Joy Bangla

This article is about the slogan used in Bangladesh and India. For Ravi Shankar's extended play, see Joi Bangla. For the wartime newspaper of Awami League, see The Jai Bangla.

Joy Bangla (Bengali: জয় বাংলা) is a slogan and war cry used in Bangladesh^[1][2][3] to indicate nationalism towards the geopolitical, cultural and historical region of Bengal and Bangamata (also known as Bangla Maa or Mother Bengal).^[4] It is also recognised as the national slogan of Bangladesh.^[5][6][7] It translates roughly to "Victory to Bengal" or "Hail Bengal".^[8]

"Joy Bangla" written in Bengali alphabet

History

Purnachandra Das, an Indian schoolteacher and revolutionary from Madaripur, Bangladesh was imprisoned in the Berhampur Jail for his involvement in the independence movement. Bengali Kazi Nazrul Islam composed the poem 'Purna-Abhinandan' from the book of poems 'Bhangar Gaan' at the request of Kalipada Roychowdhury on the occasion of the release of Purnachandra Das from prison.^[9] Kazi Nazrul Islam first used the word Joy Bangla in this poem.^[10] The name of the slogan Joy Bangla comes from this poem named "Pūrṇa Abhinandan" (1922) by Kazi Nazrul Islam.^{[11][1][12][13]} The middle two lines of the fifth stanza are as follows:

In Bengalī script

জয় বাংলার পূর্ণচন্দ্র, জয় জয় আদি-অন্তরীণ!
জয় যুগে-যুগে-আসা-সেনাপতি, জয় প্রাণ আদি-অন্তহীন!^[14]

Transliteration

Joy Bangla'r pūrṇochondro, joy joy adi ontorīṇ
joy jugē jugē asa sēnapoti, joy prāṇ ontohīn^[15]

English Translation

Hail to bengal's Purnachandra, hail to the eternally enveloped,
All hail to the warriors who came here generation after generation, hail to the ceaseless eternal souls.^[16]

It appeared in the 11-point charter put forth by the Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad on 4 January 1969. After the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the SCSP held a rally at the Ramna Race Course ground on 22 February 1969, to honour him. When Mujib was conferred the title of Bangabandhu, cries of Joy Bangla came from all over the park.^[17]

Joy Bangla was the slogan and war cry of the Mukti Bahini that fought for the independence of Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.^[18] In Bangladesh Liberation War, 27 March 1971 Major Ziaur Rahman broadcast announcement of the declaration of independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and he finished with "Joy Bangla".^[19]

After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Khondakar Mostaq Ahmad replaced Joy Bangla with Bangladesh Zindabad.^[20]

National slogan of Bangladesh

 

"Joy Bangla" sculpture at Mujibnagar Liberation War Memorial Complex in Meherpur

The High Court on 4 December 2017 directed the government of Bangladesh to explain "why 'Joy Bangla' would not be declared as national slogan of the county.'"^[21]

On 10 March 2020, The High Court made the declaration naming "Joy Bangla" as the official national slogan of Bangladesh.^[22]

Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader announced this after settling a rule on a writ petition filed two years ago.^[23] The High Court also added that this order will be done fulfill within next three months.

Bangladesh constitutional office-holders and all state officials will be use on all national days and in appropriate cases, at the end of their speeches in state programmes. All of educational institution teachers and students must be use the Joy Bangla motto at the end of assemblies.^[23] On 20 February 2022 the cabinet division has decided to make Joy Bangla as the national slogan.^[24] On 2 March 2022 The government has issued a notification declaring 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan of Bangladesh. According to the notification:

1.(a) ' Joy Bangla ' will be the national slogan of Bangladesh.

(b) Officials of all government offices should chant the slogan 'Joy Bangla' at the end of all national day celebrations and other functions of the state and the government.

(c) Teachers and students should say the slogan 'Joy Bangla' at the end of daily gatherings and for concluding speeches at meetings and seminars in all educational institutions.^[25]

Political slogan

In Bangladesh

The salutation "Joy Bangla" is the official slogan of the Bangladesh Awami League. The phrase "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" is used by the party members at the end of speeches and communications pertaining to or referring to patriotism towards Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib.

In West Bengal

The slogan Joy Bangla is also officially used by Mamata Banerjee and by her party Trinamool Congress as part of attempt to create a territorial and ethnolinguistic identity for Bengalis in India.^[26][27] It is used in particular, as a closing remark for political speeches.^[28][29][30]

In West Bengal in January 2018, for the first time in India, Bengali national organization "Bangla Pokkho" raised the slogan Joy Bangla.^[31]

In popular culture

On 7 March 1971 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for independence and asked the people of Bangladesh to launch a major campaign of civil disobedience and organized armed resistance at a mass gathering of people held at the Race Course Ground in Dhaka.^[32][33][34]

The struggle now is the struggle for our emancipation; the struggle now is the struggle for our independence. Joy Bangla!..^[32][34][35]
(For more info, see: 7th March Speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman)^[36]

The surrender ceremony of the Pakistani military also took place at the Race Course Ground on 16 December 1971. About 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered, making it the largest military surrender that occurred after World War 2. Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, Joint Commander of Indian and Bangladesh Forces accepted the surrender without a word, while the crowd on the race course erupted in celebrations, shouting victory slogans, "Joy Bangla".^{[37][38][39][40][41]}

