The article, translated from Bengali and originally published in the Bengali daily newspaper Jugantor, discusses the significant yet often overlooked contributions of the military, particularly the East Bengal Regiment, to the Bengali Language Movement.
Historically, the military has upheld national interests during critical times. A notable example of this commitment is evident from the early days of the East Bengal Regiment's establishment. While the roles of organizations like Tamuddun Majlish in the Language Movement are well-known, the sacrifices made by military personnel in defending the honor of the Bengali language remain largely unrecognized. Notably, on the very day the East Bengal Regiment was founded, Major Mohammad Abdul Gani and Major M.I. Hossain, two of its outspoken, spirited, and courageous founding officers, initiated the Language Movement.
Following the creation of Pakistan, the ruling authorities began to perceive the Bengali language as a threat to East Pakistan's security. They argued that the dominance of West Bengal's Rabindranath Tagore and other Hindu writers over the Bengali language could influence Bengali Muslims towards Hindu culture, potentially jeopardizing Pakistan's unity. This concern was amplified by the strong Hindu influence in educational institutions like Dhaka University, facilitated by their command over the Bengali language. To counter this perceived threat, the West Pakistani rulers conspired to undermine the Bengali language. This intent became evident through a directive from Brigadier General Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then Eastern Commander of the Pakistan Army (who later became Field Marshal and President of Pakistan). His statement acted as a spark, igniting sentiments within the newly formed military and marking the beginning of the great Language Movement.
Establishment of the East Bengal Regiment:
During British rule in the Indian subcontinent, various ethnic groups had their own military units, but the vast Bengali population was denied such representation, leading to their marginalization. To address this disparity, a few daring and patriotic Bengali Muslim military officers tirelessly advocated for the creation of a Bengali regiment. After Pakistan's independence on August 14, 1947, the long-cherished dream of Bengali Muslims, including General Osmani, General Ishfakul Majid, Major Mohammad Abdul Gani, and Major M.I. Hossain, began to materialize. The Pakistani government, acknowledging the aspirations of these officers and others, decided to form a regiment for Bengali Muslims to strengthen and protect East Pakistan's sovereignty. This regiment was named 'The East Bengal Regiment,' reflecting the then designation of East Pakistan as 'East Bengal.'
In September 1947, the Pakistan Army Headquarters issued a directive to form the first battalion, 1st East Bengal. Captains Mohammad Abdul Gani and S.U. Khan were tasked with establishing this battalion at Dhaka Cantonment. Majors A.W. Chowdhury and Sajawal Khan were appointed as commanders of two companies within the unit. Through the relentless efforts of Captain Gani and other officers, all preparations for forming the 1st East Bengal were completed within just five months.
In early February 1948, British officer Lt. Colonel V.J.E. Patterson was appointed as the commanding officer of the 1st East Bengal. Finally, on February 15, 1948, at Kurmitola in Dhaka, the long-awaited moment for Bengali Muslims arrived with the establishment of the first battalion of the East Bengal Regiment, known as the 'Senior Tiger.' This grand and historic event was attended by notable figures, including the then Governor General of East Pakistan, Sir Frederick Bourne; Prime Minister Khawaja Nazimuddin; Ministers Nawab Habibullah, Nurul Amin, Afzal Khan, Habibullah Bahar, and Abdul Hamid Khan; the military's Deputy Regional Commander, Brigadier General Ayub Khan; and other high-ranking military and civilian officials.
After the recitation of the Holy Quran, Governor General Sir Frederick Bourne hoisted the flag of the East Bengal Regiment, marking the beginning of a glorious chapter for Bengalis and providing an opportunity to prove themselves as a martial race. This event symbolized the end of two centuries of neglect and the sowing of seeds for the future liberation war of Bangladesh. The East Bengal Regiment emerged brightly, reminiscent of the red sun in our national flag. With the motto 'Steadfast, Strong, and Swift,' the 'Bengal Tiger' force embarked on its journey, taking an oath on the Holy Quran to uphold the ideals of freedom, sovereignty, and national security. Little did anyone know then that this regiment would one day lead the liberation war, making supreme sacrifices to transform Bangladesh into an independent nation.
Initiation of the Language Movement:
It's essential to highlight an unexpected yet monumental event that occurred during the tea reception following the flag-raising ceremony. Brigadier General Muhammad Ayub Khan, the Eastern Commander of the Pakistan Army, during his address, stated, "From now onwards, Bengali soldiers will speak in Urdu, not in Bengali." Major M.I. Hossain immediately protested, asserting, "Excuse me, Sir, in West Pakistan, Pathan soldiers have been allowed to speak in Pashto and Urdu. Similarly, our Bengali soldiers should be allowed to speak in Bengali and Urdu." An irate Ayub Khan retorted, "Nonsense, absurd, sit down." At this point, Captain (later Major) Gani passionately declared, "Excuse me, Sir, whatever Major M.I. Hossain has said is correct. We Bengali soldiers will never speak in Urdu, but in our mother tongue, Bengali." Ayub Khan, attempting to silence him, commanded, "Shut up. Sit down."
This bold stance earned Captain Gani the moniker 'Tiger Gani.' However, the Pakistani military authorities viewed the actions of Major M.I. Hossain and Captain Gani as severe insubordination, leading to halted promotions and various forms of harassment. Such courageous and outspoken defiance, especially in uniform, is exceedingly rare and almost unimaginable. Notably, this incident occurred just six months after Pakistan's independence and well before Muhammad Ali Jinnah's declaration, marking the true inception of the Language Movement on February 15, 1948. Thus, Majid Alior Mohammad Abdul Gani and Major M.I. Hossain of our esteemed military were the pioneers of the great Language Movement. Thus, it is undeniable that the East Bengal Regiment and the Language Movement are intertwined. Yet, many are unaware of this crucial chapter of military heroism, and some even belittle the military's role.
Today, we can unequivocally state that it is due to the bravery, courage, and ultimate sacrifices of these great individuals from the East Bengal Regiment that we achieved a flag and a country in 1971 and can now speak in our beloved mother tongue. We pray to Almighty Allah for their souls to be granted mercy and a high place in paradise.
After independence, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman took steps to further enrich the Bengali language. Previously, military commands were given in English, but Ziaur Rahman introduced them in Bengali. This is another notable event in the military's history.
- Translated from the original article, written in Bengali, " ভাষা আন্দোলনে সেনাবাহিনীর অবদান ". by Colonel Mohammad Abdul Haq, PSC (Retd.): Political and Security Analyst
