25 years, and we certainly had a part to play in bringing about peace in certain areas of the world. But, what is peace? Peace does not mean that we keep quiet while the people of a neighbouring country are being annihilated. This is not peace. The war that is going on today began not in our territory but in Bangladesh and India had no hand in it. We did not even know that there was to be a war.
We were happy that Pakistan had a general election after many years of military rule. The leader of a certain party won a majority in that election. We were not concerned either with election or with the selection of the leader, but we were certainly happy to know that the particular leader, who had won, wanted India’s friendship. We know that we cannot always be fighting with a neighbouring country. If, however, there is some disturbance there, It does affect us. We were, therefore, happy that an election had been held and there were hopes of the formation of a government which would be friendly to us, and we would join together to solve the main problem affecting us. This was the poverty of the people and the progress of the country.
We too had a general election, and we formed a new government. The party which had secured a majority in the elections in our neighbouring country was not allowed to form its own government. It is at this stage that the war really began.
I would like to give you the historical background of the present trouble because it is necessary to understand it. The Pakistan President had talks with the leaders of the Awami League and we expected that the talks would be fruitful and a popular government would be set up. We, however, learnt that the negotiations were a ruse to gain time to land a big army in Bangladesh from West Pakistan. These forces launched a big attack on the poor unarmed people on the night of March 25. The leaders of the Awami League, who had assembled there, have told us that on the 24th they were expecting that the negotiations would be fruitful. They were not at all prepared for the sudden attack on them the next day. They had same idea of launching a struggle, a non-violent struggle of the type which India waged against the British. But they did not get any opportunity for that. They were attacked with guns and mortar. Their great leader was arrested and they were accused of being traitors to the country. All this left on alternative for them except to declare that they wanted complete freedom.
Despite the anger in our hearts against the atrocities in Bangladesh and our deep sympathy for the people there, we kept quiet. We did not want to ulter a word or take a step which might come in the way of a settlement between the leaders of Bangladesh and West Pakistan. However, what was a matter of Pakistan ceased to be so when the people of Bangladesh, young and old, women and children, entered our country like a river in flood. It soon became at big question and a big burden for us. After all this the statement by any country that it was an internal matter of Pakistan ceased to have any meaning.
Even at this stage we said that what was happening in Bangladesh concerned only the people there and we had no right to speak about the nature of a settlement. It was for the people of Bangladesh and their leaders alone to decide why they wanted and what sort of settlement they could make. We had said that India had to consider seriously what effect the conditions in that country will have on us, and this certainly was our internal matter. We could not close our eyes to this aspect of the question. We made it clear to the whole world that the situation was deteriorating and that the two countries were moving towards a war. If the nations of the world wanted to stop a war, there was still time for them and they could have done so by securing justice for the people of Bangladesh.
We know that this could not be done suddenly and we did not say that it should be done immediately. We only said that a step or two should be taken which might meet the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and also ensure that their voice was heard. Among such steps could be the release of the Bangladesh leader, Sheikh Mujibur rahman, the annulment of the fake elections that were scheduled to be held, and lastly, some sort of negotiations by which the people of Bangladesh could have an assurance that something would really be done. They could not be told to forget and forgive or that it was not necessary that the refugees must go back.
It was also necessary for some sort of popular government to be set up. We were told that civilian rule might be established. We made it clear that we could not accept a government formed by those who had lost in the recent elections. The people of Bangladesh also would never accept such a government.
We never said what we thought about the whole question or what we wanted to be done. We only explained the real situation, because we were aware that certain forces had raised their heads in Bangladesh, which nothing in the world could suppress. When a whole people fight for freedom, and When every individual is determined to lay down his life for it, the struggle is bound to succeed. This has been the experience of people all over the world. We repeatedly told the people of the United States and also nations of Europe that they must look to the realities of the situation. If the struggle for freedom could not be suppressed, further steps had to be considered in future because Bangladesh is so close to our borders and we cannot ignore the effect on us of events taking place there.
