Days before his death, Pranab Mukherjee penned an article recalling fond memories of Sheikh Mujib

In an article penned days earlier than his loss of life, former president Pranab Mukherjee had fondly remembered Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled how in 1972 the then Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had tried in useless to strain him into issuing a joint assertion to point out that Pakistan remained undivided.

Mukherjee, in his article that’s revealed within the guide ‘Voice of Millions’ to mark the centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, additionally reminisced how he, as a younger Rajya Sabha MP, had known as in Parliament for granting recognition to the then Bangladesh authorities in exile, as a part of a political answer.

The former President quoted from Sheikh Mujib’s guide ‘Unfinished Memoirs’, revealed by his daughter 29 years after his loss of life, to notice how the Bangladeshi chief was not even conscious of the independence of his nation and was in exile within the Mianwali Jail close to Rawalpindi at the moment.

He was thereafter taken to London on a particular flight on the night time of January 8, 1972, after Bhutto failed in his makes an attempt to woo him.

“Bhutto informed Mujib that he was the President and needed Mujib’s help. During the few days between 1st and 8th January, Bhutto spoke to him at various times and pressured Mujib to sign a joint statement. He showed Mujib many drafts…,” Mukherjee wrote.

“Meanwhile, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made repeated appeals to Mujib to establish a relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh. A relationship that would keep Pakistan undivided.

“Mujib simply informed Bhutto that he would not be able to say anything to him without first conferring with the people of his country.

“In the end, a frustrated Bhutto decided to send Mujib to Britain. In the middle of the night on 8th January 1972, a special Pak Airlines plane flew Mujib, its sole passenger, to London’s Heathrow airport. When he landed at Heathrow, the local time was 6:30 am,” he mentioned, noting from his guide.

Mukherjee additionally recollected in his article how his thoughts was crammed with recollections of the occasions of 1971. He was 36 years previous and an MP when the individuals of Bangladesh had been engaged of their liberation battle.

“I recall that, on June 15, 1971, I had the privilege to provoke a dialogue on the ground of Rajya Sabha, the higher home of the Indian Parliament, once I prompt that India ought to accord diplomatic recognition to the Government of Bangladesh in exile in Mujibnagar. My phrases are on the file within the proceedings of Rajya Sabha.

“When a Member sought my suggestion on learn how to sort out the issue, I responded by saying: ‘I am talking of a political solution which means categorically recognising the sovereign democratic Government of Bangladesh.

“Political solution means giving material help to the democratic, sovereign Government of Bangladesh…. I reminded the House of the many instances in world history when intervention on similar grounds had taken place in the past,” Mukherjee wrote in the article which, his close associates said, was his last.

He also wrote about how Mujib worked hard for creation of Pakistan, but intense disagreements arose between him and the Muslim League leadership as he began to oppose various policies and their applications.

“Because of this, he was imprisoned shortly after liberation for criticizing and opposing government policies at different times. If the 9 months in 1971 are included, then Mujib’s whole interval of imprisonment comes to three,053 days, he mentioned.

Describing the ‘Father of Bangladesh’ as “a tireless Statesman”, Mukherjee mentioned the legacy of ‘Bangabandhu’ and Bangladesh are intertwined collectively.

“There are very few individuals in history who have a profound impact in the creation of Nations, indeed a subcontinent’s identity.

“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbir Rahman stands tall amongst those few. His unbound love for his people and his struggle for them is a testament to his legacy.

“As the sub-continent observes his birth centenary, we not only remember a Statesman but a man who lived and died for his great nation, in the process reaffirming the culturally ingrained values of freedom and liberty, composite secularism and inclusive development,” he mentioned in his article.

He wrote in regards to the days of Sheikh Mujib’s education, earlier than turning into the chief of Bangladesh.

The former President, who’s the one one from exterior Bangladesh to have written within the guide, mentioned his dream of a ‘Sonar Bangla’ lives on.

He additionally talked about how Sheikh Mujib made the ‘Chhatra League’ a mass motion that additionally helped in reaching the dream of Bangladesh’s independence. Mukherjee mentioned he was in Kolkata when Sheikh Mujib was assassinated.

“Of the brutal annihilation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with his entire family (except his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana) at the dawn of 14th /15th August 1975, the most vivid memory I have is of unbelievable shock and anger,” he remarked .Mukherjee died on August 31 on the age of 84.