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Spotlight

“I am the daughter of a freedom fighter”

Sharin Shajahan Naomi

Honestly speaking, my relationship with my dad is something like that between Bush and Saddam. To my every "Yes", his unequivocal and obvious response is "No", my every endeavor meets with a frown from my dad and all my high-flying dreams are always wet blanketed by him. But my mom gives her thanks to God simply because there is at least one thing on this earth on which my dad and I- persons with two extremely different personalities- become united with the same degree of passion. The emotion that settles the ego-clashes between the two of us is our Liberation War. I have perhaps fought a trillion battles with him ever since I learnt to speak, but still I have to admit that if someone asks me, "Is there anything in your life that makes you proud of yourself?" I would definitely reply without any hesitation, "Yes, that I am the daughter of a freedom fighter."

My dad, A.K.M. Shajahan, is presently working in UNDP. When the Liberation War started, he was my age and according to mom he was just like me! ( half-crazy, confused about religion, extremely feminist and too liberal). He was about to start a course in Pakistan, but before that he came to know about the bloodshed on 25th March and without giving a second thought about his studies, his future and his dad's monetary investment in him he rushed to Bangladesh and joined the War from sector 2 under Khaled Mussaraf.

I have heard from my Dadu how my dad escaped miraculously from Pakistani soldiers, how he pulled down a bridge with explosives and how he recklessly ran towards the enemy without caring for his life. Dadu always adds the finishing touch to her son's stories of courage with an example of my dad's kindness. She always reminds us "He never killed any Bangladeshi collaborator for the sake of fraternity." I wish he could know the future, the blunders. My dad's story is the same as any other freedom fighter's- full of sacrifice, courage, and patriotism. But what makes my dad distinct to me from other freedom fighters is his individual effort to implement the ethos of our Liberation, to reflect the teaching of the Liberation War in his life through little things.

When we were in Afganistan for dad's job in the UN, one day an old Afghan man came with lakhs of rupees wrapped in a <>jaynamaz<>. My dad just took it and threw it with all his strength out the window and roared at him- "Get Out!" Not only in Afganistan, but even during his long professional ties with UN, he has brushed aside all such shameless temptations with great disgust. The Liberation War did not teach my dad only patriotism, but also honesty. I believe that's why honesty is so deeply ingrained in my dad. When he was about to leave Afghanistan for Bangladesh, he got the chance to settle in the USA. But he was adamant and maintained, " I have spent enough time abroad, now the time has come to serve my land." Each and every

well-wisher and relative tried to persuade him to take up the offer, but he did not pay heed. And what did he get in the return? 4 years of joblessness in a country for which he fought risking his life! But even then he did not bow down and continuously rejected dozens of opportunities to settle abroad and each time uttered "I am a freedom fighter, I have more duties to my country than others". He knew that with his solitary efforts he could not transform his fragile country immediately into a rich state. But he knew that to give shape to his dreams he could not afford to stay away from the country. I am proud that my dad belongs to that group of freedom fighters who did not fight the War for a certificate, or for political power in an independent nation but only to see a nation thriving in prosperity. I know they are the majority but are suppressed and silenced.

I would like to wrap up with another anecdote that concerns my father and reflects his deep love for the country. I was a mere 8-month-old inside my mom's womb while she was staying in the UK. All of my relatives insisted that I be born in the UK. But my dad declined and for his stubbornness my mom had to return and consequently I was born here. In my childhood days I used to be very angry with him. I would think to myself, "Why did he have to make a decision for which I had to give up a secure life in the UK!” But now I realize he has done justice to his high regard for his country. He wanted his daughter to serve his country like him. He wanted the continuation of his patriotism and the promise towards his country that he made in 1971 to continue through his daughter.

My dad happened to be in the War because of the whimsical turn that history and politics took, but I am destined to be in the battle against all odds in Bangladesh as a representative of my dad. Don't you believe that the children of all freedom fighters should act like this?