ABSTRACT
This chapter is a reflection on the territorial dismemberments bearing upon the destiny of the Bengalis, which of course had its roots in the first two partitions of Bengal.. Here it has been attempted to interweave the stories of both parts of Bengal, as they witnessed the process of the third historic Partition. East Bengal, of course, experienced it more directly and intensely, while West Bengal stood in anguished solidarity. This chapter, however, is written from the perspective of a citizen of West Bengal, and more broadly speaking India, of which it is a province. Thus, it is primarily concerned with the response of the people of West Bengal and India to the war that was waged against the Pakistani junta by the people of East Bengal, namely the Bangladesh Liberation War.The chapter has been written on the basis of newspaper reports and articles, autobiographical and literary materials, and to a large extent, the author’s personal memory.
