How did a speech persuade an entire population to fight for their liberty?
Bangabandhu’s 7 March Speech was delivered to a crowd of over two million people on March 7, 1971 at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father. It was given during a time of rising tensions between East Pakistan and West Pakistan’s dominant political and military establishment, and it was videotaped by an actor. Rahman declared in his speech:
“This time, the battle is for our liberty. This time, the battle is for our freedom.”
In the province, he proposed a civil disobedience movement, calling for “every house to turn into a stronghold.” Despite extensive reports of armed mobilization by West Pakistan, the speech galvanized the Bengali people to prepare for a fight of independence. After 18 days, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight against Bengali citizens, intelligentsia, students, politicians, and armed men, the Bangladesh Liberation War began. The speech was added to the Memory of the World Register as a documentary heritage on October 30, 2017, by UNESCO. On March 7, 1971, it was a bright and beautiful afternoon. Hundreds of thousands of Bangalees flocked to Dhaka’s Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) to hear instructions from their leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on how to cope with Pakistani rulers who refused to acknowledge the election results in 1970. Bangabandhu encouraged the freedom-loving Bangalees to undertake a decisive war against the Pakistani overlords in his 19-minute extempore epic address. Bangabandhu stated emphatically at 4:23 p.m.,
“We shed our blood…We’re ready to bleed some more. Inshallah, the people of the land will be liberated!”
With a booming slogan, the entire nation reacted from their hearts and souls: “Brave Bangalees take up weapons, obtain freedom for Bangladesh.” It was the highest honor bestowed to one of the world’s most illustrious addresses, in which Bangabandhu practically declared the country’s independence. The speech electrified liberation fighters for the nine-month deadly War of Liberation by providing inspiration and bravery to Bangalees in their desire for freedom.
Let us now discuss why this speech is so essential to us, as well as the evidences that were utilized in it to make it an unforgettable treasure for Bangalees.
It’s not easy to give a speech that inspires individuals to want to achieve independence. Bangabandhu was the one who accomplished this, but why was he so successful? Because this speech recounts the tragic history of Bangalees and the torture they endured on a daily basis throughout the Pakistani government’s leadership. When the Pakistani military rulers refused to hand over power to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a Bengali nationalist leader whose party, the Awami League, won a majority in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the 1970 general election. The speech effectively announced Bangladesh’s independence. The speech provides a detailed account of how post-colonial nation-states’ failure to establish inclusive, democratic societies alienates people of various ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds.
So, when individuals can relate to a speech, it becomes a treasure for them. They can’t get the speech out of their heads. It is not required for a lengthy speech to be more persuasive or trustworthy. Long speeches can often have the reverse effect of drawing people. We must remember that the purpose of a speech is to make an impression on the audience, not to boring or demotivate them. The audience wants real-life stories or occurrences that they can relate to. That’s why, Bangabandhu’s 7th March Speech will always be a priceless treasure for the Bangalees and the entire nation.
