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Afsan Chowdhury

  • Researcher and columnist

Afsan Chowdhury: Researcher and columnist
Village life during 1971
Village life during 1971
Article

Village life during 1971

[In 2002, Liberation War researcher Afsan Chowdhury started a history project called ‘Bangladesh 1971’. As part of this work, a four-volume book called ‘Bangladesh 1971’ was published in 2007. In 2013, another project called ‘Gramer Ekattor’ started. Based on the information from that project, he published a book titled ‘Gramer Ekattor’ in 2019. Inspired by the author’s ‘Gramer Ekattor’, Views Bangladesh brings its Victory Day event ‘How was the village life during the 1971 war?’]

In memory of journalist Urmi Rahman Apa
Urmi Sarkar
Art and Culture

In memory of journalist Urmi Rahman Apa

Urmi Rahman Apa passed away in a Kolkata hospital on the 14th of this month, after a prolonged battle with cancer. While there were hopes that she might overcome the disease, it ultimately claimed her life. The news of her passing has been deeply unsettling, especially given the close bond shared over the years. Urmi Rahman Apa was someone I had known for nearly fifty years. Her departure brings a profound sense of loss, compounded by the realization of how fleeting our own existence can be. The mind, much like the relentless progression of cancer, often wanders through memories, unable to find peace.

Country adrift in suffering, flood crisis and cricket victory
Country adrift in suffering, flood crisis and cricket victory
Special Content

Country adrift in suffering, flood crisis and cricket victory

The home of my ancestors, who came from far away hundreds of years ago during the declining period of the Mughals, is located in that region. It is the locality where everything, their business, estates, and families, flourished, but about a century ago, the situation started to change a little. Learning to read and write became more profitable than running a zamindari by the middle of the British era. Nobody except the students of history say that the zamindari system was never economically successful. Even the rich zamindars used to earn money through various types of business, be it interest business or salt. My ancestors started joining jobs, advocacy and education. As these were not occupations of a rural society, so everyone started becoming city-oriented, meaning Kolkata-oriented.

As if eid joy depends on spending a lot
As if eid joy depends on spending a lot
Art and Culture

As if eid joy depends on spending a lot

After so many years, at this age, when I look towards eid celebrations, I see many phases. I have celebrated eid many times in home and abroad. When it comes to childhood eid memories, I directly go back in the 50s. I was born in Tikatuli in 1952. Due to this significant reason, I don't have any memories before 1955. It means my memories date back to when I was three years old. What I remember from the age of three is that the neighbourhoods were like family. People often nostalgically say, 'Oh, how beautiful the neighboruhoods were before—not that actually. The point is, the neighbourhoods were organic before. Now, it's all through social media. It wasn't like that before.