Reflecting on ‘Amar Dekha Rajnitir Ponchash Bochor’

As I delved into the autobiographical works of Abul Mansur Ahmad, it became evident that he had a penchant for plain speaking, avoiding embellishments.
3 September 2023

The portrayal and relevance of women in Kazi Nazrul Islam’s novels

Kazi Nazrul Islam’s novels boldly explore the complex female psyche, challenging patriarchal norms in early twentieth-century Bengal.
27 August 2023

The many meanings of Partition 1947 and beyond

The 1947 Partition's traumatic legacy endures in Bengal, vividly captured through subjective memory in contemporary Bangla literature.
20 August 2023

My heart doesn’t desire to speak about Sultan

I had once written extensively about S.M. Sultan. Why? Because it felt essential to make our ‘art authorities’ aware that he was a rare talent, although many were unwilling to accept it. Thus, the pen became my last resort.
13 August 2023

“The Ever-Falling Darkness of History”

In the opening years of the twentieth century, Abanindranath Tagore (1871– 1951), Rabindranath’s nephew and a prominent artist living at the Tagore palazzo in Calcutta, Jorasanko, made a trio of paintings depicting the Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628–58) at different stages of his life, together with his great monument to love, the Taj Mahal.
6 August 2023

As I Remember Syed Waliullah, My Papa

Thinking of Syed Waliullah and being his son always triggers contrasting feelings of joy and pride, melancholy and pain. Regrettably, neither my elder sister Simine nor I am able to remember much about our father, as we were both very young when he passed away.
30 July 2023

'Be more attentive to the workings of nature around us and through us'

Congratulations on your new book, “River Life and the Upspring of Nature.” With your academic background in religious studies and social life in Pakistan, what prompted you to shift your focus towards studying the river life and char communities in Bangladesh?
23 July 2023

Laughter and Thrills: A History of Circus in East Bengal

The circus industry in Bengal experienced a significant boost during the 19th century, thanks to the arrival of Russian and European performers, as well as contributions from Africans, Mongolians, and other Asians in the 20th century.
16 July 2023

Bagh Bidhoba

Sonamoni! No prefix, no suffix, that is her name. It signifies the golden pearl of the eye.
9 July 2023

Souls at 50: The many incarnations of a band

Souls is not the first band in Bangladesh to reach the milestone of 50 years.
2 July 2023

The Battle of Plassey: A tale of triumph and betrayal

On the afternoon of July 2, 1757, at the hour they were going to kill Siraj in a sodden dungeon of the Jaffarganj Palace—along the east bank of the ebbing Hooghly,
25 June 2023

Lest we forget: The pioneering educationists from East Bengal

We would like to recall with gratitude some harbingers of education from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in the 19th century, who have ‘illumined’ the lives of generations by founding modern educational institutions at the primary, secondary and university levels in British India.
11 June 2023

Churchill and India Manipulation or Betrayal?

Winston Churchill spent three years in British India, a freshly minted cavalry subaltern,
5 June 2023

1857: The uprising in Delhi and its brutal suppression

The great revolt of 1857 was a momentous struggle against colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent—the most widespread anti-colonial struggle during the nineteenth century.
28 May 2023

1857: The Uprising in Delhi and Its Brutal Suppression

The great revolt of 1857 was a momentous struggle against colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent—the most widespread anti-colonial struggle during the nineteenth century.
28 May 2023

'Guha was as much an intellectual and thinker as he was a historian'

Ranajit Guha ( May 23, 1923 - April 28, 1923) was an influential Indian historian and scholar renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of Subaltern Studies.
21 May 2023

Only connect: The radical empathy of Mrinal Sen

In a few days, the whole world will celebrate the centenary of Sen: the man who changed India’s cinematic landscape forever.
14 May 2023

Why Sampadak Parishad opposes the Digital Security Act

After the enactment of the Digital Security Act (DSA) in 2018, the Sampadak Parishad published an elaborate
7 May 2023

The Struggle for Justice and Dignity

The labour movement in Bangladesh has a rich and complex history that dates back to the 19th century.
30 April 2023

Honouring Mujibnagar heroes

April 17, 1971, is a historic day that shines brightly in the collective memory of Bangladesh with immense pride, unwavering strength, and boundless enthusiasm.
16 April 2023