The Concert for Bangladesh: Pandit Ravi Shankar and George Harrison

August is a special month in the history of Bangladesh. A month of grief,a month when we lament the massacre of the country's Founding Father's family. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,the President and the greatest leader the land has ever produced was brutally killed by a group of miscreants from Bangladesh Army who violated all norms of civilized society and annihilated the whole family of the Father of the Nation. It was on 15 August,1975.Even the youngest son of Bangabandhu,Sheikh Russel,who was simply a kid was not spared. The President's two daughters Sheikh Hasina,the present Prime Minister and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived the henious attack since they were abroad. The setback held the country upside down for more than two decades. It does not take  much time to understand that a handful of derailed junior or at the most mid level military officers could stage such a mischievous act just at the heat the moment. It definitely required neat planning and local and international support and conspiracy. Those,who were not happy with our resounding success in gaining our Independence from the clutches of neo-colonial exploitation of our brethren from the western part of our the then country Pakistan are thought to be behind this black chapter.It is not easy to recover and turn around from such a colossal loss. But we have done it and shown the world that we are back on the rails. By now,we are doing better than our erstwhile partners in almost all the sectors of economic and social development. Still many scores and scars remain to be settled before we could draw a closure to the bitter chapter of 1971 Genocide and Crimes against Humanity committed against us.It will require approach from the Pakistani side with complete sincerity. They should come out of the denial mode that they are in for the last half of a century. We need international support too including that of the UN to resolve the outstanding issues. As far as our internal matters are concerned,we are capable of taking care of those. Trial and partial execution of verdict of the Bangabandhu killing has been done. Some other criminals against humanity have also been tried and suitable verdicts have been dished out to them. The process is ongoing.

Bangabandhu killing was not the only such occassion of brutal annihilation of popular leaders of the world. We have seen how Martin Luther King Junior, Salvador Allende, Ahmed Suekarno, Benigno Acquino,Patrice Lumumba and many other renowned National leaders have been killed in different countries of their residence by vested interest. But that could not deter their ideas from spreading. Similarly,we in Bangladesh have turned our grief to strength and our Nation has progressed to materialise the dream of our great leader Bangabandhu. He dreamt of an exploitation free Golden Bengal. During our 50years of Independence,we have successfully fought against our economic backwardness to turn our impoverished country (which was termed as a bottomless basket) into one of the leading economic powerhouses of southeast Asia. Thus the aims and goals set by the local and international conspirators to cripple us and put us back on shackles have miserably failed. Rather they have now a lesson or two to learn from us.

Today, we are going to discuss briefly about an epoch making event that took place in August 1971. Before that, let us have a look at the happenings of earlier part of the year leading upto August. 

Awami League,led by Bangabandhu swept the 1970 general elections of Pakistan Assembly and by any internationally acceptable democratic standard was supposed to form the Government and lead the Parliament with a clear majority of seats. But that was not to happen. The elite ruling unholy alliance of military and civil service officers(an overwhelming majority of whom hailed from West Pakistan,mainly Punjab) and privileged aristocrats of Pakistan having the support of a handful of their E ast Pakistani cronies played all cards in their hands to prevent the handing over of power of running the country to the legitimately elected representatives of the people. The National Assembly,which was convened in Dhaka in March was postponed on 1March 1971. This enraged the people of East Pakistan,who had been exploited by their western counterparts since the birth of the country in 1947. They were hoping that their leader Bangabandhu who they have voted overwhelmingly to a comfortable majority in the Parliament will take measures to bring in parity between the two wings of Pakistan. They also hoped to get their due share in all economic,social,administrative and military spheres of the country for which they fought jointly with their partners from the western part of Pakistan(against British colonials). The Bangalees were on fire. Agitated demonstrations and show of strength against Pakistani regime was evident. Bangabandhu,in his Epic of a political speech (which has been recognised recently by UNESCO as one of the greatest political speeches of the World) called for his countrymen  not to cooperate with the Pak government until normalcy is restored and arrangements for handing over of power to the elected Parliament were done. All Bangalees barring a section of boot lickers of Pakistan stood rock solid behind him. They knew that Pak junta was not going to give in. So they have to fight for their rights till the end. That instruction came from their leader Bangabandhu too. Pak military junta leader President Yahya flew down to Dhaka with west Pakistan's majority leader Bhutto. In diguise of discussions with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,how to resolve the problems,they were buying time to strengthen the Pak military in East Pakistan by bringing in men and weapons from the westrn wing.

