Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a political leader, but his skill as a wordsmith is evident not only in his speeches and statements, but also in his three books: Oshomapto Attojiboni (The Unfinished Memoirs), Karagarer Rojnamcha (The Prison Diaries), Amar Dekha Noya Chin (The New China as I Saw). Only a small fraction of his thousands of speeches and statements from his vast political career have been recorded. Reading them and comparing them with his books, it is clear that he had a profound command over words and was a skilled craftsman in their use. The magazine Newsweek addressed him as “the poet of politics.”
However, nowhere is it explicitly mentioned that he was a “master of words.” The artful assembly of words, the skillful presentation of emotions through language, and the mastery in the use of expressions can be observed in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speeches. Thousands, lakhs, and crores of people came out on the streets after hearing his speeches, risking their lives. His ideals have undoubtedly manifested in action.
Just as the Pied Piper of Hamelin had a unique melody, so did Bangabandhu's voice have a different tone and a unique power that set it apart from other political leaders, somewhere an attraction akin to magnetism.
Nelson Mandela, the leader of the people of South Africa, delivered speeches that were indeed captivating, and he made a significant contribution in several globally important speeches. One of these was his three-hour speech during the Rivonia Trial. However, due to spending a large portion of his life, nearly 27 years, in prison, he did not have the opportunity to deliver as many speeches as Bangabandhu.
Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech is also recognized as one of the most important speeches in the world. He delivered this historic speech to essentially free the people of America from the shackles of racism. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech to an audience of approximately 250,000 people, but Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his March 7 speech to an audience of approximately 1 million people. While the audience size and number may not be considered here, the combination of emotion, excitement, word choice, coherent expression, and public motivation in the March 7 speech is perhaps unparalleled in world history.
There are many examples of Mohandas Karamchand Mahatma Gandhi's speeches in the Indian independence movement. One notable speech is the one he gave in August 1942 during the "Quit India" movement. This speech was primarily addressed to the British colonial power, so there is a lack of emotion in it to engage the people. While the argumentation is abundant in this speech, the element of involving the people is relatively scarce. Therefore, the speech may captivate the judiciary, but it may not resonate as much with the general public due to its emphasis on reasoning over elements that engage the masses.
Two characteristics of Bangabandhu's speeches are easily discernible. This is, of course, due to his position. For example, after the Liberation War, Bangabandhu, as the head of state, had to present his speeches more formally and in writing. As a statesman, his speeches are available in written form, so most of them are well-written and complete. However, most of his speeches before he came to power are available in a spontaneous but incomplete form. Only those of Bangabandhu's speeches that were published in newspapers have been compiled. This is a vast area for research on Bangabandhu. It is the need of the hour to properly compile the countless speeches he gave when he was out of power, although some work has been done in this regard.
The emotion expressed in Bangabandhu's spontaneous speeches and statements, and the resulting sincerity in his use of words, are very touching. With his heartfelt addresses, he not only reaches the door of the Bengali heart, but the deep voice with which he delivers his words opens the door automatically. It's like magic. "Dear brothers and sisters," "fellow brothers," "my dear countrymen" - these are not just words of address, they seem to be the call of a loved one, the warmth of the heart.
A significant characteristic of Bangabandhu's speeches is his ability to first evoke memories of the past, making the audience recall historical events, and then emotionally engage them by connecting personal experiences with the historical struggles. Following this, he meticulously describes the current situation, providing detailed insights and, when necessary, delving into the emotional aspects. Finally, he concludes by offering guidance on what needs to be done, providing a roadmap for the future.
sharIt was not just his eloquence, but also the drama in his presentation that won the hearts of the people. Bangabandhu had a different style when announcing the future course of action, which was also reflected in his speech. The people had faith in Bangabandhu: He would be able to do it. And Bangabandhu did it. He entered the hearts of the people through his speeches, won their hearts through his actions, and became immortal in the hearts of the people through his ideals.
Prof Dr Soumitra Sekhar is vice chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
