The War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 reopened the barely healed wounds of the Partition of 1947. A third nation was carved out leaving in its wake a trail of violent experiences and memories. Murder, rape, arson, plunder, custodial torture, refugees, and bombings inked the script of a fraternal war. The rise of military dictatorship and the execution of war criminals marked the war’s long afterlife. This book takes stock of the legacy of a war of liberation and its memorialization in literature, both fictional and testimonial. Chaity Das moves away from India- and Pakistan-centric descriptions of the war, focusing instead on the men and women who suffered in the war. Their ‘buried voices’ are brought to the fore with the help of war memoirs and testimonials, and untapped fictional and non-fictional accounts. In her depiction of the deeply gendered universe of war, the obscure borders between perpetrators and victims become visible. By analysing the works of Akhtaruzzaman Elias, Tahmima Anam, Intizar Husain, Kamila Shamsie, and Sorayya Khan, Das reveals the traumas of the past lying unburied under the nationalistic histories of victory and loss.
In Asia the "Age of Extremes" witnessed many forms of mass violence and genocide, related to the rise and fall of the Japanese Empire, the proxy wars of the Cold War, and the anti-colonial nation building processes that often led to new conflicts and civil wars. The present volume is considered an introductory reader that deals with different forms of mass violence and genocide in Asia, discusses the perspectives of victims and perpetrators alike.
Subalterns and Raj presents a unique introductory history of India with an account that begins before the period of British rule, and pursues the continuities within that history up to the present day. Its coverage ranges from Mughal India to post-independence Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with a focus on the ‘ordinary’ people of India and South Asia. Subalterns and Raj examines overlooked issues in Indian social history and highlights controversies between historians. Taking an iconoclastic approach to the elites of South Asia since independence, it is critical of the colonial regime that went before them. This book is a stimulating and controversial read and, with a detailed guide to further reading and end-of-chapter bibliographies, it is an excellent guide for all students of the Indian subcontinent.
‘Right now, someone else’s life was in his hands. He couldn’t say whether it was a few seconds or minutes that they both stood staring at each other, but he had never been so scared in his life.’ In Truth or Dare we follow, spell-bound, as chance encounters bring violent pasts roaring into the present; we wait on tenterhooks as a woman sits by her husband’s hospital bed as both their lives hang in the balance; we watch anxiously as a homeless man begs a woman with her life and career stretching ahead of her not to jump to her death. By turns comedic, heart-wrenching and moving, these stories paint powerful pictures of pain, love and empathy, and celebrate the power we have over one another. From the rain-soaked waterways of London to the bustling streets of Dhaka, Truth or Dare is a stunning collection that spans two continents and sees the best and worst in both. 'The writer’s wonderfully crafted language and commendable flair make the characters’ emotions, their dreams, their fears, their disappointments, etc., recognisable and easy to empathise with. The plots are refreshingly different. The soul-stirring narrations as one engaging story follows another makes Truth or Dare a very worthwhile read. As we finish reading each story, we feel that we understand a little more about human nature, even though we experience a sense of loss at the same time.' The Asian Age 'Showcasing the best and worst of humanity, Truth or Dare is a powerful and riveting collection that will have you turning the pages until you’ve devoured every last word. Soaked in compassion, love and a host of other emotions, Nadia K Barb’s work will remind you of Gabriel Garcia Marquez at the height of his powers. Rich and evocative, this is a collection to be cherished and savoured.' Awais Khan, author of No Honour 'These stories draw you in, hold you, speak to you, tell you secrets, and show you worlds, and then let you go at just that point when you can’t stop thinking about them. Each one is a journey, each story a gem. Short fiction has a new torchbearer in Nadia Kabir Barb and this remarkable debut is just the beginning, I hope.' Nadeem Zaman, author of The Inheritors 'Nadia Kabir Barb writes with compassion and imagination about her characters, who are varied and richly drawn. She keeps the reader close to the stories, allowing us to experience their anguish, fears and joys on an intimate level.' Sharbari Z. Ahmed, author of Dust Under Her Feet 'Effortlessly switching between London and Dhaka, Nadia Kabir Barb’s humanity shines through in this tender and diverse collection.' Bee Rowlatt, author of One Woman Crime Wave 'Sharply observed and vivid in detail, Nadia Kabir Barb’s stories lay bare the poignant, the powerful, the traumatic moments on which our lives turn. These delicate, penetrating vignettes are glimpses that encapsulate a greater whole. Hers is a memorable short fiction debut.' Steven J. Fowler, author of The Guide to Being Bear Aware
Bangladesh is the world's eighth most populous country. It has more inhabitants than either Russia or Japan, and its national language, Bengali, ranks sixth in the world in terms of native speakers. Founded in 1971, Bangladesh is a relatively young nation, but the Bengal Delta region has been a major part of international life for more than 2,000 years, whether as an important location for trade or through its influence on Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim life. Yet the country rarely figures in global affairs or media, except in stories about floods, poverty, or political turmoil. The Bangladesh Reader does what those portrayals do not: It illuminates the rich historical, cultural, and political permutations that have created contemporary Bangladesh, and it conveys a sense of the aspirations and daily lives of Bangladeshis. Intended for travelers, students, and scholars, the Reader encompasses first-person accounts, short stories, historical documents, speeches, treaties, essays, poems, songs, photographs, cartoons, paintings, posters, advertisements, maps, and a recipe. Classic selections familiar to many Bangladeshis—and essential reading for those who want to know the country—are juxtaposed with less-known pieces. The selections are translated from a dozen languages; many have not been available in English until now. Featuring eighty-three images, including seventeen in color, The Bangladesh Reader is an unprecedented, comprehensive introduction to the South Asian country's turbulent past and dynamic present.
Call it a collection of stories or a compilation of human emotions, this is the second solo book of Ms Rimli Bhattacharya. The author calls herself a bohemian and travels around the globe in a caravan which is driven by rape, lust, lies, forbidden love, mental illness, homicide and death. This book had been crafted sitting in that caravan lost in myriad textures and flavours, with those mental demons screaming her to stop. She did not listen. The book which unleashes the dark domain of human mind makes it a compelling read.
The fourth edition of the Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh greatly expands on the previous edition through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important people, places, events, and institutions, as well as significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects.
A liberated, dynamic and successfully writer, Piya has everything she has ever wanted, until she's revisited by her past... Faraway Music is the story of a young Bengali girl, and her stumbles through the world of love. First as an adolescent in Calcutta, where she grows up in a loving home with her mother and grandparents, then as a gutsy journalist in love with her married boss, who finds herself caught in the nexus between politicians and the media, and finally as the reclusive writer married to an artist in the United States. Sensuous, profound, lyrical and moving, Faraway Music is the story of family, friendship, fame, love, loss...and all that lies in between.
