Some memories of independence 27

  Kolkata Travel / Sending Details of Bamandi and Bhatpara Pakistan Army Camp /

  Indian military

prepares to attack by air

  One day in early December.  We returned to the country as freedom fighters a few months ago.  I am doing whatever I want independently.  It is one's responsibility to protect oneself, one's own food system.  We have no contact with those who trained us and sent us home.  Sometimes I bought rice pulses with money from home and cooked it with someone to satisfy my hunger.  But at that time no one was ever stingy in extending a helping hand to us.  Did we arrive safely when we entered Bangladesh, did we survive, did the senior officials feel the need to take that news at all?  It may be that they felt it, but they could not because of the lack of communication.  Of course, this is just because of reason.

  

  So I decided to go to the Kolkata head office and get the news.  Completely at your own risk and at your own expense.  No one agreed to go with me.  But Haji Golam Rasul of our neighborhood নাই who has not yet become a Haji চাই wanted to go with me.  It is a matter of wondering whether a civilian should be taken along.  Still, I thought it was better to go alone than to go alone.  Because I don't have a good idea about Kolkata.  The two of us got out of the house, this time on foot.  I don't remember if we went to Shikarpur or Karimpur and caught the bus.  Probably Karimpur, because there was not much difference in the distance between our houses.  If you get on the bus in Karimpur, the fare will be a little less, so this is the decision.

  By bus from Karimpur to Krishnanagar, from there by train to Kolkata.  Then the rickshaw.  Most of the rickshaw pullers in Kolkata come from outside the state, especially from Bihar.  The rickshaw puller is not like in Bangladesh, he rides behind the rider and walks or runs on his own.  Despite language problems, I was able to explain our destination to him.  When we reached Barakpur Cantonment and introduced ourselves, they arranged for us to eat with due respect.

  Meeting with student leaders at some point the next day.  I don't remember the names of those who were in that meeting.  We exchanged views on the situation in our area, our activities, etc.  The leaders were happy to know that we are all healthy and safe.  We were told to report soon to Bamandi and the present condition of the Pak army camp at Bhatpara.  Land war may be on the way to the end, sky war will start, this is his prediction.

  Since I have come to Kolkata, so what if I don't do some shopping or sightseeing.  So the two of us headed back to town.  At that time Bangladeshis had a very weak point towards a special thing, that is Kashmiri shawl.  We see different shops, but do not dare to enter any of the shops.  Although Haji Golam Rasul is much older than me, why does he want to be a little dependent on me, and that mentality still seems to be there.  Finally, I dared to enter a shop.  Beneath the roof is a thin bamboo or wooden cord, and the hangers are neatly arranged.  Wrap the cloth with polythene to protect it from outside dirt.  We told the shopkeeper our purpose.  The shopkeeper smiled a little and said, go to that shop.  The fact is that the store we went to was not for selling clothes, but for laundry.  I was a little embarrassed, but it was a new experience.  The people of the village!  At that time, on the day before Eid, we used to wash our own clothes and iron them ourselves with great pomp.  The word laundry is still unknown.  In our area they were called laundresses, although they never took refuge.

   

  The next day I saw the city of Kolkata being redefined.  I asked people with great curiosity what was going to happen.  I learned that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was coming to Kolkata and would give a speech at Victoria Park.  How to ignore this opportunity.  The rally will start at noon, but people have been pouring in since morning.  We left Sealdah station.  Not by bus or train, on foot.  No need to walk.  If you stand.  Crowds of people from the back will automatically move forward.  I don't remember how long it took to get to the park, but not at all.  Not the human body, only the head can be seen.

  A huge stage has been set up for Indira Gandhi.  Just applause, and applause as you climb there.  Indira Gandhi looks like a shadow on the stage, as local leaders have already taken over the front seats.  Indira Gandhi started, 「Brothers and sisters, sorry, I can't speak Bengali, so I will say something in Hindi.  I hope you will listen. 」Indira Gandhi's speech began.  Most of the speeches were not heard or understood.  Once it's over, it's time to say goodbye.  In the same way we came back to Barakpur Cantonment again.

  The next day we finished all our work and left for independent Bangladesh.  But I have a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders and they are very dangerous.  There is also the possibility of facing the enemy, and there is also the possibility of dying for trying to cross their borders.  No matter how much danger there is, if we do not do these things, we will not get back to our motherland.