Every country has its own ideals and interests. Our ideals and the interests of the country are the same. We want peace, and we shall have peace, even though we have at times to fight to secure peace. This is the reason for the war going on today. Unless the situation in Bangladesh changes there can be no peace either there or in the eastern region of our country.
Let us now examine the reasons for the present situation. Pakistan was built up on a wrong foundation, namely, that one religion could form the basis of a nation. There is no country in the world which has people only of one religion. In fact, every country today has people professing several religions and if all of them are not treated with equality and justice that country can have neither unity nor strength. The very basis of the formation of Pakistan was thus wrong.
There are some people in this country who do say that Pakistan must be crushed and that this is the opportunity to end Pakistan. This, however, has never been the stand of the Government. I am convinced that this is not the opinion of the people of this country. We want Pakistan to continue to exist. But this is possible only if it follows the right path. If Pakistan was bent on destroying itself, no outsider could help.
Big powers have done all they could to add to the strength of the Pakistan army but they have done little to strengthen its people. The help they gave never reached the people. It swelled the coffers of only a handful of rulers. The result was that Pakistan got a false sense of strength, its foundations continued to be weak.
Many countries ridiculed our unity, saying that we had people who spoke many languages and professed many religions. They asked how democracy could flourish in a country of illiteracy and poor people. Western commentators wondered how India could maintain unity in the face of so much diversity. However, we adhered to our path, because we were sure that it was the correct path, and those who criticized had not now India. Many times in the past also what we said had proved to be correct. But it was unfortunate that they failed to understand India and her brave people.
Ours is an ancient country with a civilization several centuries old, and we have been trying to follow the principles laid down ages ago. As human beings, we are liable to commit mistakes. but we have certainly been trying to follow the highest ideals. We also know that our social life does not always reflect them. However, we do try, and we shall continue to uphold those ideals. We have to go in trying to build up the country of our dreams and it is this endeavor which binds our people who belong to different religions, speak different languages and hold different views. So long as we pursue these ideals and adhere to our chosen path, nothing can break up our unity or weaken us. This is what the people outside our country have failed to understand.
Even in small countries where people speak more than one language, we witness interminable fighting going on. The question of language agitates us also but people outside India are unable to understand how a country where people speak so many languages-sixteen of which have been recognized in our Constitution-can maintain its unity. For us, however, these differences are matter of little consequence.
We are engaged in the great task of nation-building ever since we attained freedom. It was a great pity that we became slaves and that we continued to be so for many years. This great country of ours, with its great civilization was crushed under the heels of foreign domination. Our language, culture and traditions were destroyed to such a large extent that we ourselves began to feel that we had some weakness and that we could not compete with other nations. Unfortunately, this fear lurks somewhere in the minds of some people. They purchase goods manufacture of abroad, thinking that these are superior in quality. This is in spite of the fact that the people of foreign countries themselves are happy to purchase something made in India. This is just symbolic of the inferiority complex among the people who come under foreign domination. It is that we are fighting against.
It is true that we are backward in many things. It is so because we did not get an opportunity to go forward. Because we were slaves at a time when countries in Europe and United states underwent the industrial revolution, we were left behind in the race. Our administrators did not like any progressive force in this country to flourish. They wanted us to lose faith in ourselves because they knew that this was the only way to keep us backward. But a time comes in the history of a nation when events take a sudden turn. During the period of foreign rule, something of this type happened. It gave strength to the people and they raised their heads.
The British rulers suppressed our culture and asked us to learn the English language. Today you should not oppose the study of English because this language has served as a vehicle for new ideas and inspired our struggle for freedom. We learnt English, and those who went abroad brought with them a concept of what freedom was and showed how we could achieve it. They learnt how we could unite and bring about a revolution in our own land. Earlier, our people did not think on these lines. but thoughts and ideas that came to us from Britain inspired us and strengthened us in our resolve to fight the British rule.
I will narrate to you an incident which I now recall. When I was at school in England and was preparing for degree at the University of Oxford the principal of the school told a visitor that he had asked me at our first meeting why I had left my home and parents and come to country where the ways of having were entirely different. The principal told the visitor that my reply was that I had come to England to know the people more closely so that I could be better prepared to fight them. It is the English language which gave us the concept of freedom. This, however is an old story.
Our freedom is again in peril. There has been an aggression not only on our territory but also on our thinking and high ideals- our ideal of secularism, our independent thinking about international affairs and our determination to stick to our opinions. All this has come under attack.
There are nations which cannot tolerate that India should take independent decisions. They dictate to other nations to behave in a particular manner and they are obeyed. We welcome their friendship and say that we shall be grateful for all help received. If however, there are strings attached to this friendship, or the help that is offered, or if it affects our freedom and our ability to take independent decisions, we spurn their offers of help. We shall stand on our own legs. It seems they have not been able to understand that we shall stick to what we say and that we are determined to implement our independent decisions.
There is a lot of criticism of India abroad. At the United Nations a large number of countries voted against us. They say that war is a very bad thing and that only when it is stopped some settlement would be reached. We waited for a settlement for over eight months. I met some people and told them all about this situation.
Once we were asked in a foreign country how much time we could allow for a settlement. Our Ambassador said. “Just a few weeks”. They then said that a settlement was possible if we could wait for a few month. Our Ambassador said that the situation would take a critical turn in just a week. Several weeks passed and event months but they did nothing. It was stated by some people abroad that I did not abide by my earlier statement, or that I did not war them against the possibility of a war. I did not know at all that there would be a war. But I had very clearly stated that it was getting difficult to prevent a war although we shall try our best to do so. If however, the situation went beyond limit, it might not be possible to avert a war.
I told them that if they wanted to prevent a war they should put pressure on the Pakistan President and Government to change their ways. If this were done there would be no war. Otherwise, it would be difficult to avoid war. India cannot tolerate a whole nation being annihilated and that this should be treated as a purely internal matter of another country. The repression in Bangladesh was so great that we were forced to bear a big burden. A situation was thus brought about in which we had to face Livent then, the initiative was not ours.
If we had wanted to begin a war, some of our leaders would have been in the capital. I was away to Calcutta, where there was a very big meeting attended by about a million people. The Defense Minister was in Patna and on way to Bangalore. The Finance Minister was in Poona and did not even know if he was retiring or going elsewhere. At 5-45p.m. we were told about the Pakistani aggression, which had begun at 5 p.m. We all tried to return to the capital as soon as possible. We did not begin the war. Even then, some people abroad accused India of aggression.
We were naturally deeply hurt that people who professed to be upholders of democracy remained quiet when the time came to defend it. They were not worried whether a country had a democratic form of government or was under military rule. They talked of big ideals, but when the time came they ignored them completely. I do not know whether they did so in their own interests or in the interest of somebody else. I told everybody that if they were not concerned with freedom of the people of Bangladesh, or our own difficulties they could do what they liked.
I also said that if they could take a long range view of their self-interest, it was in their own interest that Bangladesh must not be crushed. The annihilation of Bangladesh could not strengthen Pakistan, but only weaken it. The armed forces of many countries might be brought there but they could not build up a strong nation when the people were victims of untold atrocities.
Today we are fighting not against the people of Pakistan who, we know, arc being suppressed. Their voice is not heard and they are not able to hear what others say. They do not know what has happened in Bangladesh. Even the people of Karachi do not know what happening in Baluchistan or in the North-West Frontier province or in their regions. The people there are as poor as our own people. The help their Government is getting does not reach them at all. In any case this help is not being used for development work. The nations of the world are helping a handful of army leaders to remain in power there. We want to ask the people of Pakistan and the armed forces there why they are fighting for a government which is not prepared to do anything for them. Why are the fighting, when it is not going to strengthen their nation, but weaken it?
