War after the War : A Mother’s Tale

“For many wives and mothers of martyrs, the war of liberation of Bangladesh ended not in victory but with the begining of a new unforeseen and unimaginably difficult battle. The brutal killing of the head of the family shattered the course of life as they knew it. For the author’s mother, an instant took away her husband, confidant and head of her family. From a housewife overnight she was forced into the role of homemaker and bread-earner, the dual responsibility of being the father and mother of the family. For many widowed mothers in the time, so ensued an everyday struggle for existence and raising their children with education, strength and skill to face the challenges of life. In doing so they carried forward the legacy of the liberation spirit, the fulfillment of the dream of those who sacrificed their life for the freedom of the nation. This is the tale of one mother, a martyr’s wife, whose resilience and resolve is narrated by her youngest daughter, Shilpi Rahman. It is an intimate story animating the turbulence and trauma of a family– their war after the war. Ultimately it is the celebration of human spirit which can be an inspiring tale for all.