Back in 1971, Somnath Choudhury, a Hindu Brahmin from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), adopted the Muslim name Shamsher Ali to join the Mukti Bahini and spy on Pakistani troops during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Risking his life, he provided critical information to Indian intelligence, playing a key role in the events that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Now 78 years old and living in Chalsa, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, Choudhury is distressed by the current unrest in Bangladesh, which began after Sheikh Hasina’s government fell on August 5. On Vijay Diwas, celebrated on December 16 each year to mark India’s victory in the 1971 war, Choudhury expressed his hope that the Bangladesh government would protect Hindus and other minorities from persecution.
“I was a minority in East Pakistan when I joined the liberation war from March 26 to December 16, 1971. I understand the struggles of minorities in Bangladesh today,” Choudhury said.
Recalling his days as a spy, Choudhury shared how he risked his life to gather intelligence.
“I was young when I joined the Mukti Bahini, the guerrilla force resisting the Pakistani army. The Indian Army tasked me with gathering information about Pakistani troops. Disguised as a photographer for a Bengali newspaper, I travelled to Kustia and Faridpur, taking pictures of Pakistani soldiers and passing them to the Indian Army to aid their combat strategies,” he said.
To avoid suspicion, Choudhury removed his sacred thread and wore an amulet, learning Urdu to blend in with Pakistani troops.
“These efforts helped conceal my Hindu identity. During the war, I moved frequently, taking photographs and sending them to Indian intelligence agencies,” he added.
On December 16, 1971, after Bangladesh’s liberation, Choudhury reclaimed his original identity and celebrated the victory. He stayed in Bangladesh until 1975 but left after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination on August 15, 1975.
“After that tragic event, I decided to move to Chalsa, where I’ve lived with my family ever since,” he said.
Reflecting on current events, Choudhury said he feels deep sorrow seeing some Bangladeshi politicians expressing hostility toward India.
However, he remains optimistic. “I believe the people of Bangladesh will reject the control of fundamentalists. Change will come,” he said with hope.
Also read: Prez Murmu, PM Modi honours 1971 war heroes on Vijay Diwas
Follow us
