By Dr Manzure Khoda Torik
To erase Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from history, Bangladesh itself would have to be erased from the world map. Is that possible?
Muhammad Golam Sarwar has given an excellent response to this question through Bertolt Brecht’s story of the “Writing on the Wall.”
The German playwright Bertolt Brecht wrote a play that was translated into Bangla under the title Deyaler Likhan (The Writing on the Wall). In a prison, several revolutionary inmates wrote on the wall: “Long live the revolution.”
When the prison superintendent saw the writing, he became furious. He angrily ordered the guards to erase it immediately.
Several guards tried to cover the slogan with white paint. Unfortunately, the deep red letters could not be completely concealed beneath the white paint. The words “Long live the revolution” could still be seen, although somewhat faintly.
The superintendent became even angrier. He ordered the guards not to paint the entire wall, but to apply more paint specifically over the writing.
The guards carefully painted over the individual letters. But instead of disappearing, the slogan became even more prominent: “Long live the revolution.”
Afraid to show the wall to the superintendent in that condition, the guards then tried to scrape the writing off the wall. But that only made the words more deeply engraved into the wall. The slogan remained permanently etched there:
“Long live the revolution.”
Finally, the superintendent shouted:
“Then tear down the wall itself.”
The guards began preparing to demolish the wall.
“Build struggle committees under the leadership of the Awami League in every village and every neighbourhood. And remain prepared with whatever we have. We have given blood; we will give more blood. We will free the people of this country, Insha’Allah. This time, the struggle is a struggle for our emancipation; this time, the struggle is a struggle for independence. Joy Bangla.”
— Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, architect of Bangladesh
Sheikh Mujib’s name is found in every district, police station, upazila and union of Bangladesh. His name is spread across villages, cities, markets and bazaars, hills and rivers.
In a sense, Sheikh Mujib’s name is written on every wall of Bangladesh—whether through state initiatives or spontaneously by the people. Sheikh Mujib exists throughout Bangladesh.
Therefore, to erase Sheikh Mujib’s name from Bangladesh, Bangladesh itself would have to be torn apart.
Does Jamaat-e-Islami and its “goon force”, Islami Chhatra Shibir, have that power?
No, Jamaat-Shibir does not have that power.
The more they try to erase Sheikh Mujib’s name, the more prominently it will return.
There is no way to erase Sheikh Mujib’s name without completely destroying Bangladesh itself.
Sheikh Mujib will return again and again—not only in the hearts of Bengalis, but also, metaphorically, he will remain like a ghost sitting on the shoulders of the July fighters, including Jamaat-Shibir. In Bangla, we have a phrase for this: tariye niye berano—to be haunted and pursued.
Sheikh Mujib, the writer predicts, will haunt the so-called July fighters, Jamaat-Shibir and others like a nightmare haunting a person driven to madness.
“In the future, city corporations will once again have to rent cranes to write Sheikh Mujib’s name.
I confirm that.
Write down this prediction of mine.”
Dr Manzure Khoda Torik
Political analyst
