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| Arup Roy, Lecturer in English Language & Literature, Kanchkura University College |
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| Historical Speech on 7th March |
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave his historical speech on 7th March which is considered as the core inspiration of our liberation. The speech simply led East Pakistan to an independent nation. Bangabandhu delivered that speech just 18 days before the start of liberation war. At that time the rivalry between East and West Pakistan reached at its pick. Though Awami League led by Bengali Nationalist leader Bangabandhu won the general election in the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1970, military rulers of West Pakistan denied transferring power to his party. This activity totally shocked the people of East Pakistan. At that moment a bold response had been mandatory from the East Pakistanis. Then Bangabandhu came forward with his historical speech at a huge rally at the racecourse. The speech not only revived or inspired the East Pakistanis but also gave the required direction to get rid of exploitation, to fight for freedom. "Our struggle is for our freedom", he uttered. "Our struggle is for our independence." He told them to turn every house into a fortress"; He told them to get prepared for the liberation war. His speech simply touched the heart of the people because the words he spoke were not mere words. His words represented the demands and rights of the people of then East Pakistan. They understood the importance to liberate their mother earth. In a word, his speech transformed the sleeping East Pakistanis into a mentally prepared fighting force. So, when West Pakistanis' troops launched "Operation Searchlight" on the 25th of March, East Pakistanis did not stay mute. People from all walks of life came forward to free their land and joined the liberation war. They took up weapons and fought bravely against such Hynes and continued the fight until they ensured that their mother earth became free of such enemies. So, we can understand how precious his speech was! His speech still reminds us not to be submissive to any oppression and suppression; his speech reminds us that we know how to respond to any kind of inhumanity.
