Civic figures suggest inclusion of Zia's article 'Birth of a Nation' in textbook

Several civil society figures have suggested the inclusion of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's much-talked-about article "Birth of a Nation," published soon after the 1971 Liberation War, in textbooks as the country observes his martyrdom anniversary tomorrow (30 May).

Bangla Academy President Educationist Professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq told BSS that the piece appeared first in the now-defunct Dainik Bangla coinciding with the first anniversary of the Independence Day in 1972, describing it as a "historic document." 

"This is a good piece of writing and historical document that should be added to the text curriculum," he said.

Historian Professor Syed Anwar Husain supplemented Huq, saying "certainly."

"The true history of the Liberation War is fading day by day. The article should be part of the textbook to preserve the 1971 history," Husain said.

Several other reputed academics said the future generation could develop a broader, more inclusive, and historically enriched understanding of the Liberation War and the emergence of Bangladesh if the article were incorporated in the textbook.

"I went through the article. This is a very informative piece. There is no misleading thing in the write-up. It could be incorporated in any subject related to Bangladesh Studies," former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor and Ambassador Professor Dr Anwarulllah Chowdhury said.

The then Dainik Bangla published "Birth of a Nation" in its Independence Day issue in 1972 when Zia was the deputy army chief, having the elevated rank of major general as a senior 1971 veteran.

The now-defunct Weekly Bicitra, a sister concern of the same newspaper, reprinted the piece on the same day in 1974.

Founding Vice-Chancellor of Thakurgaon University Prof Dr Md Israfil said when Zia's article was published, it drew wide appreciation for nicely portraying the backdrop of the beginning of the Liberation War.

"The new generation, regardless of religion or caste, should know about this history," the VC added.

A then major in the Pakistani army, Zia revolted by mobilising Bengali troops under his command in the port city of Chattogram soon after the Pakistani junta launched their infamous Operation Searchlight at the midnight of 25 March 1971.

He was the second in command of the Eight East Bengal Regiment at that time.

26 March 1971 is Bangladesh's Independence Day. In the reflective article, Zia later described the day as "etched in the Bangalee's heart in blood letters."

"The time was very precious. I called the (Bengali) officers, JCOs (junior commissioned officers), and the jawans (ordinary soldiers) . . . I directed them to appear in armed struggle. They unanimously accepted the order willingly," Zia wrote in his article.

Zia wrote that thereafter he moved the troops to the Kalurghat area on the outskirts of the port city, where the Bengali radio employees by then had set up the makeshift clandestine Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, from where he proclaimed the Independence of Bangladesh.

In that reflective article, Zia recounted the Bengalis' cultural repression and political marginalisation under the Pakistani rule, particularly the prolonged military regimes, as he grew up as a student and exhausted the earlier part of his army career.

"After the creation of Pakistan, when Pakistan's founder) Mr Jinnah declared in the historic Dhaka city that 'Urdu and only Urdu' would be the state language of Pakistan, in my opinion, from that day, Bengali nationalism was sown in the hearts of Bengalis," he wrote.

Zia added, "The founder of Pakistan himself had sown the seed of destruction of the unnatural country on that very day on this field of Dhaka." He said the actions of the Pakistani junta made imperative as well as inevitable the Bengali armed resistance.

The article recounted the chronological political developments—the 1952 Language Movement, the 1954 general elections, the military rule under Ayub Khan, the the1965 Pak-India War, the nationalist movements of the 1960s, and the subsequent 1970 general elections—as major events that shook his mind.

Zia particularly noted Pakistani rulers' deliberate attempts to obstruct East Pakistan's development, despicable attitude towards Bengalis, and actions to suppress the nationalist uprising as the phenomenon that led Bengalis towards their eventual liberation war.

The 1969 mass uprising and the Agartala conspiracy case accusing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the prime suspect pressed home the demand for independence.

"The fate of the case (resulting in unconditional release of Sheikh Mujib) forged the unity of Bengali soldiers, sailors, and airmen . . . in solidarity with the Bengali (civilian) population," Zia wrote.

The Awami League's landslide victory in the 1970 elections was a major setback for the Pakistani rulers, but their deliberate delay and conspiracies to halt the transfer of power heated up the political situation, leading to the start of the nationwide Non-Cooperation Movement in March 1971.

Zia wrote the Pakistani army began to secretly strengthen military preparedness for the crackdown, and in that backdrop Sheikh Mujib delivered his landmark 7 March address.

"The historic 7 March 1971 of Sheikh Mujib's speech at Race Course Maidan appeared to us as the 'green signal.' We gave our plan its final shape . . . then appeared the black night in between March 25 and 26," the article read.

Zia wrote on the night of 25 March, Pakistani forces carried out a brutal massacre of unarmed Bengalis in Dhaka and other major cities, making the horrific hours a pivotal moment for the Bengalis to take a "right decision" for waging the Liberation War, where he initially was in command of a sector and later expanded into a brigade-size unit called "Z Force."

The article is available on the website.

His family, subsequently, was familiarised with the people and the country centering the Liberation War.

A 1971 veteran and military general, Zia later emerged as a statesman who led the country as the president, reshaping the course of politics and introducing "Bangladeshi Nationalism," which emphasised territorial sovereignty, religious identity, and a multi-cultural citizenry.

After assuming power, he introduced multi-party democracy, revoking the one-party BAKSAL rule, and ensured freedom of expression to take the country forward with the collective efforts of people from all classes, professions, castes, and creeds.