The Depiction of Women in The Bangladesh Liberation War: A Comparative Study of War based Films and Novels

Abstract

To know about the history, tradition and livelihood of a nation there are so many ways. Films and books can be considered as the most authentic sources. Films and books are very popular among new generations. Regarding the Bangladesh Liberation War films and books, they play a major role in carrying the true history of a nation’s birth, its sufferings, and sacrifices. The films that show us the history of 1971, the birth of Bangladesh, are biased in a sense. When it comes to representing the women's contribution and activities the films seem to be patriarchal; glorifying only manhood, men’s contribution and their activity while showing women only as war vict ims, and helpless. In comparison with the films, novels are much more appreciable. Suffering of women, their withstand and active role in the war have been demonstrated very well in the novels. Through films a half-bared truth is spreading among generations. People have the right to know about the truth of their nation’s birth, their past and their history. Only the neutral representation of history can ensure the distribution of the true message to generation after generation, which is actually done by the novels. This paper aims to focus on the fact that the ‘Half-truth’ of our history is being presented in the films and to throw light on the realit y of women’s contributions and struggles during the war which are actually depicted in the novels.