History of Bangladesh and Bengali

Language.
Literary work influenced by the Language
movement and the liberation war.

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES.

DAFFODIL INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
 The Literature that influenced the Language
Movement.

►“Pakistaner Rashtro Bhasha Bangla na Urdu’’ (State Language of

Pakistan: Urdu or Bengali) edited by Abul Kasim, was the first
literature where the issue of the state language properly addressed.
Among the authors of articles in this historic booklet were Kazi
Mutahar Hussain, Abul Mansur Ahmed and Abul Kasim. This booklet
published by Tamaddun Majlish in 1948.
► This booklet gave the intellectuals and the students some food for
thought for the language movement. It is no exaggeration to say that,
this booklet laid the foundation of the movement we are discussing.
 Literature influenced by the Language
Movement.
Anthology
► The literary urge to convey the significance of the moment was
mirrored in essays, poems, song compositions, and so on. These
works of literature instilled the seed of Bangladeshi nationalism
in people, which in turn helped free this nation.
► Ekushey February, the first ever anthology to be written on the
events of the language movement was by Hasan Hafizur
Rahman. The book is a compilation of 21 literary pieces,
published in 1953
 Literature influenced by the Language Movement.
Continued
Play
► Kobor (Graveyard) by Munier Chowdhury (1966). The play was written and
produced inside Dhaka Central Jail with other political prisoners as cast mem. It
was another literary and cultural input to this list centered on the martyrs of the
language movement, the beers.
► Bibaho (Marriage) by Momtazuddin Ahmed
 Literature influenced by the Language Movement.
Continued
Novel
► Arek Falgun (Another Falgun) by Zahir Raihan (1969) was the first novel that
portrayed the spirit of the language movement. The novel describes the
commemoration of February 21 in 1955. Bangla has not yet been instilled as the
state language of East Pakistan. Concerning this, the main character Munim and
his friends are printing leaflets, advertising posters, distributing black badges,
making slogans and engaging in other organizational works amidst the fear of
the repetition of what happened three years ago.
► Artonad (Lament) by Sawkot Osman.
► Nirontorer Ghontadhoni by Selina Hussain.
► Japito Jibon by Selina Hussain.
 Literature influenced by the Language Movement.
Continued

Story
► Mon o Maidan (Heart and the parade-ground) by Shahed Ali. It was
the first story on the language movement published in 1950.
► Mauno Noy (Not silent) by Sahwkat Usman. It was a story based on
the events of the language movement.
► Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) and Ekusher Golpo (Story of 21) by
Zahir Raihan.
► Kharasruta by Saradar Jaenuddin.
 Literature influenced by the Language Movement.
Continued
Poem
► “Kono Ek Ma Ke” (To a Mother) by Abu Zafar Obaidullah. The poem is
written in a third-person perspective where the poet is witnessing a
mother reading a blood-soaked letter from her martyred son.
► “Smriti Sthombho” (Memorial) by Alauddin Al Azad.
► “Kandte Ashini Fashir Dsabi Niye Eshechi” ((I) Didn’t come to cry but
to demand for hanging) by Mahbubul Alam Choudhory.
► “Shoihid Shorone” (On the Remembrance of the Martyrs) by Md.
Muniruzzaman.
► “Shongram Cholbei” (The Struggle will continue) by Sikandar Abu
Jafar.
 Literature influenced by the Language Movement.
Continued

Song
► Vulbona Vulbona Ekushye February Vulbona by Gaziul Hoq. It
was thew first song written on this event.
► Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushe February by Abdul
Gaffar Choudhory.
► Salam Salam Hazar Salam by Fazle Khuda
► Ora Amar Mukher Bhasha Kaira Nite Chay by Abdul Latif.
 Literature influenced by the Language Movement.
Continued

Importance of literary works

Literature plays an important role in shaping human mind. The language
movement was an elite class movement in which the intellectuals of Dhaka
and prominent cities were the main contributors and victims in its first phase.
But in the late 1960s, when the idea of Bengali nationalism began to spread
and demands for autonomy began to gain momentum in the political sphere of
East Pakistan, writers and cultural actors played an important role in
spreading the spirit of the language movement among the mass.
 Influence of the post language movement
literature

► Shaping the public mind: Literature can shape the public mind by inspiring them through
fiction or other genres of literature.
► Spread the spirit of the movement: The spirit of an event can be carried from generation to
generation through literature. When a writer writes something intentionally or has a political
motive they try to pour their consciousness into their literature. In this way it is possible to
spread the spirit of various events such as language movement.
► Popularise the issue in public sphere: Fiction is a popular form of writing in which the
author attempts to relate an event to the reader in the third person. Through this process, an
event from the past can become popular through literature and influence the current situation.
► Influenced political movement: the literature on the language movement played an important
normative role in accelerating pre-independence movements such as the first provincial
elections of East Pakistan in 1954, the first constitution of Pakistan in 1956, the six-point
movement, the elections of 1970 and finally in the liberation war of Bangladesh.