The phrase has also given its name to

• Joy Bangla weekly (1971), one of the two official mouthpieces of the provisional Mujibnagar government, that led the Bangladesh's independence war.
• Joy Bangla Banglar Joy, a patriotic and popular song. It was the signature tune of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.
• Joy Bangla Concert, annual benefit concert by Young Bangla.^[42][43]
• Joy Bangla Youth Award, the flagship Award event of Young Bangla.^[44][45]

See also

• Bangladesh Liberation War
• Bangladesh Zindabad
• Bengali nationalism
• Pakistan Zindabad

References

1. "Meghalaya Governor slams Trinamool, says chanting 'Joy Bangla' slogan seditious". June 22, 2019.
2. "'Jai Shri Ram', 'Joy Bangla' Sweets For Sale In West Bengal". Moneycontrol.
3. "Jai Shri Ram vs Joy Bangla: Desperate Mamata Banerjee Feels Saffron Heat | Outlook India Magazine". magazine.outlookindia.com/.
4. "The Immortal Slogan of "Joy Bangla"". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
5. "'Joy Bangla' to be national slogan: HC". Daily Prothom Alo. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
6. "HC orders govt to announce 'Joy Bangla' as national slogan in three months". bdnews24.com. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
7. Report, Star Digital (2 March 2022). "'Joy Bangla' declared national slogan of Bangladesh". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
8. "The immortal slogan of Joy". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
9. "যেভাবে লেখা হলো নজরুলের 'পূর্ণ-অভিনন্দন' কবিতাটি". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali).
10. "নজরুলের 'জয় বাংলা'". bdnews24.com (in Bengali).
11. "বঙ্গবন্ধুর অসমাপ্ত আত্মজীবনী থেকে যা জানলাম | মতামত". opinion.bdnews24.com. December 23, 2018.
12. "Bangabandhu and the Power of "Joy Bangla"". Daily Sun.
13. "Joy Bangla was inspired by Nazrul's poetry: PM". Dhaka Tribune. April 20, 2013.
14. "'পূর্ণ-অভিনন্দন' কবিতাটি | কালের কণ্ঠ". Kalerkantho.
15. "পূর্ণ-অভিনন্দন - কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম". www.bangla-kobita.com.
16. "Explained: The history of 'Joy Bangla'". indianexpress.com.
17. David Ludden (19 July 2003). "Forgotten Heroes". Frontline. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
18. Ahmed, Salahuddin (2004). Bangladesh: Past and Present. APH Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 8176484695. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
19. Gupta, Jyoti Sen (1974). History of Freedom Movement in Bangladesh, 1943–1973: Some Involvement. Calcutta: Naya Prokash. pp. 325–326. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
20. "Ahmad, Khondakar Mostaq". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
21. "Govt asked to explain why Joi Bangla won't be declared as national slogan". New Age. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
22. "'Joy Bangla' to be national slogan: HC". Prothom Alo. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
23. "HC orders govt to announce 'Joy Bangla' as national slogan in three months". bdnews24.com. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
24. Joy Bangla will be national slogan, says cabinet secretary, Financial Express, 20 February 2022
25. 'Joy Bangla ' made national slogan : Govt notification, 2 March 2022
26. "Explained: The history of 'Joy Bangla' | Explained News,The Indian Express".
27. "Decoded: The History Of 'Joy Bangla', Mamata's Slogan That BJP Calls Secessionist".
28. "West Bengal Assembly Elections | 'Khela hobe' to 'khela sesh' — it's season of slogans - The Hindu".
29. "Let the game for 2021 begin, says Mamata - The Hindu".
30. "What does the JOY BANGLA slogan remind you of - eSamskriti".
31. "Bangla Pokkho is a pro-Bangla and Bengali organization".
32. "Bangabandhu's March 7 speech Bangladesh's inspiration to rise: PM". The Daily Star. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
33. Amir Hossain (7 March 2013). "Historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu". Bangabandhu - The Man Behind the Nation (Blog). Retrieved 25 May 2013.
34. "1971 March 7th shek mujibur rahman". YouTube. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
35. . Time. 20 December 1971. Archived from the original on January 12, 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
36. Sen Gupta, Jyoti (1974). History of freedom movement in Bangladesh, 1943-1973: some involvement. Calcutta: Naya Prokash. pp. 325–326. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
37. Nabī, Nūruna (2010). Bullets of '71: A Freedom Fighter's Story. AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781452043777.
38. Nayar, Kuldip (3 February 1998). "Of betrayal and bungling". Indian Express. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
39. ntv.com. "The surrender: Accounts of foreign journalists". NTV Online. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
40. Anam, Mahfuz. "The challenge before Bangladesh". Retrieved 2018-01-25.
41. "The fall of a nation and the birth of a new nation | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
42. "Joy Bangla Concert 2017". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
43. "Joy Bangla Concert to rekindle historic March 7". The Daily Star. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
44. "30 organisations win Joy Bangla Youth Award 2017". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
45. "30 organisations get Joy Bangla Youth Award 2017". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2018-01-25.