The quiet fight for freedom: Gita, Ira and Bhokti Kar’s role in the birth of Bangladesh

Gita Kar had just finished her breakfast with a cream bun and orange jelly when I called her. The cream in the bun didn't seem to agree with her, as she had to take an antacid mid-conversation and let out a small burp.

"I'm 71 now. At my age, even the simplest meal can be a challenge," she said with a wry smile. "But there was a time when we survived on nothing but rationed rice in refugee camps," she began her story.

Her parents, the late Jitendranath Kar

"Our training was rigorous. We had no idea how long it would take to free Bangladesh, but we trained in every way possible to prepare for combat." — Gita Kar

and Sandhyarani Kar, had 11 daughters. During the 1971 War of Independence, Gita was 18 years old, while their youngest child was only 3 months old.

"People are often surprised when we mention this. They pity us a little too because we had no brothers," said Ira Kar, the second sister, as she shared memories of their upbringing.

Having so many daughters in a society where having sons was considered a necessity placed the family in a difficult position. Jitendranath moved his family to Rajbari Sadar during the Pakistan period, leaving their ancestral village home in Baniabaha. This decision, however, marked the beginning of their struggles and heartaches.

"Months before the war broke down, some of the local village dacoits killed my uncle Satyendranath Kar. When the Pakistani military attacked Dhaka, Shantibahini was formed. They would come to our home and force my parents to learn how to pray namaz," Gita said.  

Leaving the body in the yard, Jitendra came out in one cloth to save the lives of our five sisters. We arrived at our maternal uncle's home in Erenda village. My mother stayed back with my grandmother, aunt, and six of my younger sisters," Gita kept adding. 

This likely occurred in February, and in May—around the 7th or 8th—the Shanti Bahini in Erenda killed their father. "It was a brutal scene, he was slaughtered. We could not even do his cremation and left immediately for India," Gita Kar said.

After walking on foot for nine straight days through the Shikarpur border, the family finally crossed into India and found shelter in a small verandah at a home in Chakda. "My grandmother and mother collected rice from the refugee camp to cook for all 11 of us on a small stove. But soon, we realized the food wasn't enough to feed everyone," said Gita.

On June 2, Gita, Ira, and Bhokti began their training at the Gobra Training Camp in Naxalbari, West Bengal. "When we first arrived, there were only seven of us girls. But within a month, the number had grown to over 350," recalled Gita.

Gita and Ira were part of the inaugural group of women at the Gobra Camp, which was led by Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and officially started on July 2, 1971. Established in Kolkata, the Gobra Camp was dedicated to training women freedom fighters in various areas, including civil defence, nursing, and guerrilla warfare.

"Girls from many respected families joined the training camp with us. Hafiza Apa was a high court advocate, Layla Bano was a third-year medical student from Rajshahi Medical College, Biva Sarkar from Rajshahi, and comrade Juthika Chattargee's three daughters were also there. Then there was Shirin Banu Mitil—she cut her hair to join the war. We were all part of this journey," Gita shared.

"We ate together and cried together. Everyone had lost someone in their family. That shared pain created a unique bond among us," said Ira Kar.

The training lasted three months, focusing on guerrilla warfare, first aid, and theoretical lessons on firearm usage. "I remember there was a pond near the camp. We swam there and climbed palm trees as part of our training exercises," Ira recalled.

Bhokti Kar added, "We were told not to turn on lights after dusk because the camp was in an abandoned three-story building."

"We had no idea how long it would take to free Bangladesh. Vietnam's struggle lasted over a decade. So we trained in every way possible to prepare for combat," Gita reflected.

After the training, Gita and Ira were set to part ways with their sister Bhokti. Of the 15 young women, including Gita and Ira, who chose to join the war directly on the frontlines, Bhokti had a different path. Initially planning to join her sisters later, Bhokti ultimately chose to use her nursing training to help wounded freedom fighters in the local hospital instead.

