চেতনার জট – সংস্কৃতির অবক্ষয়

“Hamko Domko Komu Na, Matribhāṣā Chhāṛmu Na”

On 21st February, many of us chanted slogans filled with linguistic spirit during our school days.
At that time, we understood it simply—
even if our skin were torn apart,
we would never accept Urdu as our mother tongue;
Bangla, and only Bangla, would be our language.

However, in reality, state language and mother tongue are not the same.
Many neighboring countries officially recognize multiple state languages.
In Bangladesh too, Bangla is the state language,
yet people across different regions speak their own native languages.

The point is not what happened back then—that chapter is closed.
But the irony is,
the very mindset with which we rejected Urdu,
we now contradict by warmly embracing Hindi.

A nation that once shed blood for its language
now sees even second-grade children
understanding Hindi effortlessly,
while traces of Bangla linguistic consciousness
are barely visible.

Although our culture does not significantly influence India,
almost every cultural element from there
is actively practiced in our society today.

The organization our brother Osman Hadi was involved with
was not political—it was cultural.
He raised these concerns before the nation,
and perhaps that is why he had to embrace martyrdom,
because a long-term plan is being executed silently.

Just like in an affair—
where one enjoys the benefits of marriage without marrying,
similarly, if Bangladesh can be exploited
without formal occupation,
then where is the problem?

Sadly, since 1971,
we have hardly seen anyone
working consistently on these issues.