Now that we are at war, our first effort is to win it. Not for a moment have I lost the confidence that victory shall be ours, and must be ours. We shall win because our army is strong and brave, and also because it is a new type of army. When we were first attacked, our armed forces were similar to those of Pakistan. A wide gulf separated them from the people. But after the war of 1962, and particularly after the war of 1965, the people and the armed forces have got very close to each other. Men in the army know what the people are doing, what are their social and financial problems and how they can be solved to ensure a better life. Our brave soldiers have their parents, brothers or sisters elsewhere in the country and whatever happens to one affects the other.
The people who are not in uniform also from a king of army today. All have to join hands, in the fight. I am glad that you are donating blood. If need be, we shall ask for more. But the time has not yet come. Today we have to convince the army that behind them is a strong and united nation, which will go on growing stronger as time passes.
We shall achieve full victory only when Bangladesh is completely free and has her own Government. They have a Government just now, but it has to go there, organize its machinery, and, as they have said, take back all the refugees, who should be provided work, so that Bangladesh again becomes the Sonar Bangla, as stated in their National Anthem.
All this we have to do. We who are not on the borders, have to ensure that all weaknesses in our social fabric are removed so that when the war is over, the country takes a big leap forward. We should be victorious not only on the battle field but also in our civic life. We should adhere to a path which takes us forward to glory. There is a big task before you and me.
We have also to ensure that we do not speak ill of others, however much we are opposed to them. we have to show to the world that we are resolute, and that we shall not change even if we are opposed by the whole world. We are on the correct path, and we shall prove that this is so. It is my belief that we have to take all this in our stride. This is proved by events in our country and in international affairs.
We are among those who have given greater support to the United Nations and do so even today. While we respect that august body, we are also aware of its weaknesses. It has adopted many resolutions before but these have been ineffective. This nations of the world have to decide whether they want to be friendly with the 55 crores of our people or not.
There are only a few countries in the world today where the whole population is engaged in the common endeavor of nation-building. The war going on is a recent affair but our main task has been to take our country forward on the road to development. There are only a few countries treading a similar path with foresight. If we become strong, and pur people uphold our ideals, this would benefit not only India but the whole world. We have to convey this message to the world. But it is not being heard today.
It has been a tiring business to receive all sorts of advice from outside, advice which has come from people whose own policies have been proved to be wrong. Even in our own country we sometimes get advice from our newspapers and our brethren. If they are here before us, they need not take this reference to heart, because it is their leaders who are responsible for the opinions they express. Even an ordinary person would reconsider his opinion if he is proved to be wrong. Instead, their leaders express yet another opinion which is proved to be equally wrong.
I do not want to criticize them today, because we are united at present in a common purpose. We are all determined to help our armed forces. This can be done only in two ways, by donating blood and by helping the families of the soldiers who have lost their lives. It is also important for the people to know that for the present we have done away with our differences and that we shall not talk about them. We shall only discuss how to strengthen the country and not to do anything which might be opposed to our interests. They sometimes utter something very insignificant but it is misinterpreted and misused in the international field. Although we never for a moment though of waging a war, there was some talk of war in this country. This gave an excuse to others to say that we had decided to go to war. This is the time when everyone must realize what is in his country’s interest and adhere to it firmly.
I am grateful to you for your assurances that you are with me. I want to assure you that the government and the people are one. The Government will do its best to strengthen the people because that is our goal. We know that democracy cannot be firm if there is a gulf separating the government form the people. A weak democracy means a weak people, and if the people are weak, the army, however strong, cannot by itself give strength to the nation. We must bear all this in mind.
Today our good wishes and prayers are with those brave officers and soldiers who are sacrificing their lives on the front. It is a thing of glory if a citizen lays down his life to protect the country. It is a great opportunity to have this privilege. We all must decide what sacrifices we have to make in the various fields. I hope the students will seriously consider what help they can give at this time of crisis.
