1971: A People’s History from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India | Anam Zakria and Aasim Sajjad Akhtar

The year 1971 exists everywhere in Bangladesh – on its roads, in sculptures, in its museums and oral history projects, in its curriculum, in people’s homes and their stories, and in political discourse. It marks the birth of the nation, it’s liberation. More than 1000 miles away, in Pakistan too, 1971 marks a watershed moment, its memories sitting uncomfortably in public imagination. It is remembered as the ‘Fall of Dacca’, the dismemberment of Pakistan or the third Indo-Pak war. In India, 1971 represents something else-the story of humanitarian intervention, of triumph and valour that paved the way for India’s rise as a military power, the beginning of its journey to becoming a regional superpower.

Navigating the widely varied terrain that is 1971 across Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, Anam Zakaria sifts through three distinct state narratives, and studies the institutionalization of the memory of the year and its events. Through a personal journey, she juxtaposes state narratives with people’s history on the ground, bringing forth the nuanced experiences of those who lived through the war. Using intergenerational interviews, textbook analyses, visits to schools and travels to museums and sites commemorating 1971, Zakaria explores the ways in which 1971 is remembered and forgotten across countries, generations and communities.

Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar will join the session as a discussant.

About the Author:

Anam Zakaria is a dedicated researcher, development professional, and passionate educator, specializing in oral histories and identity politics. With a profound focus on trauma and healing within conflict zones, Zakaria's work delves into the profound impacts of historical events on individuals and communities. Her exceptional expertise led to the publication of her first book, "The Footprints of Partition: Narratives of Four Generations of Pakistanis and Indians," which garnered recognition, including the prestigious KLF-German Peace Prize in 2017.

About the discussant:

Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar is an esteemed educator, progressive politician, and renowned columnist hailing from Pakistan. With a strong commitment to social justice and equality, Akhtar holds the position of associate professor of political economy at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.

[shekharsingh]

Sare jahan ka dard inke jigar mein hai siwaye Uighar Muslim aur Pakistani awam ke !!

[gopalakrishnah]

BJP lost mandate in Karnataka
bc of its misrule in the past few years That doesn't mean we support Pakistan narrative

[pampachatterjee]

1:17:00 Indian nationalism isn't anti pak. Your ideas are dated . A new India has been taking shape since past decades. Indian natlsm today is rooted in civilisational cultural identity that celebrates thought and philosophical pluralism aptly codified in its 1947 constitution.

[UmeshGupta-shnj]

It’s very difficult for Pakistani to do honest research and getting rid of biases. Moreover since Pakistanis have not studied freedom movement their appreciation about joint Indian nationalism remain not understood. Since 99% of Pakistanis and Indians have same genes talking about Muslim nationalism have no meaning. If the real intentions was to have really separate nation for Muslims why leave one Pakistan in India and then blame India. As Asim Sajjad has said people of Pakistan are not ready. I also request Pakistanis particularly research associates to go through Indian text books. Let them tell how much it talks about Pakistan and Muslims. It is not a state policy perhaps Hindus do have feelings of feeling oppressed by Muslim rulers.

[subhasisghosh]

The basic difference between India and Pakistan is the difference in the religion followed by the majority. Hinduism respects other religions, does not indulge in proselytising, is open to questioning, has no commandments, no blasphemy, no apostasy etc. From religion, comes civilisational values. Now check Pakistan and you know the difference

[youthink]

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh both Muslim countries are in IMF. Whereas INDIA due to it’s educated and hardworking Hindu population is progressing towards prosperity. Thanks Jinnah for dividing INDIA

[AliHossain-knkf]

Facts are many but the truth is one, Bangladesh hasn't forgotten 1971.

[UmeshGupta-shnj]

FYI. please note as 1941 census your Lahore city Lahore District population was
City District
Total: 632126. 1695375
Muslims: 418594. (66%). 1027772 (60%)
Hindus: 161349. 284351
Sikhs: 30143
Jains: 1015
Christians: 20274
Others: 751

I didn’t find it feasible to calculate figure for Sikhs, Christians and others for whole of Lahore district.

[makdavian]

There is a fundamental misunderstanding of situation here.

