The Liberation war of Bangladesh and India
Introduction
The Struggle for liberation in Bangladesh that raised the question of independence has been marked as a
milestone in the contemporary regional and the world politics. During the nerve wrecking period of 70s war,
this war for salvation in Bangladesh worked as a major contributor in the decision- making proceedings
regarding the aggravated questions of South Asia concerning the multifaceted regional and international
politics. Centering this war, several countries evaluated their positions either along or against the grain, in
terms of their diplomatic interests and stayed either with Bangladesh or against or in neutral state.
Apparently, the policies and activities of these countries ostensibly affected the momentum of Bangladesh’s
war of Independence.
In terms of geographical perspective, it can be observed that except India, many of the South Asian
countries held onto reservations concerning this war and directly didn’t contribute to the struggle of
Bangladesh. Sri Lanka and Burma maintained the relationship of loyalty to with Pakistan. Nepal’s role was
also indistinct and indirect. But the western part of north-east, border-adjacent India could not possibly stay
obscurely positioned with Bangladesh. Hence in this war of Independence in Bangladesh, India’s role had to
be precise and direct.
Renowned historian Muntassir Mamoon stated with penance “A big limitation to our research regarding the
freedom struggle of 71 is that this work has been happening almost unilaterally” in the introduction of the
book ‘Pakisthanider Drishtite Akattor’. Substantially, the parties of this freedom struggle are three-
Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The exercise concerning the war of Liberation has no deficiency of
Bangladesh’s zeal. But the other two parties, Pakisthan and India’s role is not yet highlighted much. Nothing
has been obtained except very few excerpts of self-immolation and analytical composition whereas the
subject of India’s role regarding the freedom struggle of Bangladesh was exceptionally solemn and decisive.
Moreover, the aspect of India’s role has been trending to be written superficially.
Presently this book’s main objective is to highlight the role of India through proper information and realistic
analysis. Alongside this, it is a try to terminate the unilateral exercise of such a big affair as well as to
uphold the multidimensionality of India’s prolegomenon. Beyond the role of Indira Gandhi as a prime
minister and a state, the responses that were written regarding the other relevant significant subjects
concerning the war of Independence which were impermanent at various levels in the Indian subcontinent
for almost nine months, no attempt was made to highlight it till date. That is, the responses at the private
level beyond the state’s position and retaliation which have been neglected, an attempt to shed light on those
has been aimed in this book.
This book is split into seven chapters. Even though after the partition of India in 1947 an independent
Pakisthan state was born, within a few days an incitement occurred concerning the Bengali ethnicity
focusing on the language of the people of East Pakisthan which advanced the formation of an Independent
Bangladesh, has been analytically described and upheld in the first chapter.
The second chapter discusses the refugee issues. From the beginning of the liberation war till the final
victory, the refugee issue worked as a significant affair in India’s inner political, economic and social fields.
How this issue affected the border states of India, the political parties, the civilians and the government of
India and above all the United States, have been explored in this chapter. At the same time how India’s
topographical position has been impacted due to this issue is also raised.
The third chapter includes two levels to the discussion. The first level emphasizes on the role of the political
party members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha regarding the Refugee issue. The second level highlights the
position of the contemporary political parties on the question of the liberation war of Bangladesh as a whole.
The key topic of discussion in the fourth chapter is the role of India in terms of creating international public
opinion regarding the liberation war of Bangladesh so that the foreign states play a pragmatic part in it.
While doing this analysis, primarily undertaking it at the public and private level, focusing the obligation to
build world public opinion through the analysis of controversies and being an ultimate state the initiatives
taken by India and how effective they were in the sequential parliamentary politics, is discussed.
Chapter five deals with India’s position on the trial and release of Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh in the
initiative of the trial of Sheikh Mujibur, in the contemporary international politics and that of India, gave rise
to intense concern and anxiety. In this context, from the bottom of India to the government level and the
kind of opinion the newspapers made at the same time, is vindicated.
In the sixth chapter India’s various political parties, professional organizations, media, private, state
legislative, the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha imposed various pressure on the Indian government to recognize
the Mujibur government since March 1971. But the Indian government has long avoided the issue of
accreditation. Finally, on December 6, India recognized Bangladesh. Despite the downward pressure on the
question of recognition the reason why the Indian government took a contentious view, has been analyzed.
The seventh chapter deals with a crucial topic- As a state, the debates surrounding India’s role in the
liberation of Bangladesh, highlighting these to explore the truth of the moot.
Overall, the evaluation of the full picture of India’s role and activities in the liberation war of Bangladesh is
sited in the conclusion.
Without whose help this book could not be written, the first of them to be named is my better-half Sukanya
and my daughter Adrita. The custodian of my research Professor Sujata Mukherjee, whose inspiration has
given me the intellectual support to write the book. Furthermore, Professor Sabyasachi Basu Roychoudhuri,
Professor Subrata Saha, Professor Sushnath Das, Professor Bankim Chandra Mondal, Professor Himbantha
Banerjee have showered indelible constant encouragement. Whenever any information or books were
desired, the trouble terminators- Professor Chittaranjan Mondal and sub-high commissioner of Bangladesh,
the then Kolkata, Smt. Abida Islam were there to assist.
My heartfelt love to my beloved students, among them Shankar deb Maity, Shomdeb Maity, Rwitik Biswas,
Somnath Pradhan, Purbali Basu, Moumita Karmakar and Moumita Ghosh, without whom this work would
not have culminated.
Foremost work, there will be mistakes. Apologies in advance.
Department of History Ashis Kumar Das
Rabindra Bharati University
April 5, 2016