ahman

Background to Bingo
A challenge to Pakistan’s unity emerged in East Pakistan when Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman (“Mujib”), leader of the Awami League, insisted on a
federation under which East Pakistan would be virtually independent. He
envisaged a federal government that would deal with defense and foreign
affairs only; even the currencies would be different, although freely
convertible.
Mujib’s program had great appeal for many East Pakistanis, and in the
December 1970 election called by Yahya, he won by a landslide in East
Pakistan, capturing 160 seats in the National Assembly. Bhutto’s Pakistan
People’s Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party in West Pakistan, capturing
81 seats (predominantly in Punjab and Sindh). This gave the Awami League an
absolute majority in the National Assembly, a turn of events that was
considered unacceptable by political interests in West Pakistan because of the
divided political climate of the country. The Awami League adopted an
uncompromising stance, however, and negotiations between the various sides
became deadlocked.
Suspecting Mujib of secessionist politics, Yahya in March 1971 postponed
indefinitely the convening of the National Assembly. Mujib in return accused
Yahya of collusion with Bhutto and established a virtually independent
government in East Pakistan. Yahya opened negotiations with Mujib in Dhaka
in mid-March, but the effort soon failed. Meanwhile Pakistan’s army went into
action against Mujib’s civilian followers, who demanded that East Pakistan
become independent as the nation of Bangladesh.
There were many casualties during the ensuing military operations in East
Pakistan, as the Pakistani army attacked the poorly armed population. India
claimed that nearly 10 million Bengali refugees crossed its borders, and stories
of West Pakistani atrocities abounded. The Awami League leaders took refuge
in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and established a government in exile. India finally
intervened on December 3, 1971, and the Pakistani army surrendered 13 days
later. East Pakistan declared its independence as Bangladesh.
Yahya resigned, and on December 20 Bhutto was inaugurated as president
and chief martial law administrator of a truncated Pakistan. Mujib became the
first prime minister of Bangladesh in January 1972. When the Commonwealth
of Nations admitted Bangladesh later that year, Pakistan withdrew its
membership, not to return until 1989. However, the Bhutto government gave
diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh in 1974.
Introduction to the story
Bingo is a game in which numbered balls are drawn at random and players
cover the corresponding numbers on their cards; but here refers to a character
Tajassur. He belonged to the East Pakistan; now called Bangladesh. People
coming from Bangladesh are Bengalis and so the character Tajassur is
nicknamed Bingo.
Bingo is an early short story written was Tariq Rahman in mid-1970’s. It was
the first work of fiction in Pakistani English Literature, which focused on the
1971 war.
The tale revolves around the relationship between the West Pakistani
narrator, Safeer, and his friend Tajassur, from East Pakistan. Both are in the
military academy together and are posted as junior officers to Dhaka on the
eve of the civil war, with tragic consequences.
The story shows friendship or enmity of the two parts of a country
symbolically represented by two characters Tajassur and Safeer. The story also
makes a telling comment on how a blinkered reading of colonial history has
shaped the perceptions and institutions of Pakistan’s ruling elite.

Detailed Summary
It was very painful experience during the first term because they made us
stand in our half pants in the cold weather at night. The Battalion sergeant
was a sadist and enjoyed inflicting juniors. When I became SGC, I made my
cadets stand up early, as it was idiotic to be late. I made them double round
and why should they be sleeping while the seniors are all up.
Tajassur was one such idiot whom the seniors were trying hard to make a
better soldier. He let the cadets get up late and had his back kicked but did not
care. He chatted around, walked carelessly and was not particular of the
military discipline and it was really hard to bear that while I was in my pants
up and kicking; he was always sleep like top. Yet Tajassur looked more girlish
in his looks and the seniors called him sissy and commented that he was fit to
be a heroine. They joked about him and even bothered us much as he was
popular and this drew attention of every one to both of us; although I was
good at drill and Tajassur was a real louse at that. Most of us did his job for
him; but what he was particularly interested in were jokes. These things made
him popular but his performance and training sessions were always marked
down. After during each military duty we ended up in a dance or some trivial
activity and were always late for the academy doors. This could have been
dangerous if any body had noticed that we shirked our cadet responsibilities.
He got the twentieth position and it was all due to his oral expression in
English and discursive abilities. However, before we passed out, things were
against him as he was a Bingo and the East Pakistan was in conflict with the
West Pakistan striving to separate. We called him a traitor and Sheik
Mujeebur Rahman’s ally. He did not say anything as he was a kid and kids do
not mind politics.