1. Secularism in India never existed - it was always appeasement politics that worked against Hindus. Hindus for the most part remained tolerant and ate it up until they could not and voted for Modi in 2014 and again in 2019. All religions were not equal in India. By law, a Muslim had more leeway to practice his religion and a Hindu did not. Please understand this. BJP only promises to make in a level playing field, not to discriminate against Muslims.

2. A vote for Modi is not just about religion issue, but also about the economic development. The youth is with him because he promises development and economic prosperity and he delivers. People were fed up about the fact that Congress could never make India into a developed country (or rather didnt want to) in 60 years after 1947 even when India they inherited had all the British Raj industrial base and a rudimentary infra and other countries like Japan (nuked twice), Korea and the likes got ahead of us. Modi promises to make India developed, not to make it a Hindu nation.

Look at his promises today - "a developed India by 2047" - nowhere it says he's gonna make it into a Hindu nation.

Youth votes for him not because of alleged Hindu supremacy but because of his economic polices and his pledge to being back India's civilisation glory.

And BTW, an orthodox Hindu is not as useless and dangerous as an orthodox Islamic fundamentalist - there's a difference. One just minds his own business and make sure his interests are not being trampled on while the other wants to blow up the "kafir".

[youthink]

Pakistanis must realise Pakistan split because Bengalis had a culture, whereas Pakistanis even today are without culture and history. No country can survive or thrive without cultural identity

[neilmichael]

As far as teaching History in India is concerned, Anam is right, History is compulsorily taught in schools till the 10th or matriculation. Post that you need to opt for the subject as an Arts student for your graduation and further. She is also right that topics of history as a compulsion majorly stops at the independence of India with a few post-independence topics like the green revolution, 5-year plans etc. However, let me categorically state that our school and college history books never demonize 'muslims'! Even while teaching about invaders like Ghazni and Abdali, they are always categorized as Iranian and Afghan invaders. "Treacherous muslims and disloyal citizens left behind"...you may find these words in books written by biased historian or even parroted by ultra-nationalist, but I can bet my last cent you will never find these words in any text books taught in any Indian school or college!!

[akshaymehta]

I'm someone from India, and I really like this show a lot. Kudos to everyone trying to get some versions of discourse going in a country slightly notorious in its reputation of tolerance (or lack thereof) towards open conversations. Just one thing to add would be on the Indian perspective for the '71 war. I believe the main reason was we couldn't fund millions of refugees, and it was cheaper to go to war with Pakistan than otherwise. Surprised that it didn't feature in the conversations you had in your travels in India. Good luck with future content 😀

[sunala]

*10 Biggest Blunders made by Pakistan since Independence*

1)Formation of a country on the basis of religion is the biggest mistake made by the founders of Pakistan.

2)Second mistake was the name coined for the new country as Pakistan. There is Afghanistan for Afghans. There is China for Chinese people. There is Kazakhstan for Kazaki people. But there are on group or race called Pak or Pakis. The Sidhi, Baloch, Punjabi, Pushto and Bengali have their own language, culture, dresses and food habit. Tying them as a nation in the name of religion was not possible from the beginning. During united India, the revenue collection from East Bengal was less than that of West Bengal. The provinces like NWFP and Balochistan had very negligible revenue. The Sindh and Punjab provinces used have better revenue. But the revenue collection was better in Hindu and Sikh dominated areas in Punjab. In case of Sindh the revenue collection was better in cities like Karachi and Hyderabad . After formation of Pakistan there was crisis of revenue from the beginning. Pakistan had ambition to capture as much area as possible after partition. So it formed a huge Army to recapture the entire India. The cost of raising and managing such Army was enormous. Pakistan crumbled to manage such a huge Army.

3)The next problem for Pakistan was lack of democracy and respect for its leaders. Mohammad Ali Jinha could not get an ambulance during his last days to be shifted to the hospital. His PM Liyakat Alli khan tried his level best to stop all medical facilities to Jinha. He died under very difficult condition. Martial Law by Army Generals also ruined the civil and democratic institutions of Pakistan. From its inception Pakistan tried to survive on anti India slogans. Pakistan developed its ambition to capture Indian territory by any means. Jammu and Kashmir became the survival syndrome of Pakistan. Pakistan did not bother to improve its economy, agriculture, industries, education and health care. It depended on donations from Arab countries, USA, China and Turkey.

