what a diamond of a oneshot! It's so moving, so honest, so sad. I love it! You're right, Foreign Occupation is one of the most scarring things to a country and it's people. I hardly think it's possible to recover from it and yet it's undertaken so easily. Your story is set in 1971 and yet the same thing could apply to now, and to the future.
Well done for writing such a beautiful story. Love at the centre of it, the strongest love of course, family love, sister love... definitely underappreciated.

You do very well capturing the terror and the savagery of genocidal war. Very moving.

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This is a very poignant story, extremely well-written with just the right amout of description and historical fact. Your description is beautiful and the story is heartbreaking.

The only thing I would suggest is changing the wording of one of your sentences, "He is executed for his dreams, like a dog." ... I believe it would be more powerful as "He is executed like a dog, for his dreams." That's just personal taste, though.

Keep writing!
Bette

well, well done.
moved me to tears.
good job.

Wow. That reminds me a lot of my own country. I can't belive I actually had goosebumps and was on the verge of crying.
Great work!

Hey, remember me? I read this story a while ago and commented on your LJ. I was surprised that such a gem with real literary value could exist on FP. :)

All the small honest details make it sound like a memoir, and the reader is left to imagine some more painful details that may have been left out. If you told me this wasn't fiction, and that you had experienced all this yourself, I think I would believe you.

I loved your use of Ashima's deafness as a metaphor for blissful ignorance. And when Sharna finds out that India has joined their side, I felt her excitement too. I think that single sentence was probably the most emotional part of the story, although it was everything that came before which made it so.

This makes me want to find out more about the subject. History time! And I shall go read your other longer stories now. :D

Wow. What a powerful piece.

Powerful, affecting, stunningly well-written. Your opening and closing sentences frame this story perfectly.

This was so... horrifying. Intense.

I could never even dream of living under such fear, being so accustomed to my comfortable living condition. I guess this story makes me feel that the freedom I have should not be taken for granted.

This is an amazing story, despite how disturbing it could be at times. You really captured the Bangladesh Liberation War. The emotions... The words came alive!

Heh. I'm such a geek.

This is really, really sad but wonderfully written.

Love,

curse the stars.

Wow...Written...I am really really impressed. This is wonderful. I mean..it was really sad to read and I was almost crying when she wakes up and she is deaf but it was well written and I could hear and feel everything. God. I loved this. really. Gah. Awesome awesome job

Wow...this is so sad. You did a good job writing this. I particularly liked the beginning and the ending-how they tied together. Sad though, especially so since it's true.
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(stupid F-press wouldn't let me reply thru the email)

but anyway...I declare us FPress Buddies now! We!

Thats so cool. I never thought I'd find another Bengali person on here. lol. Oh yea I've heard of "A Golden Age", I'm not exactly "dying" to read it. Though I think I'll give it a chance since I do want to know more about the stuff behind that horrible war. *shivers.

but ya I really get what u mean about the "history glossing over". And its sad that a great amount of people have never heard of these kind of moments. Most of my (non bangali) friends had no idea that there was such a bloody history.

so ya its really great that u posted this up to share this tragic yet powerful story. Gotta give props to ya!

You insightful thing. xD I love the whole thing. Just /the whole thing/. I think the ending was FABULOUS and it was started really well.

;) I'm so fav-ing this.

Wow! A truly powerful piece. I feel like I have read it before. Is this a reposting? It's very beautifully written. I had no idea about the history behind it. I'm curious to find out a little bit more about it. You've crafted a real masterpiece here!