Shankar’s Weekly and the Liberation War of 1971

Muntassir Mamoon
Former Professor, Dhaka University

DOI: https://doi.org/… 16.1971/sh&lwr2026v8

Keywords: Liberation War, political cartoons, public opinion, genocide, visual history

Abstract

Political cartoons, particularly those published in Shankar’s Weekly, provide a unique and underexplored perspective on the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. While traditional historiography emphasizes military campaigns, genocide, and diplomacy, cartoons capture multidimensional narratives reflecting public opinion, global civil society, and ideological positions. Between January 1971 and March 1972, Shankar’s Weekly published 134 cartoons on the Liberation War, depicting themes such as genocide, refugee crises, international relations, and the roles of leaders like Indira Gandhi, Yahya Khan, Bhutto, Nixon, and Mao Zedong. Cartoonists including Shankar, Abu Abraham, Amal Chakraborty, and Rebati Bhushan Ghosh combined satire, political critique, and humanistic concern. Iconography often portrayed Yahya Khan as a monstrous figure, Bhutto as a schemer, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the symbol of Bengali resistance. Political cartoons function as narrative devices, condensing complex events into visual forms, shaping public opinion, and reflecting societal values. Many cartoons appeared without captions, yet conveyed powerful messages that mirrored civil society engagement and international awareness of the war. Integrating cartoons into Liberation War studies enriches the historiography, providing insights into the emotional, political, and global dimensions of 1971.

Published
April 2026

Issue
Volume 8, English; January 2026

Section
Liberation War

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