In social analysis, there is a term that connects data with temporal memory, known as ethnography. By bringing together people’s history, their context, and experiences, a narrative is created. This narrative is mainly analytical, observed neutrally as an outsider. At least in Western sociology (and as
‘Rabindranath turned me into a thief,’ claims octogenarian lyricist, poet, author, screenwriter, and film director Sampooran Singh Kalra aka Gulzar with a chuckle and says the story has become a part of his life now. Born on August 18, 1934 in Deena, in the Jhelum
When winter arrives, the look of Bengal’s fields, countryside, and forests changes. Many villages and rural areas turn into safe shelters for birds. Although winter is still a long way off, without talking about birds, Bengal’s biodiversity feels incomplete. Hearing their chirping when you wake makes the morning feel peaceful, and the
According to fresh data from the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the companies registered in West Bengal have surged by 82.5% between 2011 and 2025. The figures challenge the long-standing political narrative of large-scale industrial flight from the state. In 2011, Bengal had 1,37,156 registered companies.
Among Indian deities, perhaps none is as widely worshipped, admired, and adored as Lord Krishna. Krishna’s worship takes many forms, and he is encountered in numerous distinct regional traditions, either as the ‘historical’ or the ‘mythical’ one. Interestingly, Lord Krishna has come up in Bengali
Not every freedom fighter needs armour—some carried law books and spoke with courage inside the courtroom. Birendranath Sasmal is one of the courtroom warriors, also known as the “Uncrowned King of Midnapore”. He leveraged his legal skills to fight against British rule and stand by the Indian revolutionaries. Born on 26
Reba Hore’s life was simple and work-filled . Born in Jessore, she later studied Economics in Kolkata. During that time, she became actively involved in the Communist movement. There could hardly be a better opportunity to observe society so closely. In 1948, she became a
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in his article ‘ill-effects of Child Marriage’ had highlighted how marrying off boys and girls at a young age can hamper their natural growth and health. Almost a century has passed since Vidyasagar made this statement. Yet, his words hold relevance even today
Even at 79, India is still a young nation in the journey of history. When we say India, we mean the political entity known as India created, and divided by, the British. The geographical piece of land itself, of course, is many thousands of years
Today, when ‘vaccine’ is one of the most spoken words in medicine, often sourced from abroad, few remember that nearly a century ago, a son of Bengal pioneered India’s own. Few in India remember Captain Narendranath Dutta, the visionary who gave the country its first