Around October, the 15 girls were sent to Assam with a non-Bengali as a guide. "We still didn't know where to go, but there was an excitement at the thought of going to war. We went to Assam by train from Howrah station. Then that person also left with our instructions. Walking from there we reach a refugee camp in Karimganj on the border.

"Makhon Som, who was in that camp, heard the details from us; then he arranged to eat and sleep. In the morning Makhan Som sent a telegram to Sajeda Chowdhury in Calcutta. We all stayed in that camp until the telegram was answered. Within days a telegram arrived.

As per the instructions of that telegram, we were taken to Agartala. There was a 480-bed hospital for the Mukti Bahini at a place called Vathanganj on the Cumilla border. Dr Zafrullah Choudhury, the founder of the public health centre, Captain Setara Begum put us to work in the hospital."

"Hearing about the duty of service-nursing of the freedom fighters makes me feel very sad. Because we have trained for war. We will avenge the genocide - that was the attitude then. I will fight on the battlefield. I told them, I want to go to the battlefield. But still, we are given the duty of nursing the injured freedom fighters in our hospital. I could not accept it. I remember crying a lot. It just seems that I was not allowed to go to war.

"Later, after thinking a lot, I saw that serving the wounded freedom fighters is not a small thing. Everyone understood me. Few people get this opportunity during the war. I strengthened my mind and joined the service of the wounded freedom fighters. Day by day the number of injured freedom fighters increased in the hospital. Some of the injured have had their hands blown off, and some have lost their legs.

After a little recovery, the wounded freedom fighters are jumping into the battle again. I think maybe I could not take revenge for the murder of my father and uncle. But those whom I am serving will avenge the killing by freeing the country. I was in the hospital until the country became independent

On December 17, the day after the country became independent, many people left the camp for the country, but a few, including Gita Kar, stayed there. There are still some wounded freedom fighters in the hospital. Later on 16 January 1972, Gita and Ira entered the independent country through Sonaimura border in Comilla.

"From Agartala, we came to Cumilla Victoria College and stayed there for 7 days. After that, we got to 132 no New Eskaton for six months. And then went to Rajbari, our home", Gita said. 

Bhokti had reached Bangladesh with her mother and sisters way before.  "From the hospitals, one of my cousins brought me to Chakda, where my mother was living with my sisters and my grandmother. We returned to Bangladesh in January or February, I remember it was Bangla month Magh, so cold and we returned to our looted and broken home," Bhokti added. 

By then, the house had been ransacked, its doors broken. Twelve members of the family were buried there. There is no source of income due to the death of parents and uncles, it is difficult to collect two handfuls of rice for everyone. Gita is the eldest of the children in the family, she took more responsibilities

In the meantime, one day he came to know that for serving the freedom fighters, MAG Osmani, the commander-in-chief of the liberation war, would give them a certificate. Hearing this made me feel better. A few days later Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury's letter.

Zafrullah Chowdhury has called for that work to build the country. Thinking of their family members, he joined the public health centre to contribute to the rebuilding efforts. He retired from there in 1996. Thinking of all the family, Gita Kar did not build a family for herself.

Recognition, after years of silence

For decades, Gita's contributions went unacknowledged. It wasn't until 2020 that she finally received official recognition as a freedom fighter.

Looking back, Gita reflects on the sacrifices she and her sisters made. "We lost our parents, our home, and our childhood. But we gained something greater — the freedom of our country. Even if I couldn't avenge my father's death, I know I played a part in the victory."

The story of Gita, Ira, and Bhokti Kar is one of extraordinary resilience, sacrifice, and courage. These three sisters defied societal norms, endured unimaginable loss, and fought in their own ways to free their country. Their journey is a reminder that freedom comes at a cost — one that is often borne by those who dare to dream of a better future. Today, their legacy stands as an inspiration for generations to come, urging us to remember and honor the quiet heroes who made independence possible.