11/09/2022
The Jews had their own temple. Which was the symbol of their entire nation. Temple of Solomon. Temple of Solomon. Whenever the enemy wanted to hit the Jews, break their morale and weaken their resistance, they would demolish their temple. Solomon's temple was torn down twice. Once upon a time there was a hanging garden, the famous Nebuchadnezzar and again the Romans. Much like our Buddhist temple in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The Jews had a country of their own. They had their own home, family and dreams. The Jews expelled them from their land and occupied the Jews' own land. Exactly what happened in our Chakma Hill Chittagong is still going on today.
This happened about 2000 years ago. For once in these 2000 years, the Jews have not forgotten the country they left behind. Every year they hold a ceremony. If we don't have much, we look forward to a memorable day / event at CHT. The Jews greeted each other there and said goodbye to Jerusalem the following year. That means we are going to Jerusalem next year.
They did not give up hope even for a moment of the day. They have been tortured, they have been expelled, they have faced genocide, they have moved from Arab-European countries to other countries like cows and goats. Yet keep that unshakable faith in mind! Next year in Jerusalem! They taught their children their national mantra - the following year in Jerusalem!
And they came back. They reclaimed their land in 2000, almost 2,000 years after their deportation. However, Chakma does not recall the date of leaving the CHT in 1964 or earlier.
Just as Jerusalem is ‘like Israel’, Chakma refugees will one day get back their ancestral lands in the CHT.
Can't we start hill lessons in CHT like the Jews?
If we can't do it ourselves, we can give our descendants the responsibility to protect their own land. Isn't it?
