[Assam] Bangladeshi Flag in the Assam Assembly

[Himendra Thakur]

Dear Jugal,   Once again I need some computer training! How do you copy the article “Breaking News” written by Mr. Manish Goswami about the antecedents of octogenarian journalist Mr. Naresh Rajkhowa published in the “Assam Tribune” on April 11, 2006 ? A copy will help study the material in close scrutiny. Please email me a copy if possible.   On a cursory study, this article reveals an anecdote that Mr. Naresh Rajkhowa assisted Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (then an MLA) to “place” the flag of Bangladesh right in the Assam Assembly when it was in session. Obviously, a well established protocol was violated by this action.   The dates are very important. Immediately after the 1971 war, Bangladesh got independence from Pakistan and a euphoria of emotions gushed in India, particularly in Assam. In high emotion, Bhupenda sang his famous song “jaya jaya nabajata Bangladesh” in 1972 --- he remained an ardent admirer of Bangladesh for the next 32 years till he joined BJP in 2004 parliamentary elections. We always respect a poet’s emotion like “dex matho eta dharana” that we discussed in the net before. However, did any emotion give anyone a right to hoist the flag of Bangladesh in Assam Assembly?   This incident should be clarified by all concerned, together with the date and circumstances under which this happened, so that the younger generation does not go away with some wrong idea about Rajkhowa and Bhupenda who are our respected elders.   I want to add my own experience in this context. In May 1972, on the occasion of Rabindra Jayanti at Digboi India Club for which we invited Dr. Roma Choudhury of Rabindra Bharati University as the chief guest, I faced a mammoth gathering agog with the emotions for “jaya jaya nabajata Bangladesh.”  As the President of the Club, I had to deliver a very unpopular speech that, although we were sympathetic to the suffering of the people of Bangladesh at the hands of the marauding Pakistani Army, and although we congratulated them for their newly acquired independence from Pakistan, no one in India should think of popularizing the example of secession that created Bangladesh. “Our Motherland India was one country. We have our unflinching love for the Mother and we must not be even remotely influenced by any divisive trend.”   Do you want to know what happened to me after that speech? That will be a very charming experience to share with the netters. All serious matters have happy ending. I have another experience of running into a mafia board-meeting in Somerville, Massachusetts which I’ll like to share with the netters some day!   With love to everybody, Himendra

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