The students should also consider what useful changes they can make in the city and the university at the present moment. I hope you all are aware that during the years of world war II there were shortages of everything in England. There were difficulties of all sorts. Yet the people there reformed their educational system, their health organization and other things. Now that we are all united, we have the opportunity to give a shape to the nation, to improve the health of the people and the sanitary conditions.
Let us take the pledge that we shall walk shoulder to shoulder, that we shall not fear any threats, and that we reject all pressures. This does not mean that we are averse to receiving advice from others. We always certainly listen to what others way. We will seriously consider their suggestions. But when we find that they are not in our interest we shall refuse to accept them. We do not say that we shall not accept any suggestion if it is worthwhile. We shall consider it and take the opinion of the people as well. But if everyone felt that it was not in the nation’s interest, then it is our right to follow the path which we consider to be the best for us.
We are happy at the achievements of our brave soldiers on the front. They have been victorious at many places. A hard and difficult future lies ahead. But we should keep aloft the light of the ideal that shines in our hearts; it should be kept up. If we stick to our ideals, we shall be able to bring such prosperity and happiness to our land as neither our own people nor nations abroad have ever known. I am convinced that only the youth can its the lamp and build up a new society and a new humanity. Wars will come and go but our biggest task is to build up the India of our dreams.
* * * * *
I LAST ADDRESSED you from this platform soon after the general Election which we had fought for certain principles and ideals, during the election campaign we put before our own people, and the world, a picture of the country’s aims and objects. And we proved to the world that our people fully understood the part they had to follow and the shape of things to come. If the earlier struggle could at all be called a war, it was a war of words and we achieved victory by vote of the people.
The war now in progress is of another kind. All those who differed with one another during the elections are today united. The people of this country, belonging to all states all religions, and speaking different languages, have put up a common front. We are fighting today for democracy and to show the world that a nation cannot be founded on the basis of religion alone. There is no country in the world today in which all the people profess only one religion. Every country has people of different religions as its citizens. The important question, therefore, is whether the minorities in the country have been given all the rights of citizenship. we are today fighting because we believe that every nation has the right freedom and to make its voice heard provided its demand is just. We are convinced that when people fight for freedom, justice and fraternity, they are bound to be victorious. Many of our brave soldiers are today fighting on our borders, many have lost their lives, and many others have been wounded. All the people of India stand behind them.
India had made good progress in recent years, we achieved a part of what we wanted to. But we know that dark days lie ahead because the danger to the country from all sides is increasing. Those who talked of democracy and raised a finger at us, saying that possibly our faith in democracy was not strong enough, have now forgotten what they used to say about us earlier. Those, who professed to be the champions of the poor and claimed that they supported all struggles for freedom, have today forgotten those principles and professions, and they are trying to coerce us.
You have just heard a song-sarfaroshi ki tamanna....... (we are prepared to lay down our lives in the cause of freedom). When I was a little girl this song was very popular all through our struggle for freedom. It used to be sung at meetings and demonstrations. Another popular song was -sarjae to jae (India must regain freedom event at the cost of our lives). These old songs have acquired a new meaning in our national life today. We are facing a big danger now. This is not because we want to grab another nation’s territory or to destroy another nation. We have no territorial ambitions, not even for an inch of another’s territory. We do not want to harm any country, whether our neighbor or some other. We know that radical changes have come about in Bangladesh, and that the demand for freedom there could not be crushed by any power of the world. We are also aware that if we allow the fire that is burning within the hearts of the patriots to be put out, it might endanger our own freedom, our democracy and our basic principles. These are precisely the reasons why we are fighting today.
We are fighting not because we covet any inch of another’s land or to harm any other country. I repeat it because a lot of vicious propaganda against us is being carried on in several foreign countries, and this in spite of our earnest efforts to find a peaceful solution. To the demand of the people of Bangladesh for freedom, were added the sufferings of the common people there and the atrocities committed on the young men, women and children. It had its repercussions on our own country for in a very short time the suffering people came to us like a river in flood. Although the Pakistan army was massacring lakhs of people many nations of the world shut their eyes to this.
