Bangladesh conferred a long overdue honor to former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi yesterday.
The leader, often called ‘The Iron Lady of India,’ was posthumously awarded Swadhinata Sommanona, the Bangladesh Freedom Honor, for her ‘multi-faceted’ and crucial role during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Sonia Gandhi, her daughter-in-law and current president of India’s ruling National Congress party, received the highest civilian honor for a foreign national on her behalf from Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman.
“Her role was so seminal, so singular and so comprehensive that she is in a category by herself,” said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to an audience including the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, cabinet members, senior government officials and quite a few distinguished guests.
She added that Indira also drew the attention of the world to a problem that was not just an issue for Pakistan but also the world community.
“If Indira Gandhi could have been with us, I know she would have been overwhelmed by the high honor you have bestowed on her,” Sonia said in acceptance. “There can be no honor higher than one conferred for the freedom of an oppressed people and the birth of a great nation.”
Of course, many Bangladeshis, like me, were born since then so our knowledge of liberation comes from books, films, documentaries and media. But we see the independence war as the most significant event in the history of Bangladesh and still the most influential force in every aspect of life here.
Every time any Bangladeshi speaks about independence, they must hail Indira Gandhi and express gratitude for what she did. Not only did she take some 1o million Bangladeshi refugees under her wing in 1971, but she also mobilized global support — firmly withstanding US, Chinese and Arab pressure at the time — which was crucial for our country’s struggle for freedom.
I think this honor should have been conferred earlier, but better late than never. It’s certainly significant at this crucial time when Bangladesh and India are strengthening a multi-dimensional relationship that is widely being called ‘the hope ride’ in local media.
The Indian Prime Minister Monmohan Singh is due in the country in September to sign major deals and talk over long standing issues including transit, electricity imports, water sharing and management, border demarcation and killings, the exchange of enclaves and the trade deficit.
No doubt Sonia Gandhi’s visit and the honor for Indira will have a political impact, I hope for a good cause.
Published on July 26, 2011 @ Give Us This Day
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| Indira Gandhi: The Iron Lady of India Photo Courtesy: www.thefamouspeople.com |
The leader, often called ‘The Iron Lady of India,’ was posthumously awarded Swadhinata Sommanona, the Bangladesh Freedom Honor, for her ‘multi-faceted’ and crucial role during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Sonia Gandhi, her daughter-in-law and current president of India’s ruling National Congress party, received the highest civilian honor for a foreign national on her behalf from Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman.
“Her role was so seminal, so singular and so comprehensive that she is in a category by herself,” said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to an audience including the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, cabinet members, senior government officials and quite a few distinguished guests.
She added that Indira also drew the attention of the world to a problem that was not just an issue for Pakistan but also the world community.
“If Indira Gandhi could have been with us, I know she would have been overwhelmed by the high honor you have bestowed on her,” Sonia said in acceptance. “There can be no honor higher than one conferred for the freedom of an oppressed people and the birth of a great nation.”
Of course, many Bangladeshis, like me, were born since then so our knowledge of liberation comes from books, films, documentaries and media. But we see the independence war as the most significant event in the history of Bangladesh and still the most influential force in every aspect of life here.
Every time any Bangladeshi speaks about independence, they must hail Indira Gandhi and express gratitude for what she did. Not only did she take some 1o million Bangladeshi refugees under her wing in 1971, but she also mobilized global support — firmly withstanding US, Chinese and Arab pressure at the time — which was crucial for our country’s struggle for freedom.
I think this honor should have been conferred earlier, but better late than never. It’s certainly significant at this crucial time when Bangladesh and India are strengthening a multi-dimensional relationship that is widely being called ‘the hope ride’ in local media.
The Indian Prime Minister Monmohan Singh is due in the country in September to sign major deals and talk over long standing issues including transit, electricity imports, water sharing and management, border demarcation and killings, the exchange of enclaves and the trade deficit.
No doubt Sonia Gandhi’s visit and the honor for Indira will have a political impact, I hope for a good cause.
Published on July 26, 2011 @ Give Us This Day
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