History

Mahalaya to Vijaya Dashami: What this year’s Durga Puja predicts

Durga Puja, an annual Hindu festival, celebrates the divine force “Shakti” embodied in Goddess Durga. This year, Mahalaya falls on 2 October, marking the start of Devi Paksha. Durga arrives on 3 October by palanquin, considered inauspicious, and departs on 12 October by horse.

#Culture / Vibrant puja culture of Shankhari Bazar: Where tradition meets tomorrow

Shankhari Bazar, one of Dhaka’s oldest neighbourhoods, is renowned for its vibrant cultural heritage. During Durga Puja, the area transforms with colourful decorations and bustling markets. Despite modernization, it retains its charm, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The desperate need for a nuanced narrative of history in NCTB textbooks

Through discourse and perception, these unknown tales of history continue to haunt us even today.

Images that changed history

Their deaths in the hands of cold-blooded law enforcement personnel might not have been in vain

Who are Bengalis?

A chronicle of race science in Bengal

Steam Power and Scientific Knowledge in Early British Bengal

In Europe, steam power evolved gradually and uncertainly over the course of the eighteenth century, with innovative peaks and long plateaus, from Thomas Savery’s steam pump (1698) via Thomas Newcomen’s reciprocating atmospheric engine (1712) to James Watt and Matthew Boulton’s double-acting rotative steam engine with a separate condenser (1765-90).

INTERVIEW / Uncovering history through storytelling

In conversation with Reem Bassiouney on the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, 'Al Halwani', and bridging the cultural gap

#Reviews / Crafting majesty: Tasleema Alam's royal commissions and her love for Islamic art

From gracing the majestic walls of mosques to the pages of intricate manuscripts and beyond, the appeal of the Islamic art form has persisted over centuries and captivated many. The beauty and depth of this art form attracted Tasleema Alam – an artist, designer and educator – who recently designed an Afghan carpet for His Majesty King Charles III.

Achar chronicles: From sun-drenched rooftops to digital marketplaces

For different people, the word achar — the South Asian term for pickles — evokes different memories. Some revel in the memory of seeing their mothers or grandmothers sitting in the courtyards with jars of achar.

October 2, 2024
October 2, 2024

Mahalaya to Vijaya Dashami: What this year’s Durga Puja predicts

Durga Puja, an annual Hindu festival, celebrates the divine force “Shakti” embodied in Goddess Durga. This year, Mahalaya falls on 2 October, marking the start of Devi Paksha. Durga arrives on 3 October by palanquin, considered inauspicious, and departs on 12 October by horse.

September 30, 2024
September 30, 2024

Vibrant puja culture of Shankhari Bazar: Where tradition meets tomorrow

Shankhari Bazar, one of Dhaka’s oldest neighbourhoods, is renowned for its vibrant cultural heritage. During Durga Puja, the area transforms with colourful decorations and bustling markets. Despite modernization, it retains its charm, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

August 22, 2024
August 22, 2024

The desperate need for a nuanced narrative of history in NCTB textbooks

Through discourse and perception, these unknown tales of history continue to haunt us even today.

August 12, 2024
August 12, 2024

Images that changed history

Their deaths in the hands of cold-blooded law enforcement personnel might not have been in vain

June 3, 2024
June 3, 2024

Who are Bengalis?

A chronicle of race science in Bengal

May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024

Steam Power and Scientific Knowledge in Early British Bengal

In Europe, steam power evolved gradually and uncertainly over the course of the eighteenth century, with innovative peaks and long plateaus, from Thomas Savery’s steam pump (1698) via Thomas Newcomen’s reciprocating atmospheric engine (1712) to James Watt and Matthew Boulton’s double-acting rotative steam engine with a separate condenser (1765-90).

April 21, 2024
April 21, 2024

Uncovering history through storytelling

In conversation with Reem Bassiouney on the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, 'Al Halwani', and bridging the cultural gap

April 18, 2024
April 18, 2024

Crafting majesty: Tasleema Alam's royal commissions and her love for Islamic art

From gracing the majestic walls of mosques to the pages of intricate manuscripts and beyond, the appeal of the Islamic art form has persisted over centuries and captivated many. The beauty and depth of this art form attracted Tasleema Alam – an artist, designer and educator – who recently designed an Afghan carpet for His Majesty King Charles III.

April 8, 2024
April 8, 2024

Achar chronicles: From sun-drenched rooftops to digital marketplaces

For different people, the word achar — the South Asian term for pickles — evokes different memories. Some revel in the memory of seeing their mothers or grandmothers sitting in the courtyards with jars of achar.

April 8, 2024
April 8, 2024

Why we love red and white sarees on Pahela Baishakh

Pahela Baishakh is characterised by vibrant festivities and mouth-watering dishes. For Bengali women, the essence of this day lies in their red and white sarees — an emblem of their unwavering love for tradition through the ages.