Art and Culture
Exploring the presidency beyond the constitution
The office of the President in Bangladesh has long been surrounded by a paradox. While the President is the country's highest constitutional office-holder, the parliamentary system significantly limits the office's executive authority. It is this intriguing contradiction that K. M. Mohiuddin explores in The President of Bangladesh: Constitution, Convention and Reality.
Abul Hasnat's birth anniversary marked with tribute by literary excellence
Prominent writers and literary figures paid tribute to late poet, author and editor Abul Hasnat at a discussion marking his birth anniversary, highlighting his enduring role in shaping generations of young Bengali writers.
Centenarian luminary
"All who are born must die; who has ever lived forever?" These immortal lines by the great Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt remain an eternal reminder of the inevitability of death. Although we all know that human beings are mortal, we often choose to forget this fundamental truth. This is precisely why Yudhishthira's famous observation in the Mahabharata remains profoundly relevant:
In memoriam: Enlightened Mustafa Monwar
Mustafa Monwar's impact on modernizing and popularizing puppetry in Bangladesh is indisputable. He recognized that puppetry serves as an excellent medium for fostering children's imagination and providing moral education. The puppet shows he designed and orchestrated were not merely forms of entertainment; they were inventive lessons in human values, patriotism, aesthetics, and education. Even now, numerous individuals in Bangladesh recall his puppet characters fondly from their childhood, illustrating that an artist does not solely create art; he also cultivates a realm of human emotions.
Today is the 153rd death anniversary of Michael Madhusudan Dutt
Today, Monday, June 29, marks the 153rd death anniversary of Michael Madhusudan Dutt, the great poet who introduced blank verse to Bengali literature. To observe the day with due respect, various programmes have been organised at the poet's birthplace in Sagardari, Keshabpur.
Eid and spirituality
From external festivals to inner awakening, while Eid is a significant religious celebration in Islam, it transcends mere external joy, feasting, or social gatherings. The true essence of Eid resides in its spiritual teachings, which cleanse the human heart, awaken moral values, and strengthen the bond with Allah; thus establishing an enduring joy of introspection within the mind of the saint or individual. The two Eids in Islam, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha—though differing in context—share a common objective: self-restraint, surrender, and self-realization. Eid-ul-Fitr represents a spiritual reward attained following the external and spiritual endeavors of the month of Ramadan. Ramadan instructs individuals to exercise control over hunger, thirst, and desires. By refraining from permissible things even during daylight hours, individuals come to understand that they can align their will with the will of Allah. This self-discipline fosters qualities such as patience, compassion, and gratitude within the human heart.
Teaching of Qurbani: A message of self-purification, sacrifice and social harmony
Eid-ul-Azha is among the most significant religious celebrations of the Muslim Ummah. The focal point of this festival is Qurbani, which transcends mere animal slaughter; it serves as a profound symbol of self-sacrifice, self-purification, and reverence for Allah. The essence of Qurbani lies in relinquishing greed, envy, pride, and self-centeredness, thereby awakening human values.
Colorful Eid celebrations in the days of black and white TV
Our childhood years were indeed uncomplicated yet filled with joy. At that time, there were not many forms of entertainment media available. The only options were Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV). The television sets were black and white, with screen sizes of 14 inches, 17 inches, and 20 inches. I did not encounter a larger TV set in anyone's home during that period. However, despite watching TV programs in black and white, the experiences were quite vibrant. In the era I am discussing, particularly regarding Eid celebrations on television, there were no color TVs, VCRs, HD TVs, computers, DVDs, or YouTube. There was solely one channel, BTV. Most villages had not yet received electricity. Nevertheless, in our time, Raozan village in Chattogram had electricity. As far as I recall, we began watching TV in 1980. BTV's broadcasts likely commenced in the afternoon and concluded at midnight. The programming began with the national anthem and ended with the national flag and anthem being displayed.
From hand-cut semai to Arabian kunafa, the evolution of Bengali Eid food
The morning of Eid brings with it a delightful fragrance that fills the air. New garments, the scent of perfume, and families gathering to share meals and drinks, along with visits to neighbors and relatives, characterize the Bengali Eid.
Unknown tale of Biju
Upon consulting dictionaries of Bengali, Hindi, and English, one encounters the term Chakma. Recent assertions by historical linguists indicate that all contemporary languages, totaling around 6000, have emerged through a gradual process of fragmentation from a singular, original great language. Consequently, we have adhered to the guidelines of the 'Bengali Glossary' to ascertain the meanings of the terms Bishu, Biju, Phul, Mool, and Gajyepajye.