The day came when we passed out and Safeer thought that Tajassur would
bring shame to army due to his indiscipline. Tajassur said that he did what he
liked to do and it had nothing to do with Bingo. Later, they had to report to the
stations for duty. They boarded a plane and found themselves lucky as they
were among the soldiers.
When they reached the station, they found hurry and tension. There was
captain Maqsood who ordered them to look sharp in their army uniform,
which meant ready for battle. Captain Maqsood rebuked Tajassur as he got
there late as was his wont and was much advised by him. Captain Maqsood,
the Adjutant, seemed to be a real officer. Then the commanding officer (CO)
came in. He had a little introduction with the Safeer and Tajassur and
Tajassur was again much advised by the C.O. Some military and personal
information and ideas were shared.
They were talking about the bravery of various soldiers and military officers
while Tajassur was silent. He suddenly spoke that people had to fight when
they were oppressed and exploited. This startled every body. Tajassur’s view
was that bravery was only good if is used for a just cause and if it is used to
exploit people, it is evil.  The C.O. became furious thought he didn’t express
his anger and left. The adjutant spoke angrily to Tajassur, ‘How dare you
speak so insolently before the C.O.?’ Tajassur replied, ‘I merely expressed my
opinion.’ Safeer had always advised him not to speak so casually before the
elders because a respect for the senior is necessary in the army. When he went
to the room, Tajassur was asleep and had fallen into every body’s bad books.
Then the C.O. called a conference and briefed about the border conditions
while Tajassur remained psychologically aloof. Then they started discussing
what would happen and that they would have to kill the Bingo friends (the
people of Bangladesh) and they felt sorry for that. Safeer said, ‘my conscience
says that kill the enemies of Pakistan’ and Tajassur spoke, ‘that is propaganda’.
Before independence, we were beaten by the British and now by our own
government. He detailed the exploitation and devastation of the Bingo people
and he frantically kept on it and behaved like a mad man. Days passed and the
condition of the Bingos went worse. Safeer began to think that it was a race of
slaves. They started killing the Bingos where they found and where they heard
the news that some military guys were killed.
When Tajassur came of age, he also got his first girl friend. He was intoxicated
with whisky and when he went into her room, she started crying out and
Safeer gave her a slap and she lay quietly like a log and he felt disgusted and
later he learnt the rules of the game and found brown bodies enjoying and
better to play with.
One day, they were given the orders to clear the village the Muktees. Safeer
was in charge. They attacked the village and spread havoc and they were
counterattacked and had to retreat. Safeer was given a blow and fell into
unconsciousness and found himself to be prisoner with the Bingos. They
started a heated conversation about the two different nations, their
governments and the next day Safeer was to be killed. He recalled Tajassur
and the happy moments he had spent with the girl and his friends.
When the day for execution approached, there was a tap at the door and a
familiar voice. It was Tajassur who had come to rescue Safeer. Safeer was most
delighted to have him back at that critical moment and glad at his help. The
Civil War beginning to end. The Pakistani soldiers had surrendered and the
East Pakistan had come up as Bangladesh. Safeer had to stay with Tajassur
and his family for some days to reach back to Pakistan. Tajassur had a sister
and a mother who most politely welcomed him and treated him well and when
Safeer’s was about to leave for Pakistan, Tajassur’s mother and sister gave him
some gifts. But just before he was leaving, a band of soldiers entered the house
and shot down Tajassur and his family. There was no mother and no sister any
more. Safeer shouted to stop them, but to no avail.
Tajassur’s sister Amina was naked, raped and dead. Her mother tore her hair
at this sight and Safeer could not look into the mother’s eye and shot her down
as well. Nothing mattered now. Tajassur, his sister and mother were death.
Pakistan had surrender and Bangladesh was free at the expense of so many
innocent lives.

Bingo – Critical appreciation

Introduction and Title
Bingo is a story about the two countries represented by the two characters;
Safeer and Tajassur. The tale revolves around the relationship between the
West Pakistani narrator, Safeer, and his friend Tajassur, from East Pakistan.
Both are in the military academy together and are posted as junior officers
to Dhaka on the eve of the civil war, with tragic consequences. The title of the
story is significant because it is surprising for some people as Bingo denotes a
game; but Bingo here refers to a person belonging to Bangladesh and the title
is just belongs the story revolves around and in Bangladesh and about a
Bangladeshi; Tajassur.