They thought they were ready by the end of the month. The talks were called off inconclusively. Tanks,artillary and Pak armed forces rolled out into the streets of East Pakistan on the night between 25th and 26th of March. So named Operation Searchlight was on. Yahya flew back to Islamabad in strict secrecy. On reaching he announced in a radio broadcast that talks has failed due to obstinacy of traitor Sheikh Mujib. Bangabandhu was arrested the same night but before he was rounded up,he managed to declare the Independence of Bangladesh and issued instructions to all his followers to disperse,disappear among the people and organise them in fighting the Pak forces in all possible ways. He was promptly carried away to west Pakistan to face a trial for sedition.

Here in Bangladesh the Bangalees acted as they were directed by their leader. Sporadic fighting broke out all over the country defying the Pak authority over our land. Bangalees employed in the Armed Forces,Border Guards,Police and Ansar revolted. Students,youths,peasants, workers all grouped together went into hiding suitably to join the fight for Liberation of the country. Many of them crossed the border over to India. Many senior leaders of Awami League also went to India to organise the War of Liberation. It was not an easy task.

 Indian support was sought which came,albeit slowly but steadily. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had to calculate all her steps so that she has enough world support towards our cause. Our leaders promptly formed a Government in exile which took oath in Baidyanathtala in Meherpur(named Mujibnagar) on 17April 1971 infront of local,Indian and foreign correspondents. This news,spread all over the world. Similarly the news of the reign of terror let loose on Bangalees in Bangladesh(east pakistan till 25 March) by the occupation army of Pakistan also started filtering out despite tight censorship. A mass scale Genocide has started which would cause the murder of three million people in nine months and cause the violation of chastity of between two to four hundred thousand females,destruction of properties,loot and arson of unmatched proportions simultaneously. Meantime Bangladesh Government appealed to Indian and International leadership to rise to the occassion to recognise our Government and help us with arms, training and relief materials. Everything started pouring in and our Muktibahini (Liberation Forces) consisting of both regular troops and guerillas were engaged in fighting the oppressors and their local collaborators with all their might. The Pak army and their lackeys attacked areas after areas and inflicted all sorts of torture on our people to scare them out of fighting and also to gain the booty. Hundreds of thousands of people had to flee their homestead to save their life and chastity of their womenfolk. Most of them crossed over the border to become refugees in India. Others remained internally displaced in remote,seemingly safer areas inside the country. Slowly the Liberation Forces started getting more organised,getting better training and arms. They increased in numbers and consequently the attacks on the occupation forces and Pak government installations increased putting them into more difficult situation. By July the number of refugees in India went upto seven million which would increase later to upto ten. Though India tried it's best and some UN and international support came in,it was never enough. It is a colossal task to accomodate,feed and create hygienic living conditions for such a big number of people who have been uprooted from their Motherland overnight and took refuge in different parts of Indian border belt with Bangladesh. Moreover,India,having all sympathy to us was also trying its best in helping train our Muktibahini and arming them. They also had to fight in the international front to create sympathy towards our struggle for existence and work together with our Mujibnagar Government to prove the legitimacy of our Freedom Struggle as a War of Liberation and not a secessionist movement,as Pakistan and it's International alleys were trying to do to convince the world.

It was a bipolar world in those days. USA Government was on Pakistan's side though most of the US citizens including many of their elected representatives in the House and Senate were in our favour. Newly emerging power China was getting closer to USA through Pak madiation and were a Pak ally too. So,Indira Gandhi was working on getting close to USSR and the Socialist world to gain support for us. This was a great diplomacy and in August the Indo Soviet Cooperation and Solidarity treaty was signed. Our Government and Indira Gandhi's Government now were working to get maximum possible support from the world conscience. Our leaders and Indian leaders including Mrs Gandhi toured many countries of the world to muster the required support in our favour. Notable citizens of the world,at least many of them,were also active in our favour. One of them was Pandit Ravi Shankar having roots in our soil(His paternal home is in Kalia,Narail of erstwhile Jessore district). The other great soul that we would like to discuss about is world famous Beatles star George Harrison,Ravi Shankar's friend.

Like most of the Indian population,Pandit Ravi Shankar was deeply saddened by the inhuman torture on the Bangalee population of his parental land by the Pakistani tyrants and their collaborators. He developed great sympathy towards our fight for freedom and his heart ached for the millions of refugees who were sheltered in shanties of the camps which were put up overnight to house them. It was almost inhuman living,to say the least. He developed a desire to come to some help of the suffering humanity in the newly declared independent Bangladesh the people of the land being still engaged in a bloody War of Liberation against the Pakistani hyaenas. Pak military and administration was leaving no stone unturned to suppress the just struggle of the Bengali population. He being an internationally acclaimed musitian,thought of organising some event which could involve a big group of music icons of those days to organise a fundraising concert to help Bangladesh's Freedom Struggle. This ,he thought,would serve two purposes. Firstly,a reasonable fund may be collected to help the Bangalees,specially the refugees sheltered in Indian refugee camps and secondly sympathy and solidarity of the world population may be drawn to the plight of the Bengalees haunted by the Pak army in the most barbarous and atrocious manner. At the same time the Genocide perpetuated by the Pak army on the innocent civilians of Bangladesh will be brought to light and their just War of Liberation will draw the attention of the world. Thus the concience of the people of the whole world will be sparked off in favour of  Bangladesh  and the injustice meted out to Bangalees and the Genocide in progress in the land will be condemned by the whole world.

