बंगलादेशी कृतघ्नता : Essential To Understand Bangladesh From 1905 And Not Just From 1971
Rajiv Upadhyay 
Many Indians, including even senior Indian diplomats posted in Dhaka, have often wondered at the hatred bordering on treachery of Bangladeshi public for India . India’s support and sacrifice in creation of Bangladesh is easily suppressed if not totally forgotten including lives of more than three thousand Indian soldiers lost for liberating Bangladesh. Such treachery has no parallel in world history .
However it must be mentioned that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her daughter Hasina Wazed were an exception who recognised and worked for Indo – Bangladesh friendship with mutual benefits .But Islamists parties , Zia ur Rahman , his widow Begum Khalida not only ignored India but even promoted terrorism in Assam and north east. 
For fuller understanding , Indians have to understand Bangladesh not just from 1971 but from 1905 or even earlier Peasant and Faraizis movement of nineteenth century. When Lord Curzon first partitioned Bengal in 1905 which had to be reversed in 1911. In Bengal presidency, apart from Bengal part of Bihar , Assam , Orissa were also included. Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal making a muslim majority East Bengal and hindu majority West Bengal . Although it was done to weaken the growing hindu nationalism but Curzon declared it a move for better administration . Under strong nationalist movement this partition was reversed in 1912.
Muslims wanted a separate province of East Bengal . Majority of muslims were poor peasants or weavers of villages . Although hindus were also equally poor but most of the zamindars , money lenders , educated Bhadralok professionals were hindus . As every where it lead to many people movements including Peasants movement and Faraizis movement .
Bengali muslims were more violent and the worst communal anti hindu riots took place in Noakhali in 1946 and later in East Pakistan in 1950. Even Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in younger days was not exactly free from this bias . It was the rampant discrimination under Ayub regime and anti Urdu riots of 1952 that made Bengali language a focal point of nationalism . But anti hinduism continued unabated often subdued but more in discrimination leading to conversion or constant exodus of Hindus to India in fenceless open border days.
So the present anti hinduism of Dr.Yunus regime or Begum Khalida regime must be seen and understood as an extension of long term subdued hatred .
Whether Gandhian methods can suppress it is an open question but a military solution too has big long term risks . Present atmosphere may force India towards military solution but it would be better to vigorously exhaust diplomatic efforts first and use military option only if very essential.