Main theme
The story describes the condition of East and West Pakistan in which both the
people of the country shared equal status; but the East Pakistan under the
leadership of Mujeebur Rahman announced autonomy and independence. The
writer contends that price of meaningless independence is at the cost of one’s
valuable innocent lives. Pakistan as composite of East and West could have
been even stronger and more productive but for the unnecessary slogan for
freedom from the Bingo leadership.
Symbolic elements in the story
The story Bingo is highly symbolic of the two forces struggling to set each one
of them free and ironically destroying themselves. Tajassur symbolically
represents Bangladesh and Safeer symbolizes Pakistan.
Ironical Patterns
Both the friends undergo the military training and aspire to contribute to the
protection of the state; but ironically, they are put under the trial of their
consciousness whether the war they are fighting is just or wrong. Both Safeer
and Tajassur think that they are right and Safeer towards the end of the story
is changed into a type of beast who, though unwillingly, but still kills the
family of his friend. He kills Tajassur’s sister and mother who praised for his
protection. There is another ironical pattern in the story. Both the countries
are Muslim states; both of them got independence under one banner; but the
Bingo state (The East Pakistan separated) and what can be more ironical than
the fact the two Muslim states are fighting for the same cause which each of
them thinks right for himself and wrong for the other.
Characterization
Tariq Rahman has employed very few characters in the story. Tajassur and
Safeer tower above other characters and significantly provide a contrast to the
military-trained officers who know no humanity. Tariq Rahman’s depiction of
characters is real and authentic and his characters are felt by heart as we feel
humans in our real life. Tariq’s main achievement in Work and Other Short
Stories is the portrayal of Tajassur and Safeer in Bingo. Nowhere does he
command our full attention as in Bingo which the crown of this selection in
terms of characterization.
Style and Technique
Tariq Rahman’s style in Bingo has a different change in it. He did not write
Bingo as he wrote other stories. He seems to have conceived the idea properly
and applies his style well to the structure of the story.  He has used
conversation language at some places to amuse as well as to philosophize his
issue.  His conversational style also adds variety to this story.
Conclusion
In short, Bingo is a well-conceived and well-structured story. Plot moves from
a certain cause and effect pattern. The idea of 1971 war is really thrashing and
very few Pakistani writers have chosen it to present in their literature. Tariq
Rahman has not only used the topic but also given it a new orientation.
Main Characters – Tajassur and Safeer
Introduction
Bingo does not have any one central character to be superimposed on the
others. It has a parallelism of Tajassur and Safeer; both of whom are to be
military officers. Tajassur belongs to Bangladesh and is nicknamed Bingo
while Safeer belongs to Pakistan. Before the civil war, both the countries were
one and the east wing was called East Pakistan which became Bangladesh and
the west wing was called Western Pakistan; now Pakistan only. These two
characters represent these two countries respectively.
Tajassur
Tajassur belongs to Bangladesh. He is a young man having some boyish and
shy look. He is very casual. He does not attend his meetings well in time and
he doesn’t even get better marks in the pass-out. Tajassur has a sister, Amina
and a mother in his east wing. However, he is very outspoken and sometimes
bitter, but is very kind and generous. Safeer does not seem to regard the
Bingos; but we see that at the end of the story, he not only gets his released,
but also helps him get out safely from Bangladesh while the Pakistani troops
were surrendering. Largely, Tajassur is a good and loyal character who is
enveloped into bad political conditions.
Safeer
Safeer is the narrator of the story. We come to know his name later in the story
while Tajassur is the first to be mentioned in the narrative. Safeer is Tajassur’s
friend and belongs to West Pakistan. He is also an aspirant military man like
Tajassur; but is serious and a lot more responsible than the same.  He passes
out with a good position and is intellectually superior. He supports Western
Pakistan and doesn’t have good regards for the Bingos. Hence the term ‘Bingo’
rather than ‘Bangladesh or East Pakistani’. Safeer is a complex character.
Towards the end of the story, when he is caught by the Bangladeshi soldiers,
he is released by Tajassur who supports him and looks forward to sending him
back safely. Safeer is well treated by Tajassur’s family. While he is in Tajassur’s
house, Pakistani soldiers enter the house and kill Tajassur and rape and kill
his sister too. His mother is left badly off whom Safeer himself kills because he
is unable to look into her eyes that treated him so well.
Conclusion
Tajassur and Safeer are the central characters of the story. They are so tightly
connected that one cannot discuss one without mentioning or discussing the
other. They were as linked as the East and West Pakistan were and were such
like separated. The death of Tajassur causes a number of questions and the
shooting of Safeer at the end of the story produces questions whose answers
lie in the unnecessary freedom of a nation at the expense of thousands of
innocent lives.