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Humanists and Human Rights under attack in Bangladesh
- by R.M. Pal
When Bangladesh came into existence, this writer was at the University of Leeds, U.K. There were a number of students from East Pakistan. They organized a function to celebrate. This writer was also invited to speak. I expressed the hope that the new South Asian country with its background of Buddhism and Humanism, and Tolerance as represented by poets like Kazi Nazrul Islam and Baul singers (both Hindus and Muslims) would be different for the better for India and Sri Lanka. Recent happenings in Bangladesh have belied that hope. Evils like religious intolerance and majority communalism have found a fertile soil in Bangladesh also. It all began with driving away the Buddhists from Chittagong Hill Tract.
It is sad that Humanism and tolerant culture which Bangladesh could be proud of are under attack. The people who represent Humanism and tolerance have been under threat of being eliminated. They are the Bauls whose main task has been preaching religious tolerance and equality between men and man and women. They sing songs of humanity between men and women. Bauls do not observe asceticism nor do they believe in celibacy. Love, they maintain, helps them to attain divine love and harmony between material and spiritual need. To quote one such song ‘That is why brother, I became a mad cap Baul, No master I obey nor injunction or custom. Man made distinctions have no hold on me. Now I rejoice in songs of hearts for ever and I dance with each and all. That is why brother, I became a mad cap Baul.’ One of the most famous Bauls, Fakir Shah Lalon, sang thus, ‘Everyone asks Lalon what is your religion. Lalon says I know not my religion. If a male is circumcised you know he is a Musalman, but how do you identify the religion of a female? A Brahmin male is identified by his paita, but how would you identify a Brahmin female? One holds rosary in hand, the other wears tasbir in his neck, that is how one’s religion is known, but at the moment of birth and death do these signs remain? People everywhere talk and gossip about religious differences. Lalon says I have dropped all polemics about religion in free market. That is why I became a mad cap Baul.’
The Baul movement in Bengal is well known for its simplicity, directness and for preaching and practicing tolerance, love and friendliness.
These are the people (Humanists) who are now under attack by fundamentalists and Mullahs in Bangladesh.
These Mullahs have also started a movement to introduce a Blasphemy Law which would liquidate the Bauls and all other progressive and humanist forces.
This syncretic and humanist tradition in South Asian society and social thought is remarkably portrayed in the following poem of Kazi Nazrul Islam:
‘I sing the song of equality where all barriers have crumbled, all differences have faded and Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians have come together and have mingled. I sing the song of equality.’ (Quoted from this writer’s essay ‘Human Rights Education: India’s Heritage’ published in Human Rights of Dalits: Societal Violations’ edited by R.M. Pal & G.S. Bhargava, Gyan Publishing House, New Delhi.)