Plight of a drummer during Bangladesh war

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru:

The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 is a part of history that doesn’t get spoken about much in India. The most we know of it is that we beat Pakistan. But very few know about the human cost suffered by the people.

Jibondhuli is a documentary that explores that side of the story and will be screened at BIC this Monday and tells the story of Jibonkrishna Das, a poor lower-caste Hindu drummer, who was eking out living with his wife and two children, during the liberation war of Bangladesh against Pakistan in 1971.

Being from a lowercaste, Jibon was subjected to all kinds of humiliation both by his Muslim neighbours as well as by the upper caste Hindus. In 1971 when the Pakistan army occupied Jibon’s village, Jibon along with other villagers, tried to flee to India.

On the way, his family members were massacred by the Pakistani soldiers. Jibon survived, and after roaming around the war-ravaged countryside, finally returned to his native village which was then being brutally ruled by the Razakars, an Islamic auxiliary force collaborating with the Pakistan army.

The commander of the Razakars spared Jibon’s life on the condition that he had to play drums for his marauding force. The film tells the story of how Jibon’s humanity and artistic instincts thrived despite the hardships.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and a Q&A session with Piyush Roy, Swati Dandekar and Junuka Deshpande in a session moderated by Indira Chowdhury. Where: BIC, Domlur When: Oct 17, 6 pm Entry: Free