The said it was purcly an internal matter. But where whole nation or community was facing annihilation, it ceased to be an internal affair of that country.
How could India remain an idle spectator when people came to us in millions to save their lives? Their spirit and culture were being crushed. During my recent tour abroad, I told the people in several countries clearly and frankly that India could not be just a silent spectator to all this. But it was alleged that I did not abide by, what I had said earlier. They do not perhaps know us.
We, in this country, young men and women, have inherited a great civilization, which has existed not for the last century or two, but for thousands of years. We have learnt to suffer. But out of our suffering has come the strength to fight against oppression, especially when it crosses the limits. India lost her own freedom and was oppressed in every way. People tried to raise their heads here and there but they were put down. A time came when the people of this country, whether they were illiterate, poor or weak. stood up. They all declarer that freedom was their birthright. All efforts were made to crush them. But we won.
We believe that we are fighting today to strengthen our own freedom. Here is a lot of opposition to us abroad, not because anybody is really worried about what has happened in Pakistan. It might be so in some measure but they are really worried that an oppressed nation of dark-skinned people is not prepared to be their line. They are annoyed that we have dared to chalk out our own path and that we have dared to do what we know is just and right. We believe we are fighting not only for our own country, and our own principles, but for all those in the world who have been oppressed under foreign domination from centuries. These nations may not be away, and may not realize how the down-trodden under foreign domination feel. We however, know it, and we are also aware that if we do not fight today we shall in future meet the same fate as they do today. When India fought for freedom and regained it, our success insured others to throw out their foreign rulers one after the other. The reasons why we are at war today are therefore deep and far-reaching. We are prepared to undergo any sacrifice to face the dangers which threaten us and to pursue the high ideals which are the basis of our national life.
A foreign power has threatened us. It has told us that it is bound by certain treaty alliances with Pakistan. We were aware of these alliances. There were many pacts and so far as I am aware they were intended to contain communism. The object of these alliances was certainly not to fight democracy or to suppress justice or the voice of the oppressed. If this was the object of these alliances, them it was a deliberate effort to deceive the world. There were people who used to criticize our policies and were of the view that we were encouraging communism in this country. They told us that they wanted to save us from China. But we did not co-operate with them.
Now, however, there has been a complete change in their attitude. They say today that China is the biggest country in the world and nobody should come in its way. This is how the Great powers completely shift their stand. If you look at the past history you will find that there is only one country and one people-India-who have never changed their stand. We have always remained steadfast to our principles and policies and would continue to do so.
And, let me repeat that, howsoever weak we may be-our forces are not so strong as those of the other world powers, who can strike terror in Europe and we do not have the weapons they possess nor the resources or the industries to match themthe Indian sprit is indomitable-indomitable because we follow the path of truth and justice. We shall show the world that despite the opposition of all those forces, there is no power on earth which can bend us. But we have to remember that such an attitude could be based only on firm courage and not on mere slogans. It is not an expression of courage to say that we shall destroy another nation or commit atrocities for no reason whatsoever. True courage implies firm adherence to principles, and we must all know what they are.
Our first commitment is to democracy and to make it truly meaningful for the people. This is possible only when all the people living in the land of whatever religion or community and speaking whatever languages are given equal rights. It is our fundamental principle that people of all religions must be treated equally. Democracy cannot strike deep roots, unless disparities between the rich and the poor are reduced. If we pursue these twin ideals, we shall achieve true victory.
How did we get involved in this crisis?
