IN THE 1960s East Bengal, now Bangladesh, witnessed a huge uprising in political and cultural awareness. This period is generally referred to as a political and cultural renaissance, driven by a deep desire for autonomy, democracy, the freedom of speech, secularism and justice. This collective awakening among the people of East Bengal laid the foundation for a non-sectarian, progressive society, which culminated in the 1969 mass uprising and played an important role in Bangladesh鈥檚 independence in 1971.
But after independence, the ideals that had driven the liberation war struggle in the 1960s were largely ignored in the administration of the state. Over time, Bangladesh lost the revolutionary spirit that once inspired its birth, thereby missing multiple opportunities to establish a democratic, just and secular state. Decades of political unrest, social unrest and economic challenges have gradually led the country to deviate from the ideals that once guided its people to the mantra of independence.
Today in 2024, under the leadership of a new generation, Bangladesh is once again witnessing the political and social awakening that was ignited in the 1960s. The resurgence of this collective consciousness sparked a national reforms movement, marking the beginning of a new era. But this time, the situation is more serious and this opportunity to rebuild the country based on the principles of equality, justice and honesty cannot be overlooked. As Bangladesh stands on the brink of transformative changes, it is imperative to revisit the lessons of the past, iterate ideals of the liberation war and move forward with a collective vision for a prosperous future.
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1960s: time of political, cultural awakening
THE 1960s was a defining decade for East Bengal. Under Pakistani rule, the people of East Bengal were subjected to economic exploitation, political marginalisation and cultural repressive policies. The central government of West Pakistan imposed discriminatory policies, which deprived East Bengal of its fair share of the national wealth and stifled its political voice. The rich cultural heritage of East Bengal combined with this discontent gave rise to growing demands for autonomy, democracy and secularism.
During this time, a political and cultural renaissance began to take shape as intellectuals, students and political leaders of East Bengal united for a common cause. Movements for linguistic rights, economic equality and democratic governance continued to gain momentum, which gradually turned into a popular demand for independence. The cultural renaissance that coincided with this political awakening emphasised the importance of a non-sectarian, inclusive society that would value the contributions of all religious and ethnic communities and rejected the sectarian divisions that characterised the Pakistani governance.
The 1969 mass uprising was the direct result of this renaissance. Led by students and supported by various segments of society, this movement demonstrates how powerful collective action can be to challenge oppressive systems. This laid the foundation for the subsequent struggle for independence, which resulted in the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.
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Post-independence: disgrace of renaissance ideology
DESPITE the victory of the liberation war, the political and cultural renaissance of the 1960s that provided the impetus for the country鈥檚 birth did not fully materialise in the wake of independence. The immediate challenges of post-war reconstruction, political unrest and economic distress became important, limiting the scope for implementing the ideals and spirits of the independence movement that had driven the country forward.
In the post-independence period, Bangladesh faced a series of political upheavals, including assassinations, military coups and authoritarian rule. These events diverted the nation鈥檚 attention towards building a democratic, secular and just society. The ideals of the 1960s 鈥� egalitarianism, secularism, and social justice 鈥� gradually faded away to political factionalism, corruption and lust for power.
The political and cultural renaissance that once promised to reshape Bangladesh as progressive and inclusive was slowly taking a back seat. The aspirations of the liberation war remained unfulfilled in many cases as successive governments failed to maintain stability and meet the essential needs.
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1980s: brief renaissance, then stagnation
IN THE 1980s, Bangladesh witnessed a brief revival of the renaissance spirit. Demands for democratic rule and social reform re-emerged and movements against military rule and dictatorship gained momentum again. Civil society, intellectuals and students again played an important role in advocating change as they had done in the 1960s. However, with the restoration of democracy in the 1990s, the ideology of renaissance quickly became subservient to political interests, leading to the politicisation of the movement.
The promise of the cultural and political renaissance of the 1980s was short-lived. Instead of building a truly democratic and inclusive society, the repetition of electoral politics is marred by corruption, nepotism and party politics. The possibility of a second renaissance was destroyed, resulting in a prolonged stagnation in the country鈥檚 political and social development.
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2024: new awakening
Flash back to 2024 and Bangladesh once again stands at a crossroads. The country is once again witnessing a fresh political and social awakening under the leadership of a new generation, evoking memories of the 1960s even though the 1960s had no leadership, but ideological continuity. This new wave of action is led by those who are disappointed at the current state and determined to create a better future for themselves and the nation.
The national movement that emerged in 2024 is a response to the deep problems of inequality, injustice, corruption and immoral politics that have plagued Bangladesh for decades. The demands of the new generation are comprehensive reforms, the accountability of political leaders and the restoration of fundamental ideals.
This movement spawned a mass uprising, uniting people from all walks of life in a single demand for change. The energy, ideals and determination of the youth have breathed a new life into the political and social landscape of Bangladesh, giving hope for a brighter future.
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Path to reconstruction: moment of opportunity
AS BANGLADESH moves towards restructuring through reforms, it is important to recognise that this moment represents a tremendous opportunity. This golden opportunity should be seized to restructure the country on the basis of equality, justice and non-communalism. The opportunities that the new generation is creating are not only the possibility of a fundamental change in the political and social structure but also a new possibility of reviving the lost spirit of the liberation war. In these times of rapid change, both political leadership and civil society must be vigilant to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
The main and driving force of the awakening that emerged in the 1960s was the desire for independence, ideological spirits, Bengali cultural symphony, national unity and non-communalism. On the other hand, there was no ideology or principle behind the awakening of 2024 at first, there was a demand to get back the rights and freedom from discrimination and all injustice against the spirit of the liberation war created in society. That is, there is a connection between 2024 and the glorious chapter of the 1960s. As what the people of Bangladesh once achieved has been eroded, collective protest against all forms of discrimination has been created. Therefore, to move forward, it is prudent to continue with joint initiatives and efforts of these two.
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Dr Ala Uddin ([email protected]) is a professor of anthropology at the University of Chittagong.
