Pluralism and the Rise of Bangladesh

The concept of Pluralism is as old as the story of Bengal itself. The great emperor, Ashoka once
reigned over the region, heralding what was one of Historys first proclamations of the pluralist
ideal when he had inscribed on stone pillars throughout his vast empire the enlightened message:
The faiths of all others ought to be honored for one reason or another. By honoring them, one
honors ones own faith and at the same time performs service to the faiths of others.
Throughout the history of Bengal, this enlightened message spoke to the highly progressive and
flexible character of the region. Though as a state, Bangladesh is very young and emergent, as a
nation and civilization, the history of Bengal stretches back for thousands of years, and tells a
story of intellectual sophistication, political maturity, and economic prowess. It is a rich and
colorful history with a unique lesson of cultural, and religious inter-mingling, cooperation, and
harmony. It was this early pluralistic tradition and internationalist outlook that gave Bengal its
distinct character and early reputation as a global center of intellectual and economic
opportunity.

Openness to plurality translated to competitiveness in trade and commerce

resulting in economic prowess and international prestige of Bengal

Bengal the was land which great Greek and Roman historians such as Ptolemy noted for its
powerful kingdoms, quality merchandise, and prosperous ports; ancient Minoan and Egyptian
artifacts have been found in its ancient cities; it saw the completion of the Somapura
Mahavihara, a towering monastery that remains one of the largest in the world, once drawing in
scholars from across Asia to learn of its high arts; dispatched one of its most learned Buddhist
scholars, Atisha Dipankara to help re-invigorate the practice of Buddhism in Tibet; lured in the
famed 14th century traveler from the Maghreb, Ibn Battuta to seek the blessings of a famed Sufi
saint from Yemen, Shah Jalal of Sylhet; attracted the attention of Admiral Zheng Hes Treasure
Fleet of the Ming Dynasty; served as the most prized province of the Mughal and British
Empires. The story of Bengal is intimately connected to the story of history itself; and these are
just a few snapshots of Bengal through the ages.

Indeed it was Bengals unique geographic location that allowed it to become a contact-point of
antiquity. With the Himalayas, Gobi Dessert, and Siberia stacked to the north, Bengal was a
natural land bridge of connectivity between early migrations from the west to east. Coupled with
the many rivers of the Himalayas that flow through South Asia into Bengal, the region became a
fertile delta of culture and people of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. The call to prayer

offered by Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians still heard across the nation, along
with the myriad of complexions and facial features of Bengal are testament to this early
harmonization of ancient peoples.

And this openness to plurality by the great dynasties of Bengal, be it the Muarya, Gupta, Pala, or
the medieval Islamic Sultans and Mughalsto name a fewtranslated in an early
competitiveness in trade and commerce, resulting in economic prowess and international
prestige. Today, the Bay of Bengal takes on special relevance with the Indian Ocean serving as
the worlds busiest hub of international trade. The U.S. Navy has taken notice and advised in
2007 that to downsize its presence in the Atlantic and seek a greater sustained and forward
presence in the Indian Ocean. The very next year, the U.S. Marine Corps unveiled its Vision and
Strategy until 2025, which zeroed in on the Indian Ocean as the next center of global
competition. China, too, has centered its foreign policy on its String of Pearls approach that
has seen the development of trade infrastructure and special economic relations with nations
along the South China sea, across the Indian Ocean, and into the Persian Gulf. Fully appreciating
the future influence presented by this region, member of the Pentagons Defense Policy Board,
David Kaplan wrote, The Indian Ocean will be where global power dynamics will be revealed.
Together with the contiguous Near East and Central Asia, it constitutes the new Great Game in
geopolitics. He concluded his assessment with the poignant observation, And so this ocean is
once again at the heart of the world, just as it was in antique and medieval times.

But to tap into this bright future, Bangladesh first needs overcome its social and political
challenges, and realize the social and economic potential that surrounds it.

In recent years, Bangladeshs presence in the international headlines has been marred by
depressing images of poverty; political instability and corruption; and religious fundamentalism.
The dream of a pluralistic society as envisioned by the original framers of the Constitution has
been tested in the last few decades through marshal law regimes that brought on Constitutional
changes that led to the establishment of a state religion and the erosion of pluralist values.
Incidences of prejudice and violence against religious and ethnic minorities, and slow movement
on fostering broader and deeper regional ties have further hampered Bangladeshs social and
economic prospects. Democratic norms and institutions have suffered as a result of inefficiencies
and lack of transparency, while partisan politics has contributed to a lack of policy continuation
and stable vision to help Bangladesh meet its social and economic opportunities presented by
emerging world realities.

Through proper articulation of a forward-looking vision, Bangladesh can once again reclaim the
prestige of its pluralist past. This vision must be one that is based on new regional and global

dynamics; and in order to best harness the collective spirit and imagination necessary to bring
these ideas to fruition, the vision must be both inspiring and meaningful in scope and application.
The goal of this project thus becomes to demonstrate that through a greater acceptance and
meaningful application of pluralistic norms and values, Bangladesh can once again live up to its
historic legacy of communal harmony, strengthen the democratic character of the state,
contribute towards inter-communal cohesion and national security, and set a trajectory for greater
regional social and economic integration. This is not an unrealistic featthe ancient legacy of
Bengal is one of plurality and prosperity; and there is no reason to believe that the future of
Bangladesh wont hold the same promise.

Fortunately there is a historical precedence for this vision of a more open, inclusive, and globally
engaged Bangladesh; and the foundation of that precedent was a pluralistic Bengal, open to the
influences of others, yet strong enough in its own syncretic identity to maintain its sense of
nationhood and distinctiveness.

The historical remnants of this past glory remain scattered throughout the terrain of modern
Bangladesh; they exist as crumbling monuments, and endure in the language, art, and culture as
unifying symbols of the nation; traces of this rich and diverse history are etched upon the facial
features of its citizenry. This history cannot be ignored, and by piecing these elements together, it
is possible to imagine a greater role for Bangladesh in this new globalized era where integration
and cooperation serve as the principle forces behind the rise of Asia, and the future social and
economic order of the world.

The ancient legacy of Bengal is one of plurality and prosperity, and there is no
reason to believe that the future of Bangladesh wont hold the same promise.