History
‘We are the only species to have threatened life on the planet’
Historian Dipesh Chakrabarty discusses human and geological evolution in an exclusive conversation with The Daily Star
The significance of Dipesh Chakrabarty’s work with history
“The real history of this region is known in Dipesh Chakrabarty's history books,” said historian and essayist Professor Ahmed Kamal.
Opinion / Let’s not interpret old media through a modern lens
Historical backdrop and our understanding of the relevant historical backdrop are important when we try to study a material or even enjoy it.
Capturing the war stories of medical professionals
Muktijuddher Chikishsha Itihas captures the stories and struggles of medical professionals during the Liberation War.
THE SHELF / The best that we read this year
We asked the DS Books editors and contributors about the books that most moved them this year.
BOOK REVIEW: FICTION / The Bhawal story through women’s voices in Aruna Chakravarti’s ‘The Mendicant Prince’
The story of the ailing Bhawal prince, Ramendranarayan Roy, the Mejo Kumar, who while taken to Darjeeling to recuperate, died and was cremated there, under mysterious circumstances, and who then returned years later as a wandering ascetic with partial amnesia!
Art vs Development: Should we erase our rich architectural history?
Dhaka's transitions carries the question of whether our historic buildings shall be preserved. From an economic viewpoint, there is financial gain in replacing them with buildings. The question now becomes whether the cultural heritage outweighs this financial gain.
A trip to Darasbari mosque in Chapai Nawabganj
Rajshahi is well known for the various remains of ancient and medieval structures, remnants of a glorious past, dotted all across the region. Darasbari, a beautiful, haunting complex made of red terracotta bricks, is one of those places not often mentioned or even commonly known about except to the locals of the area.
'Infinite Library': An immersive experience of civilisation at Goethe Dhaka
The Infinite Library did not have books. It consisted of virtual spaces, a set of "eight jars" or volumes that—using a VR journey through the users' phones—told the story of our planet's evolution, starting from the beginning of cosmic dust to human consciousness.
The evergreen winning combo of black and gold
There are those well-regarded classic colour combinations like black and gold that never go out of style for anybody. Even if we date back to the 1900s when women’s fashion was neat, covered and detailed with ruffles, buttons and lace in layers; black and gold had an upper hand even there. Georgia Hale, a 20th century silent film artist sported black silk dresses with golden tassels.
Chapters on Mughals, Islamic empires removed from classes 11, 12 syllabi in India
India’s Central Board of Secondary Education has removed chapters on the Non-Aligned Movement, the Cold War era, the rise of Islamic empires in Afro-Asian territories, chronicles of Mughal courts and the industrial revolution from the history and political science syllabi of classes 11 and 12.
WORLD BOOK DAY: Books about books
For World Book Day on April 23, we bring together a list of books about books as a means to glimpse at and tap into the vast knowledge, power, and pleasure that is to be found in these complex objects. Are they, indeed, just objects? Or historical artefacts? Or weapons?
Denise Mina’s ‘Rizzio’: A bloody slice of Scottish history
In 2021, Polygon, an Edinburgh-based publisher, launched the Darkland Tales, a series of “dramatic fictional retellings of stories from history, myth and legend” written by Scotland’s greatest contemporary writers. Denise Mina’s novella Rizzio is the first in the series.
Stories of the liberation war, and how we must never forget to pass it on
Fifty years have now passed since that glorious day in December 1971 when we achieved victory after a battle for nine months.
In 'Thug', Mike Dash myth-busts British India’s cult of stranglers
It is nearly impossible to know nothing about British India’s infamous cult that systematically killed and robbed Indian travelers for hundreds of years. However, almost every write-up available today is an exaggerated horror story that fails to reflect upon the real events.
Staff picks for Nonfiction November
Cleghorn pairs her personal experiences and traces through history how women's bodies have been taught to be hidden and shamed, instead of being taken as what it is—a biological entity.
Books that changed the world: Gilgamesh through the sands of time
The epic antedates even the depiction of the famous Trojan war; it is, in effect, the oldest epic found till date.
Nazrul, Rabindranath, and Their Admiration for Each Other
Today is the 45th death anniversary of the younger of the two icons.
In Suchitra Vijayan’s new book, borders are as arbitrary as history
In Midnight's Borders (Westland Publications, 2021), author and photographer Suchitra Vijayan travels the 9,000 miles of India's borders to understand what Partition did to individual lives and communities, and how it continues to incite violence, displacement, prejudice, and trauma among those who live in the border regions.