What is Mujibism?
Mujibism refers to the political philosophy, thoughts, and values of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and its first President. The four fundamental principles of Mujibism are nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, affectionately known as Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal), embodies the spirit of the traditional culture of Bengal and the Bengali people’s aspiration for freedom. Under his leadership, the Bengali nation finally achieved an independent homeland after 23 years of repression. This independent Bangladesh is the culmination of two thousand years of collective devotion and struggle by the Bengali people.
Bangabandhu inspired the Bengali people with the dream of ultimate liberation, guiding them through a prolonged history of exploitation and oppression—first under British colonial rule and later under Pakistani domination. He united the masses with a vision of a life free from exploitation and discrimination, grounded in self-respect, harmony, and prosperity.
Mujib’s political character evolved through his active participation in the anti-colonial independence movement and was deeply influenced by the political ideologies of figures like Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Abul Hashem, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani.
“What is Mujibism?” The most concise yet profound answer to this question was given by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman himself. In 1972, leftist politician and writer Khandaker Ilyas posed this question during an interview:
“Bangabandhu, through our observation of your political life, we have noted that considering Bangladesh’s historical trends and the consciousness of the Bengali nation, you have provided clear and specific guidelines for the political, economic, social, and cultural liberation of this country, expressing your distinct ideology. My question is, how do you evaluate your ideology in light of Jinnahism, Gandhiism, Nasserism, Judaism, Maoism, Titoism, Leninism, and Marxism?”
In response, Bangabandhu stated “My long political life, from my student days to now, has been shaped by a few schools of thought. The central theme of my ideology is to establish peace, prosperity, and equality in the lives of the farmers, workers, students, middle-class intellectuals, and all hardworking people of this country. I was born into a middle-class family, so my association with farmers made me intimately aware of what exploitation means. For centuries, farmers, workers, intellectuals, and other hardworking people in this country have been subjected to exploitation.
This exploitation has been perpetuated by landlords, moneylenders, capitalists, and their bureaucratic cronies, as well as by imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. The golden-hearted people of this land are crushed under these exploitative systems. But what is the path to their liberation? This question haunted me for years until I found the way.
Some of my allied political parties and progressive friends speak of class struggle, but I emphasize nationalism. Jinnahism spreads the poisonous vapour of communalism across this land. In response, I assert that everyone has their own religion, and based on this principle, I advocate secularism. Simultaneously, I emphasize democracy and socialism.
I envision socialism as a means to establish a non-exploitative social system—not through bloodshed, but through democratic methods and parliamentary procedures. My ideology is grounded in the realities and historical context of Bangladesh. Just as the Soviet Union, China, and Yugoslavia have built socialism in their unique ways, based on their respective conditions, I believe Bangladesh must also chart its own path forward.
This path must be rooted in four fundamental principles: nationalism, secularism, democracy, and socialism. Many people refer to this ideology as “Mujibism.” However, what the writers, literary figures, or historians of this country choose to call my ideas is their concern, not mine. I am not attached to the name; I care about the work. I seek the practical implementation of my ideas. I envision an exploitation-free, democratic Bangladesh. I dream of fully realizing a Golden Bengal.” [1]
In essence, Mujibism is founded on the unity of Bengal’s soil, its people’s spirit, and its unique cultural, geographical, and environmental characteristics. It advocates using this cohesive and organized force to achieve nation-building in a distinctly Bengali way. The core pledge of Mujibism is to establish a democratic, exploitation-free, and prosperous society for workers, farmers, intellectuals, and all hardworking individuals in Bangladesh. Its foundation is socialism; its identity is the Golden Bangla.
Bangabandhu declared his intention to rebuild the war-torn nation with the same spirit of intense nationalism that had fueled the fight for independence. At that time, Bangladesh was devastated on every level, with its railways, roads, factories, and mills destroyed by the Pakistanis. When the Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted in 1972, the four pillars of Mujibism—nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism—were enshrined as the foundational principles of governance for the country.
Source: 1. https://bddigest.com/news/12032/