THE interest of the youth in the Liberation War is very encouraging and understandable. They have been denied knowledge of their heritage, which has already passeaover two decades. Those who were little children or born after 1971 were robbed of the glorious past by misinterpretation or downplaying of the Liberation movement and the great struggle that the people of Bangladesh went through for a free and sovereign Bangladesh. Today a visit to the Liberation War Museum is quenching their thirst. However, the Museum can satisfy only a bit of their craving for the truth. But It Is a beginning. They at least can get the lead to follow up further. They can share some of the pride of their older generation and learn to love their motherland a bit more. They can understand and respect their culture, heritage and the nation. They can stand up with their head high, knowing how proudly and bravely their forefathers fought to bring inde pendence for them. They are citizens of one of the few nations who have had the privilege to have an armed struggle to become and independent nation.

Our generation, which participated and witnessed the making of history in one of the epic moments of Bangalees failed to make the youth of today. the new generation, aware of that moment and be a part of it. Although today we blame the youth because of their rebellious and disjointed attitude, we fail to recognize the fact that ever since Bangladesh came to being we have been groping in the dark trying to write individual history rather than the history of the nation and con-

tribute towards a brighter future. For the last 27 years our struggle for freedom took a back seat and we distorted, told and retold the historical moments of 1971 to represent only certain interest groups. As a result the essence and the spirit of the Liberation War got lost and our existence as a nation to survive in resilience became trivial to the personal interest and survival of the individual. The youth fell in the crossfire of our generation's total about turn in attitude to the country and ideology. They found us hypocritical and dishonest. We sold our soul to the devil and became part of a rat race that didn't fit in the bigger backdrop of the characteristic of a generation which fought a Liberation Struggle. Tnis double standard no doubt disappointed the youth and made them sceptic of our struggle and us. A gap was thus created between them and us. The enemies of the Liberation War took the opportunity to fill this gap by fitting in a picture disgracing the Liberation War that seemed more gullible to the youth in the face of our failure.

In 1971 when the people of Bangladesh realized the treachery of the Pakistani military junta who began the genocide to crush the Bangalees as a nation, they rose, in unison, in resistance. This resistance was an

unhesitating response against the wrongdoing of Pakistani regime against the Bangalee people. People from all walks of life, all colour and creed felt the need to fight against the wrath that had fallen upon them. In the beginning it seemed like the call of the day to take up arms’ without any collective direction or guidance. People in different parts of the country on their own initiative took it as their obligation to resist the Pakistanis. Of course in no time this force was guided to emerge into a fierce and disciplined Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters) which ultimately led to our independence and freedom with the help of the Indian Forces to reach our goal In the shortest possible time of only nine months. But there can be no denying the bravery and sincerity ot the freedom fighters in their cause of the Liberation of their motherland. They were embedded with the spirit of freeing the country and its people from the shackles of the oppressors. Their dream was of a tree Bangladesh where all people will live as equal human beings. These fighters realized from the very beginning when they Joined that the struggle will be long, hard and most probably they will not survive to see their victory. But one thing they were sure about was that the struggle would continue till the defeat of the Pakistani

Forces. The freedom fighters were meagerly outfitted and half fed. Even then nobody questioned or demanded for anything better. They were prepared to embrace death while fighting for the liberation of their country. They were even willing to fight bare hand. They fought with all their might and heart. And they fought like tigers till victory was attained. Many of them didn't survive and they are buried in unmarked graves or fields, which is today the soil of free Bangladesh. That is their glory.

With the independence of Bangladesh the commitment of the freedom fighters for the country has not ended. In 1971 they were willing to make the supreme sacrifice of giving their life for their motherland. They still have a responsibility to the people and the land. The fighters didn't expect anything for their participation in the liberation struggle from their country but the country expects they continue their service to the nation for a better tomorrow till their death. As true freedom fighters they must continue to be the conscience of the nation' and march forward to reach the dream they had and their fallen comrades had in 1971. We have shrugged off our responsibilities for too long but it is not too late for us to serve our country and take the responsibility we pledged to carry on in 1971 till our death. To rephrase John Kennedy's famous line we asked not what the country would give to us rather we asked ourselves what we could give to the country in 1971. That holds true even today. Let us not shy away from our responsibility and pride. Their Is still a spark in the cinder. don't extinguish it.