Cricket and beyond: are we pro-Pakistani or anti-Indian?

Is cheering for a cricket team a good test of the national psyche? Does the team we support indicate where our identity lies? Is that why we support Pakistan when they play, and not India?

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During the recent World Cup, our cheering for Pakistan has caused many to wonder. After all, it's the country which actively killed our people. And the lack of supporters for India was also puzzling. After all, it's the country that helped Bangladesh beat Pakistan to gain independence.

Most foreigners find the answer in a shared religion, Islam. In a lovely mini documentary put on Cricinfo, "Dhaka bids farewell to the World Cup" two characters, Gokul and Jaideep, discuss many Dhaka matters with charm and fun. That includes asking why Bangladeshis support Pakistan.

Osman Samiuddin, Pakistan's cricket scribe for the site says that he has seen similar support for Pakistan by Sri Lankan Muslims. He says he can't find any other reason for supporting Pakistan other than having this common religion.

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Several match goers interviewed provide additional material. A Bangladeshi gentleman says that we were part of Pakistan once hence the support. Another says, "Pakistan is like a brother." The general theme is that we have a common bond. The third voice adds, "Politically, we may not support India but racially we support Pakistan."

So what else is common between Bangladesh and Pakistan except religion/race etc, Gokul and Jaideep ask.

Of course a shared religion must motivate many but is that all? Or is it by default that we support Pakistan? Because we don't like India politically?

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When did India lose our affection? I remember 16th December 1971, the streets filled with everyone bathed in relief from fear and tasting the sweetest juice of freedom and victory. People were screaming "Joy Bangla", weeping and laughing. The whole day, Indian soldiers had arrived in the city and as they walked on the road people shouted welcome, gave them flowers and sweets. It is the most wonderful memory of my life.

Scarcely a few months later, Dhaka University students had scrawled anti-Indian graffiti on the walls and a short-lived procession shouted, "Dhar, Dhar, Dhar ke dhor. (Catch Dhar)". DP Dhar was the Indian minister responsible for Bangladeshi affairs. He had mentioned special rights for India for oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh. People were incensed. The honeymoon had lasted barely a month and soon people were talking about a divorce.

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However, as much one admires India – as I and many others do – nobody can say it has the maturity to handle its big power status. It's like Dhaka's new rich, big on money and desperately short on temperament which puts off everyone.

Even in 1971, there was huge unease. Part of this was because the Indians never considered the alliance a relationship never mind an equal one in principle. Of course they were fighting their own war and Bangladesh was largely an excuse to fight Pakistan but that is the point. Most wars are like that, an opportunity of convergence but India saw everything through Indian eyes. It was very insensitive, particularly with a people fighting a nationalist war rubbing them in the wrong way. Even today, they will ask in wonder, "we liberated you yet you are so ungrateful!" Like liberation is candy handed by a kindly father to a child. India just doesn't get it.

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While doing a series on 1971 for the BBC, I found a deep vein of resentment among officials who had been to India. A very senior Mujibnagar official told me, "We were desperate to come back to Bangladesh to take charge. They were our airports, our ports, our resources." There was fear that Bangladeshis would lose control over what they had.

Soon after independence, India announced that a set of officials would go to Dhaka to assist the independent administration. It incensed everyone with people saying that so India doesn't think we are competent enough to run our own affairs. After the proverbial hue and cry, this was withdrawn but the bad taste remained.

The entry of Indian businessmen to sell goods in partnership with Bangladeshi traders soured the situation much more. Of course, everything was desperately short in supply but the obvious hoarding, price fixing, black marketing, etc. by Indo-Bangla profit makers created a terrible vision that wiped away the public image of a liberator to be replaced by that of a rogue trader.

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But India was also a prisoner of history. It gave unstinted support to Sheikh Mujib and his government and in the process, it got laden with all the baggage of chaotic rule of the first three years. Sheikh Muijb had the most difficult job in history but he also made terrible mistakes which in the end made him look a lot less than he actually was. His sense of political insecurity led him to form the Rakkhi Bahini–RAB's ancestor–which became synonymous with extralegal action and repression.

It was set up by Gen. Ovan of India who had mastered the Mujib Bahini in 1971 further tainting India as a supporter of such despicable acts. When Mujib fell, India fell with him.

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Zia played on cynicism much better than any politician since 1971. He did everything to counter AL including allowing Jamaat-e-Islami to re-enter politics, perhaps the most heinous act of political opportunism ever. He demonised India because it suited his politics. He saw that people were pissed off with India so he used it to strengthen himself. It made India bashing legitimate and created a tradition.

India gave Kader Siddiqui sanctuary and his sporadic raids made India a bigger demon. India went on supporting all of Dhaka's enemies including the Shanti Bahini operating from India. India's actions alienated most Bangladeshis which were capped by the ultimate deal breaking act for friendship, the Farakka barrage which ran so much of Bangladesh dry.

If someone is so committed to being insensitive how one does feel affectionate?

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Pakistan and its so-called political followers in Bangladesh – Jamaat-e-Islami, sections of BNP and a few others – have benefited from this lack of love for India. Pakistan has no interaction or relations with Bangladesh so its actions have no bearing with our daily activities. And Pakistan in 2011 is very different from the Pakistan in 1971 for most.

India is out real neighbour, the big brother and so on but with whom Bangladesh deals every day. We need India for many things and India has done more for Bangladesh than any power but it has also done much to make it unpopular. Consequently, Pakistan gains popularity and while it doesn't gain much it's a boon for the anti-Bangladesh Bangladeshis amongst us.

Of course India will grow up one day but till that happens, cheering Pakistan will go on not so much because people like the country or feel Islamic. If it isn't India, it's usually Pakistan in a crazy mix up of identity, politics and sports.

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Jyoti Rahman of Unheard Voices blog has this to say:

And if anyone is seriously worried about Bangladesh losing its identity — or whatever it is that people worry these Pakistani flags mean — here is something to cheer you up: judging by Facebook comments (from 3 independent accounts, covering a sample of over 500), net-savvy Deshis supported India over Pakistan 4-to-1. Fear not, Bangladesh is not about to become Pakistan.

That post cheers me up to no end for some reason.

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Afsan Chowdhury is a journalist and researcher.