As I told you earlier, efforts were made to crush a poor neighbouring country. This country is more backward than us, because it did not get any opportunity to go forward. It was an unequal battle, with the people on one side, and the army on the other. Even if this country were far away from our borders, it would have had our sympathies in its struggle for freedom because India has always raised her voice in defense of justice and the poor. In this particular case, the country concerned is our neighbor, a neighbors at our very doorstep. Liven if we had tried to exercise restraints and kept our eyes and ears closed we might not have done so successfully, because all that was happening there affected not only our economy, our social system or politics but also our security.
Countries far off from the scene closed their eyes to what was happening there. We also watched all these events with great patience, not for one day one week or one month, but for full nine months. And not a day passed when we did not try our utmost to find out a peaceful solution by which Bangladesh would achieve its freedom. We were all aware that the people there were not prepared to accept anything less than freedom, and as I told the countries of the world, the question was not what India wanted or did not want. The basic question was what the people of Bangladesh wanted or could accept. We only expressed our opinion that, insofar as we could understand them, they would not accept anything less than complete independence. There was a period of full nine months when the world powers could mediate and find out if any solution was possible. But all through this period these nations had been only advising India what to do or not to do. as
And when we were attacked, some of these countries even accused us of being an “aggressor”. We have experienced such incidents in the life of our nation, as well international affairs. The world knows about it and also the effects of these events. Many of these rich countries have sometimes complained that their youth followed a wrong path. They failed to see the effect on the youth of the gulf of difference between their precepts and practices. These are fundamental questions, which must be considered seriously. The time has now come when we should be farsighted and should be prepared to do what is necessary.
There is unity in the nation today, but we have to ensure that the unity we have achieved should not only be on the war front. But also about our fundamental ideals and way of thinking. Only then, we shall have real unity, which will make the country strong and powerful. We are doing all that we can to fight the war that is going on. Our minds go to those who are fighting on the front. We pray for their victory and our good wishes are with all of them. We are proud of their courage, their bravery and the spirit with which they are trying to protect their brothers and sisters. We have to assure them that the people stand solidly behind them and are building the strength of the country to fight the war. This is the duty of every one of us to build a healthy nation, a clean and progressive nation striding rapidly on the road to socialism to eradicate poverty. We have to inspire this confidence in our japans and others.
And while we praise our armed forces, let us not forget our brethren of the Mukti Bahini who had no training for war. Boys of the age of 12 have joined the Mukti Bahini, and they have gone to the front after a few days of training. They are fighting with great courage. It is not an ordinary courage, which inspires the men and women, the old and the young of Bangladesh. This courage could come only out of burning desire for freedom. The Bangladesh of their dreams has today become a reality. But her foundations are still not so strong as we wish them to be. We hope that their leaders and people who are fighting bravely will try to build up a strong nation. Let us remember that the shooting war that is going on will not last long. The real fight will begin after that. The tale of the suffering of the people of Bangladesh is very old. They have today got an opportunity to build a new, because they are free. India does not want to interfere in their internal affairs and will make all efforts to live in friendship with them and show the world how two neighbors can help each other without any interference in their domestic matters. We have to present to the world a new ideal.
The Pakistani army now in Bangladesh is no longer a cohesive force. I wish they could see what the demands of the people of Bangladesh are, and with what enthusiasm the onward march of the Mukti Bahini and the Indian soldiers has been welcomed by the people. It is in the interest of the Pakistani army to see the reality and immediately withdraw from there. If this happens, the bitter feelings between them and the people of Bangladesh might be assuaged. A small step taken today can ensure that they could be good friends in the future. This would come about only if they withdraw from Bangladesh and return to their homes. I do not know how far all this could go through. Ilowever, I understand that they really want do so, and have even sent messages in this connection. But it is the people in power in West Pakistan, sitting quietly in their homes who are not permitting them to return. On the contrary, India is being accused of all that is happening in Bangladesh.
