Transcript in English

Question: Partition occurred in two phases. First in 1947 and later during 1971 when Bangladesh was created from East Pakistan. Do you remember anything about your family’s history and life in Bengal prior to Partition in 1947? (Highlight – Video 1 – 01:11-02:11 )

Answer: I remember very little. I was very small back then but I do recall that there was a big riot between Hindus and Muslims in 1950 in Dhaka. It was not the best of times. Lawlessness and chaos reigned when Muslims would attack Hindus, vandalise their property and harass Hindu women.

Question: Do you remember any specific event or story associated with the years before or after 1947 that you would like to share? (02:12-06:55)

Answer: Like I said, I was very young. I was sent to India in 1962. I was about 12 or 13 years old at that time, but my father felt that I needed to be somewhere safe, given that I was at such a crucial stage of adolescence. Riots became a common feature after I came to India and it was a very turbulent time to be in Dhaka at that point. I was married off soon, when I was just 15 and that ended my education as well. I was studying in class 8 when I was married and after coming to Kolkata, I did not have the opportunity to go to school any more. My in-laws were from East Pakistan too, and I was able to visit East Pakistan twice before the Partition of 1971. The religious animosity between Hindus and Muslims began rising towards a crescendo in 1963 and while it was more pronounced in the cities, the villages were also not immune to communal hatred. We could not visit East Pakistan after ’63 owing to this and all of our earlier passports were cancelled.

Prior to this, in the years leading up to 1962, I remember that my mother had a very difficult time looking after my younger brothers and sisters. Nobody slept peacefully at night as they had to remain alert about raids by Muslims, which could happen unannounced at any time. Sometimes, when she had started to cook, she would put out the fire immediately to avoid being hounded or arrested by Muslims. My younger siblings were always fully dressed by my mother, in constant anticipation that they might have to leave East Pakistan at any point of time. There was a police station right opposite to our home at Dhaka and at times, my mother would send my siblings there to, whenever there was a Muslim attack in the neighbourhood. Such were those days. It was terrible.

Question: Was there any particular attack or incident associated with your family, particularly at the time of Partition in 1947 that you have heard from your parents? (06:57-08:02)

Answer: Yes. My mother had told me about my grandmother’s experience during 1947. At that point of time, riots between Hindus and Muslims were extremely pronounced. Muslims would attack Hindu homes, loot their belongings, harm any person that they lay their hands on and wreak havoc on a regular basis. Once, my grandmother’s family was able to learn about an incoming Muslim attack and most of the family members had hidden elsewhere to protect themselves. Those unable to flee had to remain hidden at home. When the Muslims entered their home, they were searched, brought out and brutally sliced to pieces. Their decapitated bodies were left at home and found by the others once the attackers had left and they had returned.

Question: Do you recall any festivals that you used to celebrate before coming to India? What was it like? (Highlight – Video 2 -01:34-02:24)

Answer: Yes, Durga Pujo was a big event at our home. We used to celebrate it every year, prior to 2 years of my marriage. It was a beautiful time and we hosted many guests during the entire stretch of the festivals. I could not understand where and how we always had so many guests over. Our house was 3 stories and we had to completely let go of the ground floor, one month before the festivities were scheduled. The idols were made there and the different rituals and ceremonies of the puja also took place on the ground floor for 5 days till Vijaya Dasahami. Durga Pujo was followed by celebrating Lakshmi Pujo and Kali Pujo.

Question: Did you have Muslims friends or guests during these festivals? (02:04-02:50)

Answer: Durga Pujo was not a Muslim festival and we were never really vigilant if we had Muslim guests or not.  However, I remember that my father had several Muslim friends and some of them would come visit us during Durga Pujo, Lakshmi Pujo and Kali Pujo. They were very nice people and it felt good to have them over.

Question: While your family was at Dhaka in 1947, there was an infamous riot in Calcutta. Were any of your friends or family members affected or killed by it? (04:08-05:06)

Answer: We had friends and family members who then used to live in Rajabazar Kolkata. The paranoia, despair and violence of the riot was such that they had left their houses and rushed to us. I remember seeing them arrive at our house. Our family was staying at Shobhabazar in Kolkata at that time.

Question: Why did you and your family decide to leave Dhaka? Was it prompted by financial issues or was there any other reason behind it? (Highlight – Video 2 – 05:07-06:55)

Answer: Communal hatred between Hindus and Muslims and the constant fear of life was the main reason why my parents decided to leave Dhaka. It was becoming impossible to live there and importantly; it was affecting the education of us siblings. My father was a well-known person in Dhaka so escaping was a bit difficult. But he decided to sell our home overnight and leave for Kolkata. We left our home exactly as it was, as if we were still living in it. None of our family friends in Dhaka were informed about it and this is how we escaped to India. Even our associates and friends in Kolkata were not aware that we were moving from East Pakistan so it was very sudden for all of us. Later on, we came to know that my father was informed about a possible attack on our family by Muslims which is why he was forced to take such an immediate and drastic step.

Question: Do you have any memories about the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971? What happened to your friends still living in East Pakistan? Were you still in touch with them? (09:12-11:16)

Answer: Everyone was scared about their lives. Oppression under Muslims knew no limit and everybody just wanted to stay alive. But not all Muslims were bad and sometimes, some of our friends were also given shelter by many Muslim families, in the face of an impending attack. Many of our friends were taken to camps by Muslims and dumped together, without food and water. Some of them were brave enough to escape and cross the border to Kolkata, India.

Our earlier neighbourhood in Dhaka where we used to have our home, was frequently haunted by West Pakistani soldiers in the decade leading up to 1971. The military would come and choose one family member each from 12 or 13 houses in that locality and kill them on the road. In the main thoroughfare, they would often catch individuals trying to flee the country and shoot them as well. Women, who had stepped out with the intention of leaving East Pakistan or were stranded after their male family members were killed; were also assaulted and taken advantage of by the soldiers and troops.