Ansari’s Bangladesh visit brings to the fore Tagore-Nazrul debate

The debate seeks to redefine the very character and notion of Bangladesh as a nation — whether its liberation was a result of linguistic nationalism that had manifested itself in the bloodshed in Dhaka in 1952 following Pakistan government’s decision to impose Urdu as the only state language or,as a small minority of Islamists believe,it was related to the demand for Pakistan and quest for Muslim-Bengali identity.

Khaleda Zia’s adviser Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury was reported to have said after her meeting with the Indian Vice-President that she had demanded that Nazrul Islam’s birth anniversary should also be observed by India where he had stayed for long. Striking a strident note,she was also said to have taken up the issue of ‘border killings’,trade deficit,allowing telecast of Bangladeshi channels in India,etc.

New Delhi,however,sought to dismiss her aggressive posturing pointing out the Vice-President’s remarks to the media earlier in the day that Zia had also said she was interested in good relationship with India due to ground realities. “Opposition anywhere in the world will oppose the ruling party and find fault with the Treasury Benches. Public opinion in Bangladesh is evolving as more and more people begin to realise the benefits of cooperation and connectivity. Public opinion will find reflection in political opinion,” the Vice-President told reporters on his way back to New Delhi.

Speaking at the inaugural function to commemorate Tagore’s anniversary,Ansari had said,“Rabindranath Tagore represents much that is precious in our heritage. His vision and outlook binds us as perhaps nothing else can.”