Pandit Ravi Shankar had a very cordial relationship with the Beatles star George Harrison. On one hand they had been friends and on the other hand Panditji was Harrison's guide towards Oriental classical music. Ravi Shankar was a Maestro in Sitar,the most famous string instrument of Indian music. George in those days was deeply interested in getting an insight into Indian classical music. A gloomy Pandit Ravi Shankar approached his friend George Harrison to discuss what they could do to help the crying Humanity in Bangladesh. A good at heart Harrison immediately took up the responsibility of organising a mamooth concert in New York to raise money for helping the refugees of Bangladesh and attracting world's attention towards the just struggle of the people of Bangladesh. George Harrison approached great artists of those days and recieved overwhelming support. Great musicians of western music Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan,Ringo Starr,Leon Russel,Billy Preston and bands like Badfinger and many others instantaneously consented to take part. Exponents of Indian music like Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan,Ustaad Alla Rakha and Vidushi Kamala Chakraborty were also ready to extend all out support. George Harrison took up the responsibility of the Chief organiser on his own shoulders. About one month of preparatory time was kept and the date for the Concert for Bangladesh was fixed on 1 August 1971 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Two shows at 2:30 and 8 PM were planned. Everything went more or less smoothly and the proposed concert raised widespread interest all over. A huge crowd gathered and the concert was fully sold out well in advance. Those were the days when Beatles were at the heart of all the youth all over the world,so were Clapton,Dylan and others who were taking part. The frenzied fans assembled well in advance and roared in applause when their dream artist George Harrison appeared on the stage as the master of ceremony for the show. He gave a brief introduction of the Bangladesh situation,just struggle of the Bengali people and the plight of the refugees in Indian refugee camps. This was the first time that such a huge fundraising concert was being arranged for a humanitarian cause. Harrison then introduced his friend Ravi Shankar as a Sitar maestro and said that the concert will be inaugurated with an Indian classical piece. It was a piece composed by Ravi Shankar in the tune of Bangla folk music  specially for this concert. He named it Bangla Dhoon. It was a jugalbandi of Pandit Ravi Shankar's Sitar and Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan's Sarod. They were accompanied by Ustaad Alla Rakha on Indian  percussion instruments Tabla. Kamala Chakraborty was on Tanpura(Tambourine). Harrison left the stage to the Indian entourage by requesting the audience to have patience to enjoy the essence of Indian classical as it was somewhat different from their Western music. Ravi Shankar pleaded for complete silence and requested the audience to refrain from smoking. The artists tuned their instruments for a little over a minute and when they were done,the audience burst into ovation. Panditji knew that the audience is not accustomed to Indian classical music. So amusingly he remarked,"If you have liked our tuning this much,you definitely will like our performance which will now commence". So started the Great Concert for Bangladesh with their Bangla Dhoon. It still has the same appeal. Then the before named leaders of contemporary western rock and pop started to occupy the stage one after another with their popular numbers. At one stage came Harrison with his famous song Bangladesh that he composed and tuned for this concert. The song tells about the disaster happening in our part of the world and attracts the attention of the world towards our crisis. Solidarity of everyone was sought by the great singer. 

    Both the shows were resounding successes. US Dollars 200000 were spent for the Bangladeshi refugees through UNICEF from proceeds of the gate money. Later Long Play records,DVDs and Movie of the concert made huge money and is still earning. Reportedly more than US Dollars 25 million have been collected and spent through a special UNICEF  Fund named after George Harrison. Over 50% of the amount made its way to Bangladesh uptil 1985. Later money from this fund was also spent by UNICEF for Ethiopian Famine and other humanitarian causes in different parts of the world.

The effect of the Concert for Bangladesh had a tantalising effect. It brought in funds for Bangladesh's needy no doubt. But much more mentionable effect was the attention,sympathy and solidarity to our just cause was achieved overnight all through the world. The whole world's youth and of course people of all ages were tuned to the unfair treatment meted to us by the Pakistani military regime in the most brutal way. Many people in the world in the seventies of previous century knew Bangladesh by Harrison's immortal song. 

The Concert for Bangladesh,Bangla Dhoon and George Harrison's Bangladesh have become a part of our War of Liberation and took us a long way towards our final victory. We will remember the great contribution of Pandit Ravi Shankar and George Harrison together with every other performer and technical hand behind the Concert for all times to come. The concert was a great boost to our Great War of Liberation.