"On March 7, the torch of independence was lit"

On March 7, 1971, the people of the land of Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna heard a speech—a speech that ignited a spark of fire. From 1948 to 1971, step by step, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman prepared himself to light this torch, aligning with history and rallying the people to join the great awakening that would lead to Bangladesh’s greatest moment—its War of Independence.

Despite the fierce opposition of the ruling Pakistani regime, the great architect of independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, delivered a speech at the historic Racecourse Ground (now Suhrawardy Udyan) before millions of freedom-seeking people. His voice was bold and unwavering, calling for independence—a moment forever engraved in Bengali history. His fiery words—"This time, the struggle is for our emancipation! This time, the struggle is for our independence!"—did not only inspire the Liberation War but continue to energize and inspire the Bengali nation today. It was for this reason that Newsweek magazine in April 1971 referred to Bangabandhu as the Poet of Politics.

Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech was like a torch, sparking the wildfire of the Liberation War—a force that neither the mighty Pakistani military nor their collaborators could withstand. In just 18 days, this speech prepared seven crore (70 million) people for the struggle for freedom. To the people of Bengal, those 18 days were no less significant than the October Revolution led by Lenin, which gave birth to the socialist Soviet Union.

On March 7, Bengalis awoke with the dream of an independent state. The stage was set for the struggle for liberation. His speech contained directives and a call for armed resistance. He inspired everyone to unite. From early morning that day, people from all over the country walked, rode buses, trucks, launches, and trains to gather at Racecourse Ground. The massive field, originally meant for horse racing, was flooded with men and women of all religions and communities.

Bangabandhu was an astute politician who understood both the pulse of the people and the ruling elite. Throughout his political career, he had delivered countless speeches, making his ability to connect with the masses extraordinary. He was a leader of the land and its people, and his speeches reflected this deep connection. Although his March 7 speech was extemporaneous, it was flawless—there was no hesitation or repetition. His word choices were precise and measured. Even while addressing Yahya Khan and Bhutto, he maintained diplomatic decorum, referring to them as "Janab Yahya Khan Saheb" and "Janab Bhutto Saheb".

Bangabandhu carefully crafted his words so that it would not appear as though he was directly inciting armed struggle. Yet, the people saw in his speech a vision of freedom. Every step he took and every word he spoke became the guiding force for Bengali aspirations. Some senior but short-sighted Awami League leaders had advised him to declare independence outright, insisting that the people would not accept anything less. However, Bangabandhu knew such a declaration would be catastrophic. Yahya Khan had already warned that any talk of secession would have dire consequences.

In his book Witness to Surrender, Major Siddiq Salik, the public relations officer of the Pakistani military, wrote that on March 7, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Dhaka Cantonment deployed heavily armed troops around the Racecourse and set up machine guns on high-rise buildings like Shahbagh Hotel. They were ready to launch a sudden attack the moment Sheikh Mujib declared secession. But Bangabandhu foresaw this danger and delivered his speech with great deliberation.

In his speech, he placed four key demands: the withdrawal of martial law, the return of the military to barracks, a judicial inquiry into political killings, and the transfer of power to elected representatives. He stated, "We will consider joining the Assembly only after these demands are met." By saying this, he kept the door open for negotiations while also ensuring that he and his party would not be held accountable for the escalating movement for autonomy.

Bangabandhu had learned from other independence movements, such as those in Vietnam and Tibet. As the leader of the nation, if he had openly declared secession, it would have provided a pretext for the Pakistani regime to brutally suppress the movement and legally arrest Awami League leaders. The international community might have labeled him a separatist, making it difficult to secure support from the United Nations. Instead, he skillfully exerted indirect pressure by declaring, "We shall starve them out; we shall drown them."

The next day, a report was filed at the headquarters of Pakistan’s central intelligence agency, the ISI: "The cunning Sheikh Mujib delivered his speech cleverly. On the one hand, he declared independence; on the other hand, he avoided taking responsibility for secession. We had no choice but to remain silent spectators."

The final part of his speech contained clear directives. He called for non-cooperation. He declared an indefinite shutdown of courts, schools, colleges, offices, and government institutions but ensured that essential services like rickshaws, vans, bullock carts, trains, and launches would continue to operate to prevent hardship for the working class. He urged government employees to collect their salaries on March 28. He instructed Bengali workers in media institutions to boycott their offices if Pakistanis attempted to take control and ordered liaison with foreign media to convey the true situation in Bangladesh. By providing timely guidance, he created pressure on the military regime.

Bangabandhu instructed Awami League leaders to form Relief Committees and Struggle Councils. His speech also demonstrated his unwavering commitment to secularism, as he declared, "Hindus, Muslims, Bengalis, non-Bengalis—everyone in this land is our brother. It is your duty to protect them."

The tradition of using indirect truths in warfare is ancient. Bangabandhu also adopted such an approach in his March 7 speech. Directly speaking the truth that day would have been suicidal. Instead, he proclaimed, "Turn every home into a fortress. Face the enemy with whatever you have… You are my brothers… Do not try to fire upon my chest… You cannot keep seven crore people suppressed. We have learned to die, so no one can suppress us now. Remember, since we have shed blood, we will shed more, but we will liberate the people of this country, Inshallah!"

Bangabandhu was not only a wise politician but also a world-class diplomat. In his speech, he narrated the 23 years of exploitation—covering the Language Movement of 1952, the 1954 elections, the military rule of 1958, the Six-Point Movement of 1966, the mass uprising of 1969, and the election of 1970. At the same time, he laid out a war strategy, suggesting that if war broke out, Bengalis should use the monsoon season to their advantage. However, the Pakistani regime failed to grasp the full depth of his words.

Bangabandhu’s speech is often compared to the speeches of historical figures like Roman Emperor Cicero, British Prime Minister Lord Pitt, Martin Luther King Jr., and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. But unlike Lincoln, who spoke after the American Civil War ended, Bangabandhu delivered his speech in the heart of enemy territory—at Racecourse Ground, just a stone’s throw from the Dhaka Cantonment. A single misstep could have led to the massacre of thousands. Yet, he masterfully guided his people toward revolution.

Just as Martin Luther King Jr. awakened people against racial discrimination and Nelson Mandela inspired a nation to fight apartheid, Bangabandhu’s spontaneous, unwritten March 7 speech ignited the flames of independence in the hearts of Bengalis.

In his final moments on stage, he roared like a lion: "This time, the struggle is for our emancipation! This time, the struggle is for our independence!"

The crowd erupted in waves of enthusiasm. A new life, a new dream was born. Finally, with the resounding slogan "Joy Bangla!", Bangabandhu concluded his speech—sealing it as the battle cry of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle.

Shams Sayed: Fiction writer.