Some officials of the United Nations wanted get out of Dacca safely. They requested us to stop bombing of city so that they could easily get out. We told them that India agreed to their suggestion and would enable them to leave Dacca safely. We also told them that if they wanted our help they should come to Calcutta and leave in safety from there. We had agreed to bring them to Calcutta and assured them that they would not be in any danger. But when the aero planes flew to Dacca to bring the U.N Personnel the authorities at the airport did not allow the planes to land. And it was stated that India first permitted their evacuation and, later, refused to let the planes land. False propaganda is being carried n that India went back on her word and she did not allow the planes to land Event effort is being made to make foreigners in Dacca blame India for the discomforts caused to them. We, on our part, have done the best to ensure that they are not put to any trouble and are safely evacuated.
I hope you all know what you have to do in the present circumstances. You have to ensure that prices do not rise and that there is not hoarding. People should purchase only what they need and not spend unnecessarily. All of us, men, women and children, are in a way soldiers and we have to see that the country remains united and strong and that there is no waste. We shall get over these dark days only if we exercise restraint and austerity.
I am very sad that one of our old comrades of the freedom struggle, the Kashmir Chief Minister, Shri Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, died today. He had been ailing for several months, and had been seriously ill for the past two weeks. His death is a great loss to us. I met him first in 1953, and he was among the handful who fought for freedom in Kashmir, first against the Maharaja and the Britishers and afterwards against the Pakistanis who attacked Kashmir. In the critical period, before the arrival of the Indian army, he was among these handful of Kashmiri who prepared their people to fight the Pakistani army and irregulars. They rallied the people, men. women, young and old and told them of what India stood for. Kashmir chose to be part of India when the time came them accept the leadership of the Muslim league and to become an Islamic State, a communal theocratic state. But they stuck firmly to their principles. Which are the same as our own. They are taking Kashmir forward towards these ideals. We are very sad that at the time when we most needed Shri Sadiq's advice and wisdom, he had left us. However, I am sure that the people of Kashmir who loved him and honored him, will adhere to the path shown by him and that the people of all religions will live in amity in Kashmir and eradicate the poverty and backwardness of their state.
Tragedies like the present one have occurred in the lives of individuals and nations. The test at such moments is whether we go under, or we take them in our stride. Difficulties and dangers do arise and we shall face them. Nothing will stop us in our march. If some obstacle comes in our way shall remove it. Such is the position today. I congratulate you all, because we stand united. We are devoting our energies to repelling the enemy and defeating his evil designs.
Our enemy is not Pakistan, nor are its people. The people of Pakistan have been suppressed for long. Because of the war fever they might abuse us but they are a poor people who never had a say in their country’s administration and would have never opted for war had they been told the truth. I am sure that they also want to eradicate poverty and put their country on its feet. Their leaders have made them dependent on other countries and they have been following policies which are not in their interests. If a poor and weak country is supplied free a large quantity of arms by a big nation, It does not make that country strong, Instead, the burden breaks its back. This precisely is what has happened. Because the rulers of Pakistani knew that mighty nations, it does not make that country strong. Instead, the burden breaks its back. This precisely is what has happened. Because the rulers of Pakistani knew that mighty nations were at their beck and call, they ignored the will of their own people. They thought that, with surfeit of foreign money and arms, they could spurn democracy and ignore the will of the people. They ignored the demands of the Bengalis, the Baluchis and the people of the Frontier Province as well. I can say with all the emphasis at my command that the countries which have been supplying arms to Pakistan have made her weak. If Pakistan comes to harm today, it is they who will be responsible for it. These powers are unhappy with us. Because we have refused such help. We knew that if we curtailed our own freedom nothing could make us strong. If our freedom was genuine, we shall be strong, without any foreign aid, and we shall be able to what we want.
Let us all join together and march on the right path and I am sure our difficulties will be removed. Whether or not we are in a soldier’s uniform, whether or not we have a gun with us, we still continue to be soldiers, or as good as those who are fighting on the front. We must perform our duties in this spirit. Only then can we give our jawans and the country the help they need. We have to march forward together. Only then can we be sure of victory.
- ↑ Free translation of speech in Hindi at the University of December 10, 1971