4)It used all the donations to build its Armed Forces. USA supported Pakistan and helped with advanced weapon systems.
In 1947 Pak Army attacked Jammu and Kashmir and occupied 35% of the state.
In 1965 Pakistan attacked J and K to capture it from India. It lost badly in the war. It lost some territory in Azad Kashmir and Punjab.

5)There was repression in east Pakistan on Bengali Muslims. Muzibur Rhaman the leader of Awami league was arrested and there was war with India in 1971. Bangladesh was liberated and Muzibur Rahman became the PM of Bangladesh.
Zulfiqar Alli Bhutto the PM of Pakistan signed the Shimla Agreement. India returned all the prisoner of war to Pakistan. Pakistan started its nuclear bomb programme with the help of China. Zia ul Haque became the Army Chief of Pakistan and arrested PM Bhutto. Then he was charged with corruption and anti national activities. Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan. Zia ul Haque became the martial law dictator and started the doctrine of thousand cuts to India through terror activities. He sponsored terror activities in Punjab for Khalistan.

6)Pakistan became a terror state with the help of USA and Saudi Arab. Kashmir also came under terror activities. Zia ul Haque died in a plane crash. Democracy returned to Pakistan. But it was suffocated by Army again.

7)Pak Army sabotaged all peace process with India including the Lahore Bus Journey by PM of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Then there was Kargil attack by Pakistan. It lost the Kargil war. In between Pakistan also tested atomic weapons. It threatened India on any small issue to nuke .

8)Terrorism was sponsored by Pak army to damage India through Jihad in Kashmir. Pakistan sponsored dreaded terror groups in the name of Islam and Jihad. Pak PM Benazir Bhutto was eliminated by some terror group after her arrival in Pakistan.
PM Nawaz Shariff was arrested and put in jail for some scandal.
President Asif Zardari was arrested and put in jail. Army placed a puppet Government in Islamabad. Terror groups ruled Pakistan with Army.

9)Balochistan be came next victim of exploitation by Pakistan.
Pakistan leased out some land from Gilgit to China. It started its terror hub in Muzafarabad.

10)India faced terror problems from Pakistan. But Pakistan suffered badly in economic front. Now Pakistan is a failed state. It has no money to survive.

Count down has started for the collapse of Pakistan. It is a matter of time before the theocratic state and terror state of Pakistan collapse completely.

*SuNaLa*
!As I Live I Learn!
🙏🇮🇳🙏

[rossgolla]

Thanks almighty Bangladesh has been saved from hybrid colonial setup of Pakistan in 1971. Otherwise Bangladesh would have been situation like as baluchistan or Afghanistan.

[nisarggovani]

for pakistan, relation with india is compulsory but for india, it's optional.

[sonusukkur]

Creation of Bangladesh has disproved the two nation theory practically.

[rajeshnair]

I find Aasim's thinking about how Karnataka was lost by BJP and South India pushing back Indian Nationalism a fallcy. Nationalism was always there in the masses but was never evoked by any Indian leader unlike Jinnah. So if you find Indian Nationalism having a surge today it's ciz someone ( in this case BJP) has stirred the same beliefs in Hindus what Jinnah did long ago

[Indu-uwnzrti]

“Education “ is a great leveller . Indians should focus & prioritise on attaining 💯 % literacy & poverty alleviation

[b]

You are completely wrong on South India and the north eastern Indian states . BJP alone does not define Indian nation . Indian nation, the concept, the reality is deep rooted among its citizens across length and breadth of India regardless of race, ethnicity, language, and any diverse factors .

[iotasymbol]

State of india are based on sub naitionalism made on line of ethnicity language and etc but all guys stand together to believe in idea of india cauz together we r powerful and everyone knows that here in our states!! Its democratic plus gives freedom to follow and preserve your culture easily !! And if anyone have any prblm they can put thier idea forward by the means of democratic way not like pakistani via kashmir do to destabilize the region