The Clay Bird

---

Until 1971,

Bangladesh was the Eastern wing

of the Islamic State of Pakistan.

This story takes place

against the backdrop

of the democratic movement

against military rule in Pakistan

during the late 1960's,

which led to general elections.

The military government

cancelled the election results,

and the subsequent Army crackdown

culminated in civil war

and independence of Bangladesh.

No.

Not like that.

From now on, you should use this.

Take it.

Do it. Let me watch.

No. Like this.

Allah is great.

Ma, when's Anu coming home?

I don't know.

Is he learning a lot in there?

Yes.

He's going to be like your father.

Anu's mother!

Can I have some tea?

I've put the water on.

I keep asking you

about the medicine.

Asma's got fever again.

Please give her something.

I told you not to let

her wander outside,

she'll catch fever.

What else can she do?

She's got no one to play with

since you sent her brother

to madrasa.

Okay,

sit up straight.

Oh Allah!

You have such long hair.

You know who keeps their hair long?

Women and Hindu sadhus.

Following them,

muslim mystics also grow their hair.

Are you trying to adopt

their impious ways?

Only for the new students,

I cut their hair the first time.

From now on,

you'll have to do it on your own.

This is called a "crew cut".

Have you finished?

Are you the new boy?

- Your name?

- My name's Anu.

That's not an Islamic name.

Your proper name is Anwar.

Right?

- What's your father's name?

- Kazi Mazharul Islam.

From now on, your name here is

Kazi Muhammad Anwarul Islam.

OK?

Anwar come quick,

you'll miss lunch!

At first you'll feel bad here

but you'll get use to it.

Do you like fish?

I hate it.

Really? Why?

I don't know.

Even the sight of it makes me sick.

What's your name?

Rokon.

Muhammad Rokonuddin Khan.

Anwar the animal!

Why stand there like a tree?

Play, or go away.

What kind of game is this?

This new kid's a dunce.

Doesn't know sh*t.

See, there's your friend,

playing by himself. Weirdo!

Gojoin him.

What are you doing?

It's just another game,

much better than their games.

No ball, no boundary...

nothing's allowed here.

Let's play! Here's my ball!

- Where?

- Here!

Here, catch!

Now throw it back.

Nothing like playing with a ball!

Let's see who can catch it!

Are you from a town or a village?

A town. And you?

Village.

Why did you let him go with Milon?

You know I don't like it.

Don't put it on me.

Can't you convince your own brother?

My son shouldn't see

all that Hindu rubbish!

You two are ruining my boy.

It's your brother

who takes him everywhere.

Easy to blame me.

I told you not to go out.

Your father is very angry.

Anu!

You forgot the sweets!

What's this?

Let me see!

Get this heathen trash out of here!

I've had enough.

I'll send him off to madrasa.

Go to bed! Sleep!

Be quiet!

Sleep!

Rokon...

- Are you awake?

- Yes.

I can't sleep either.

I don't get it.

Why are they so mean to you?

You want something to eat?

What have you got?

Where did you get these?

Who gave them to you?

- My friend.

- Who's your friend?

I have a special friend.

A special friend?

Some day I'll tell you about him.

You all know about

the holy night of Meraj.

On this night, the Prophet Muhammad,

peace be upon him,

rode a winged horse

to have an audience with Allah.

On his way back from heaven,

he met Prophet Moses,

peace be upon him.

Prophet Moses

asked Prophet Muhammad:

"How many prayers did you get

assigned for your followers?"

Muhammad said:

"Fifty per day."

Moses cried out:
"That's too much!

Go back and ask him to reduce it."

So, Muhammad went back to Allah.

On his return he told Moses

he got it reduced to five prayers.

Moses said:
"That's still too much,

go back to him."

But Prophet Muhammad didn't want

to bother Allah any further.

...as I was saying,

you must do your ablutions

before each prayer.

There are 7 ways they get spoiled.

Down with Military Dictatorship!

Free Political Prisoners!

We want Autonomy!

The ocean swells are rising

How can we sail through?

Allah forgive us!

I'm leaving this evening

for pilgrimage.

I will return on Saturday,

Allah willing.

Papa!

When will you be back?

Saturday, Allah willing!

Please bring me some red shoes.

Your father won't have the time.

- Where's Milon?

- I'm here.

Don't waste all your time in town.

- Keep an eye on the house.

- Okay.

- Good bye.

- Good bye.

Ma, I'm full.

You're hardly eating these days.

Did you bring the mustard sauce?

Sorry Madam,

I'll bring it tomorrow.

There's a concert tonight

in the village.

A very good one. Come!

Oh Ma! Let's go!

You always bring trouble.

How can I go?

Kazi's gone for pilgrimage.

The concert's nearby. Let's go!

If Kazi finds out, he'll be angry.

The bird's trapped

in the body's cage

lts feet bound by worldly chains,

it tries to fly but fails

The bird's trapped

in the body's cage

Rainbow colored birds

circle freely in the sky

Their brilliant splendor

a rapture for the eye

lts feet bound by worldly chains,

it tries to fly but fails

The bird's trapped

in the body's cage

The bird pines with longing,

it yearns to spread its wings

It wants to join the joyful birds

leaving its fleeting home

The clay bird laments:

"Why did You infuse

my heart with longing"

"If you didn't give my wings

the strength to fly?"

Lts feet bound by worldly chains,

it tries to fly but fails

The bird's trapped

in the body's cage

- Milon are you home?

- Who's there?

Uttam, Shaheen, sit down.

What's new?

Take a look at this!

"Martial Law declared.

Dictator Ayub Khan steps down.

"Constitution suspended."

Bravo!

Bravo Bangalees!

"General Yahya is Pakistan's

new head of state.

"The Governor is forced to resign.

"General Yahya promises

elections within a year."

Will he keep his word,

or will he be another dictator?

- Better he keeps his word.

- We'll see.

Wake up!

Prayer is better than sleep.

Wake up!

Get ready!

Silence!

Quiet!

What Arabic lesson were we on?

Oh yes, I remember.

Conjugate the verb "to do"

in the present tense. Anwar?

He does, two boys do,

three or more do, she does....

two girls do, three or more do...

Who can give me a sentence

with subject, object, verb

and preposition?

Zaid beats Omar with the stick.

You boy.

Explain the different noun forms

in this sentence.

Zaid is active, ends with "oon"

Omar, the subject, ends with "aan",

and the stick is...

"Stick" is an exception to the rule.

It should end with "ee"

but in this case,

stick ends with "aa".

Got it?

- Where are you from?

- Near Kumarganj.

My uncle lives there.

- What's the name of your village?

- Fulpur.

Fulpur. Pretty name!

Rokon!

Here is my robe. Wash it well.

Is your home far away?

Yes, very far.

Sir, what's your village like?

My daughter is very restless.

She's a bit older than you.

She likes to play by the pond.

There is a big tree there.

When its flowers fall on the water

it looks like a red carpet.

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