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Women in Frontal Wars: The


Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971
Shaheen Afroze

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Introduction
War mostly studied from a perspective reflecting
overt male chauvinism and ego-centrism
War is a mans domain
In the narratives of the Liberation War of
Bangladesh in 1971, women are visible only
when depicted as victims
Not objectively portrayed
No list of women freedom fighters
Out of the total of 676 gallantry awards, only two
to women
Bir Protiks - Taramon Bibi and Dr. Sitara Begum
Rahman

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At the cost of the blood of thirty lakh


Shaheeds
(Martyrs)
and
the
izzat
(dignity/chastity) of two lakh women
The former speaks about the role of the male
freedom fighters who lost lives during the war,
whereas the latter about the women as
victims
Gives impression that only men can attain
martyrdom, and that for a women such a
status is unattainable

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Appearance of women - nothing more than


compensatory writing
Mere subchapters, footnotes or appendix
Not enough
Needs further embellishment through proper
historical facts
Cannot remain emptied of womens role and
contribution as warriors

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Basic Argument
Predominant role of men cannot be denied
History of Bangladesh would be marked to
some extent by unfairness if the role of
women is excluded from this war
Total surrender to male chauvinism
Incomplete if womens role remains in
amnesia
Inclusion of gender analysis - order of the day
War will look more human

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Research Questions

What it was like for women to be freedom


fighters
Their accomplishments
Motivation factors for women to join the war
as combatants
Socio-economic background
Their experiences
Any gender discrimination/harassment
Any decision- making power?
Notion of a state
Benefits - material/psychological/moral

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Existing Literature
Little research as actors in more war-related
functions
Peripheral in nature
Effects of war on women and the atrocities
suffered and endured during the war and
aftermath
Simplistic division of roles between men as
'doer' of the war and women as helpless
'victims'

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Support service role of women


Women and peace building
Women - victims of war
Strive for peace
Human rights and portray women as weak
and vulnerable
Deny them agency
Reflects and reinforces their stereotyped
images

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Literature on Liberation War of


Bangladesh

Background of the war


Military in nature
Theory and methodology
Roles of the diasporas
No mention of women freedom fighters
Very recent and partial endeavours
Theme of victimisation predominates
Deserve recognition

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Why such invisibility?


Women work for peace and men wage war
cooperative women, conflictual men
Just warrior and women as the beautiful souls
False images
Constructed concepts nation and
nationalism, state, citizenship, rights and
duties

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Why such invisibility?


Interventions as nationalists
Stereotypical association of women with
peace
and the
care
taker/nurturer
construction is inadequate
More than beautiful souls and victims
New picture of what women do, where they
are located and how they are treated

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Locating the Women in the War: Case


Studies

Case Study I: Alamtaj Begum Chhabi


Peyara Bagan camp in Barisal
Sector nine under the leadership of Major Jalil
Extensive training in arms and instruction in
weapons and combat techniques from her cofighters
First operation near the Shondha river in Kuriana
under the leadership of Siraj Sikder
Another operation near the Gabkhan river
Operation in Peyara Bagan
Underground activities

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Case Study II: Halima Perveen


First operation in May when they launched an
attack on Bagharpara Thana (Police Outpost)
and looted their arms and ammunitions
Another operation at Sheikh-er-Bazaar
Fierce fighting in Srirampur School Camp
Captured by Pak. Army while fighting and
taken to Jessore Cantonment

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Aftermath of the War


Period of recounting
Role of women as frontline freedom fighters
would remain in silence
No cut-off point

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CONCLUSION
All male cast
May be infinitesimal number of women who
fought with weapons
Very limited space to them only as victims and
sustainers
Those who forget the past are condemned to
re-live it should act as an eye-opener for us

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THANK YOU

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