Editorial
The heritage of Ekushey
It is a day for collective introspection
EVERY observance of Ekushey is a remembrance of the young men who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the Bangla language this day in February 1952. They did so in order for all of us to be free to speak in that language. It is thus that we pay tribute to Salam, Jabbar, Barkat, Rafiq and all those others who scaled the heights of martyrdom and in doing so left us all a legacy that we were to consistently build on. In the broader sense of the meaning, therefore, every observance of Ekushey is a recapitulation of the story of men who made the first of many sacrifices in the larger interest of the Bengali nation culminating in the emergence of independent Bangladesh through a determined, spirited war of liberation in 1971.
Today, at a distance of time from the struggle launched in 1952, it is natural to ask whether we as a people have been able to uphold the legacy that the martyrs of Ekushey left for us. It is certainly true that the Bangla language has been honoured through February 21 being recognised as International Mother Language Day. And yet there is that perceptible feeling in us that the degree to which Bangla should have been a part of our education, indeed of our day-to-day approach to life, has not quite been attained. Nations with self-esteem constantly make efforts to have themselves defined by the emphasis they place on their distinctive cultural heritage, of which language happens to be the most important underpinning. It is from such a perspective that we need to ask ourselves today if we have met the test. This is important; for, one's understanding and use of one's language are what lead one to an appreciation of cultures in the wider world. That's why we also need to recognise and indeed promote the cultural and linguistic heritages of Bangladesh's indigenous peoples.
As we trek to the Shaheed Minar this morning, or offer silent prayers for the martyrs of Ekushey at home, let us resolve that the dreams inherent in the struggle of 1952 -- one of democracy and human dignity -- will be realised soon for all of us to be able to make our humble contributions, individually as well as collectively, to the building of a happy, prosperous future for Bangladesh.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments