Home || New Delhi, April 2000 | Kathmandu, November 2000 || Dhaka, March 2001 | New Delhi, December 2001
MARCH 22, 2001  
 
Ms. Kumkum Chadha (India) on the left, and Mr. Tissa Abeysekara (Sri Lanka) on the right, respectfully holding the Wreath andmoving along with other delegates to the Language Martyrs Memorial.
       
       
Prior to the commencement of the formal Conference deliberations and Award Presentation Ceremony on 23rd March, the delegates visited the Language Martyrs Memorial, the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial, National Monument, Unknown Freedom Fighters' Memorial at Savar, and the National Liberation Museum, on 22nd March 2001: probably the most important part of the Literary Pilgrimage to Bangladesh. Because it is the sharing of pain which brings human beings closer to each other.


Floral wreaths were placed at these Memorials and glowing tributes were paid to the soldiers, intellectuals and freedom fighters who had laid down their lives during the Liberation War which lasted a number of years and climaxed in the birth of a new independent Nation State : Bangladesh, in 1971.


The delegates learnt with unbelievable horror of the massacre of millions of people by the Pakistani Army rulers. Those massacred included writers, poets, theatre persons, film producers and academicians.

   The participants were informed of the work undertaken by the eminent sculptor, Ms Shamim Zakaria who had built the sculptures at the Monuments and Memorials. Prof. Shafi and others sang songs in memory of the martyrs. One of the songs was written across the roadside wall too:

`How can I forget my brother's blood ?'


The Delegates expressed their whole-hearted sympathy and solidarity with the Bangladesh people.


Ms Ajeet Cour was so moved by the visit to the Memorials that she even cried in memory of the brave martyrs, and said with a voice choked with tears: "We knew of the six millions Jews massacred by the Nazi fundamentalist regime, but we didn't know that the number of our massacred brothers and sisters of Bangladesh was as large as three million! Thirty lakhs killed in cold blood! … I cry for you, my dear beloved neighbours, my brothers and sisters!"

  
   
   


Ajeet Cour with some of the delegates. A Solemn Moment at the National Memorial.

     
   
Ajeet Cour along with other delegates placing the Wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
















 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
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