Bangladesh came into being largely due to Blunders and a series of Mistakes by Pakistan Govt and the Pakistan Army.
Traditionally, India always had a strong society and 'weak government' unlike China where the story is just the opposite - a strong Govt and a weak society. Reflecting on these are crucial as we set out on a journey to examine causes and factors that led to creation of Bangladesh and had left Pakistan bleeding and perhaps more importantly humiliated. Let us start with Pakistan Army's decision because by 1970 General Yahya Khan was at the helm.
The Army commanders including Yahya himself had decided by 1969070 that as many as 13 divisions of the Army should be kept reserved for West Pakistan and only one was provided for East Pakistan. This was at a time when Mujib Rahman had already shown the elements of rebellion. At a later stage when two additional divisions were sent; it was only to suppress the rebellion and not for 'protecting' the people of East Pakistan from external forces.
In November 1970, the East Pakistan faced a massive Bhola typhoon but the Govt apparatus in Islamabad and Rawalpindi did nothing much. At the same time despite suggestions to the contrary, Yahya went ahead with the elections. Today after so many years, it is not without reason that academicians in Tripura capital Agartala and also a few Awami League leaders (now hiding) say -- it is likelythat the "great anger Bengalis" subsequently felt toward the rulers in Islamabad played a significant part in deciding their votes.
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| Mujib and Bhutto : file Snap |
The Pakistan Army and even leaders such as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto displayed immense racism against Bengalis (despite being Muslims). West Pakistanis thought themselves as genuine Muslims - tall, warlike and fair while the Bengalis were physically unimposing, short and also dark.
Notably, the Bengali Muslims also came from the conversion process hat hit backwad caste Hindus. The Bengalis were always proud of their culture and languague. Instead West Pakistan leadership (s) - both political and military - imposed Arabic and also created Pakistani currency notes printed in West Pakistan language but not in Bangla (or Bengali).
Look at another misguided move. Urdu was declared the official language of Pakistan at a time when only eight per cent of population spoke Urdu. In fact, Bengali was a dominant language in terms of numbers and after that Punjabi was the second tongue.
Historians would debate that the Partition of India was a badly thought idea and an illogical exercise in more ways than one. The fact of the matter is the East Bengalis wanted Independence from British colonial rule and as a concept they went along the idea of Pakistan because it was sprung on them at the last minute.
Looking back, one should not be surprised that in 1940, the Muslim League called for a division of India into three parts - a Muslim East Pakistan, a Muslim West Pakistan and a India for Hindus and other minorities. In fact, the name Pakistan had two meaning --- one of course -- a pious land (Pak means pure) and the other was --
P stood for Punjab
A for Afghan (North West Province)
K - Kashmir
I - Iran (actually Baluchstan region) and
S - for Sindh.
At a later stage perhaps after 1946; Jinnah realised that a separate East Pakistan (for Bengali Muslims) would defeat (or vitiate) his argument of a single 'homeland' for Muslims.
In reality too, the idea of a country separated by 5000 km by sea and 1600 km (land) made an absurd concept.
In fact, even Jinnah had to be pointed out by Britons and others that without the tax revenue of the East; the so-called West Pakistan would not be a viable nation.
There ought to be references some peculiar turn of events in history. It may not be known to many that since the formation of the United Nations in 1945; the case of Bangladesh (or East Pakistan) in circa 1971 was the first case of such 'secession'. One argument was put forward that East Pakistan had no right to 'secede' without its population deciding to do so in a referendum. The UN Charter was clear about it.
But history is made on ground by people and not in the pages of charter or some declarations.
The Pakistani military planners had blundered on yet another front.
In December 1971, regardless of Chinese help, it was clear that the India was much mightier force than Pakistanis. India had 25 divisions where as Pakistan had only 15. India's GDP was six times that of Pakistan.
It is often discussed in military circle that the Pakistanis believed in 'myth' and propaganda that each of their soldiers was worth three or more Indian troops. Moreover, Indian Navy and Air Force were again three times bigger than Pakistan's. Pak Army might have calculated and even 'banked' on Chinese help.
However, they should have realised that after the Cultural Revolution; the People's Republic of China (PRC) was in a state of chaos and an overwhelming sections of Chinese army was already ineffective.
The Cultural Revolution in China, officially known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement launched by Mao Zedong from 1966 to 1976.
It aimed to enforce Mao's version of communism and eliminate perceived capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.
The revolution resulted in widespread violence, social and political instability, and significant loss of life.
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