1971, 25th march, late night... Pakistani soldiers, mostly from the Western Part of the country, were waiting for orders from the West Pakistan at the barracks in Dacca, East Pakistan. And after receiving their expected orders, “Shoot To Kill,” they methodically raped and murdered innocent East Pakistanis - men, women, children, old -young, learned or not.
They tried to execute what we clearly understand today as “Ethnic Cleansing.” Their plan, perhaps was to change the course of a nation and its people overnight… to erase the Bengals from the face of earth.
However, the almighty God had other plans. He changed the course of history through the revolutionary young artists and intellectuals. Based on their natural instincts and intellects, a courageous group of artists and technicians protested against this dirty holocaust through radio waves.
In Kalurghat, Chittagong, a group of young men and women, with the help of East Pakistani military set up a radio station called “Shadheen Bangla Betar Kendro,” (means: Independent Radio Center of Bangla).
They'd protested through their songs, poetry, news and parodies... they'd inspired the Bengali race to fight back effectively through their words of wisdom. SBBK provided the freedom fighters with the moral support they needed…information they strived for… as they sang songs of inspiration to free East Pakistan from the temporary Radio center.
East Pakistanis (now Bangladesh) eventually won the war... with the help of their previous motherland & neighbor, India. Indira Gandhi was then the Prime minister of India.
Uma Khan is an artist, a young singer of that time – who later received National Award from Bangladesh for her contribution to Bengali Music a few years ago. It is sad but true, she is now in the United States, and has been living there since 1984. When asked,"Why don't you choose to live in Bangladesh?" She replies, “My children are here in the US…,” she pauses for a moment and adds, “What is there for me to go back for? All betrayers and liars… ”
During the late 70’s Uma became popular in all over Bangladesh as a playback singer for movies. Back then, it was considered the golden era for Bengali movies. She was the playback singer for famous Bengali Films such as "Badshah"," Hason Raja", and "Sagarika." She received many awards, including a few from the State & City Legislature of New York, and also from the United Kingdom.
Bangladesh as a young nation is perhaps taking its time to be stable. It is still a country that is cross stitched with bloody fights between rival rulers, a power hungry military, and corrupt businessmen. Rather nasty events occurred in the years that came soon after its birth. People became more and more scared…of their own people.
Around this time when the fear has some what shifted to other variables, the artistic cultural essence and euthenics of Bengali Music has not been preserved very gently. The country men and women acted, and still acts with tolerance to fight the corruption within its own self.
Generations that were born after the war suffered from identity crisis and low self esteem. Even though they were the champions of truth and humanity once. Certainly this simply hints to one of the many reasons behind the departure of an artist – a freedom fighter…
Why did she leave her country, for which, she once took the oath to save from all evil? She and many others like her had not been provided the respect and nurturing they required as artists...
Life became more and more difficult in Bangladesh as days are passed. Fortunately, she still sings today, her voice still frozen in her youth...when she sings every thing that moves loses the ability to move...they stand still mesmerized by the presence of her soul...
She is my mother. I love her the most, and I wish her all the best...here in this world, and also in the Hereafter, God Willing.
