Danga, Deshbhag o Udbastu Somoy: Paschim theke Purbobanga – A Book Review

Danga, Deshbhag o Udbastu Somoy: Paschim theke Purbobanga, Compiled, edited and introduction by Mridul Haque; Kolkata: Mandas Publication, 2024; Pp: 460; Price: Rs. 650; ISBN: 9789395065634

Danga, Deshbhag o Udbastu Somoy: Paschim theke Purbobanga starts with a summary of Dibyendu Palit’s short story Alam’s Own House. The use of this particular story by the editor is significant because it is a story in the crowd of many fictional narratives of partition, which has the migration from West Bengal to East Pakistan and its consequences as its subject which is also the core issue dealt in this book. Anannya Das writes.

Between Two Worlds: Love, Loss and Longing

There is a hidden world that goes mostly overlooked by the busy streets, the fragrant spices, and the noises of daily life, nestled amidst the chaotic terrain of Thoothukudi, a city that is a vibrant monument to its cultural richness. The Tamil exiles from Sri Lanka live in this reality, torn between their unknown future and the past they left behind. The ‘refugee colonies,’ known locally, stand in sharp contrast to the posh areas and shopping centres scattered across the city. The dwellings are modest but full of warmth and resiliency, and the streets are smaller here. In this society, the idea of home was as elusive as a desert mirage, and the distinction between exile and belonging was hazy at best. The poignant experiences of the other Sri Lankan Tamil refugees unfold in these corners, but this world belonged to Meera, a young Tamil woman raised behind the walls of this camp in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. Blessy Mathew writes.

“Reporting at Risk: Conflict, Disaster and Journalism Today” – A Report

Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group, in collaboration with DW Akademie, organised an online discussion by South Asia Network for Communication, Displacement and Migration (SAN-CDM) on “Reporting at Risk: Conflict, Disaster and Journalism Today” on 29th December, 2023. Supratik Sinha reports on the proceedings of this roundtable discussion.