Lesson 2: The Tale of Homecoming - 2
Bangabandhu left London for Dhaka on the 9 January evening in 1972. On the way he would stopover in Delhi. He was welcomed at Delhi's Palam Airport in the morning of 10 January by President V.V. Giri, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, West Bengal politician and Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray and the chiefs of the Indian armed forces. Bangabandhu stayed in Delhi for about two hours. During this time, he addressed a public rally and mesmerized everyone. There he wholeheartedly thanked Mrs. Gandhi, the people and the politicians of India for the tremendous help they had provided to Bangladesh and its ten million refugees.
Then it was on to Dhaka, where millions of people had begun to crowd the route that their leader would pass and the Race Course Maidan where the leader would deliver a speech before going home. On the tarmac at Tejgaon Airport, soldiers of the Indian army and the Mukti Bahini were on standby to present Bangladesh's President with a guard of honour. Members of the wartime cabinet waited in the winter sun, as did a horde of newsmen. Sometime after 1:30 pm the Comet aircraft made available to Bangabandhu by the British government landed in Dhaka.
As soon as the doors of the aircraft opened, Bangabandhu appeared. It was clear he had lost weight due to imprisonment for nearly ten months in a Pakistani prison. A big smile appeared on his face as he swept back his hair with his right hand. Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad then moved forward and buried his head in his leader's chest. Both men broke down. Their tears soon led to moist eyes in nearly everyone else present around them. Once the formalities at the airport were completed, the Father of the Nation climbed on a board of an open truck, with the Mujibnagar government figures and the student leaders crowding around him. He headed for the Race Course.
The two-mile stretch of road would take the procession almost three hours to cover. At the Race Course, Bangabandhu wept remembering the sacrifices of the Bangalees had made in the war against Pakistan. He told how the military junta had tried to intimidate him during his trial. He said, "I told them I am a Bangalee and a Muslim, who only dies once. I would walk the gallows with head held high." The Father of the Nation remarked, the Bangalees had become the golden children of the Golden Bengal. Quoting the poet Rabindranath Tagore, who once had complained that the people of Bengal had remained mere Bangalees but were yet to become true human beings. Mujib told the jubilant crowd that the poet had been proved wrong. "Come back, O poet", he intoned dramatically, "and see how your Bangalees are today transformed into worthy men."
Moments later, as dusk and a winter haze settled over Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made his way back to his family. They had been waiting for him at the house in Dhanmondi Road 32 where he had left his family before the Pakistan Army arrested him on the eve of the Liberation War.
(E) Match the word’s/phrases in column with the means in column B. One is done for you. After matching, make sentences using them relating to your life.
Column A | Column B |
(1) on the way | in course of journey |
(2)stop over | rest for sometime |
(3) mesmerized | hypnotized |
(4) wholeheartedly | from the heart |
(5) tar mark | area from which planes take off at an airport |
(6) horde of newsman | a group of journalists on newspaper reporters |
(7) to moist Eyes | to fill eyes with tears |
(8) military junta | a group of Army personnel rules a country |
(9) intoned | Uttered |
(10) winter haze | Mist or fog that covers winter evening |
Sentences:
(1) on the way– On the way to my school I met my uncle.
(2) stop over – I have to stop over to rest.
(3) mesmerised – I was mesmerized by the rural scene.
(4) wholeheartedly – The members of the club wholeheartedly welcomed me.
(5) tar mark – The aero plane took off from its tar mark.
(6) horde of newsman– A horde of newsman was present at the meeting.
(7) to moist eyes – The girl looks at me with two moist eyes.
(8) military junta – Military junta took control of the situation.
(9) intoned – He intoned my words.
(10) winter haze– The green fields are washed by winter haze.
(H) Make a timeline of two indents mentioned in the texts on Bangabandhu’s homecoming.
Answer: (1) Bangabandhu was taken to Pakistan as a captive until 7th January, 1972.
(2) In the evening of 7th January 1972. Bangabandhu left Pakistan.
(3) Early in the morning on 8 January, 1972. Bangabandhu arrived in London.
(4) Bangabandhu left London for Dhaka on the 9th January evening in 1972
(5) On the way he would stop over in Delhi in India in the morning of 10 January.
(6) Sometime after 1.30 PM Bangabandhu arrived in Bangladesh.
(7) The father of the nation climbed on a beard of an open truck and headed for the race course.
(8) At two race course, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman wept remembering the sacrifices of the Bangalees.
(9) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman made his way back to his family.
(J) Do you agree with Bangabandhu that the Bangalees have become worthy now? Justify your arguments in 200 words.
Answer: Yes, I agree with Bangabandhu, Father of the Nation that the Bangalees have become worthy now.
Because the Bangalees had achieved victory against Pakistani army within the nine months of bloody war. Bangalees all over prepared themselves with whatever to face the Pakistanis. Students, teachers, doctors all walks of people come forward to save the motherland, but in the liberation war of Bangladesh, the people were wholeheartedly in support of the cause of freedom. The Mukti Bahini found Shelter, food and information wherever they went without any hesitation. Bangalees living abroad and their friends join hands to fight in the war of liberation. The international media was seen the struggle of the Bangalee people. The international community gave their sympathy and full support. So finally we can say every glory has a price to pay, Bangalees had to pay a high price for their freedom. But the great liberation war brought the nation together. The pride and glory and the spirit of the liberation war inspired us. So Bangabandhu said, “Were now worthy and valuable.”
