History

Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide quite characteristically showcases a certain incident- a history that threatens to be obliterated but for its faded yet potent impact on individual lives. The Marichjhapi Massacre as it is now perceived in posterity is the bitter lacuna around which the novel weaves itself. To be a refugee in the first place is a situation undesired, but to be an Untouchable refugee proved to be a struggle that was not only difficult but in fact, fatal. The complete silence even in contemporary Bengal politics regarding caste and caste-based violence is not because caste issues do not exist, but a manipulated discourse that has been propagated subtly and powerfully, and the origins of which can historically be located in this incident which although evidently caste induced, was conveniently considered to be a refugee proble In this article, Meghashree Dev looks into a dark episode in the history of contemporary West Bengal- the Marichjhapi masaccre, a state-sponsored violence targeted toward the Dalit refugees, and comments on the role of the Bengali intelligentsia and the absence of a discourse on caste in the politics of West Bengal.

The revolt of 1857 holds an important place in the history of colonial India. There are contradictory editions of the story of the summer of 1857 in India. Our “heroes” are “black devils'' in British narratives. Less popular in India, they define how the British perceived the rebels and how their life and opinion in Britain transformed due to this perception. Among the incidents of 1857, the Bibghar Massacre was remembered time and again in Britain and is almost erased from the Indian memory.

Our modern drinks or refreshments cannot even begin to come close to our eternal love and closeness which we all feel for tea as our own beverage. There is nothing that a cup of tea cannot solve for you! Moreover, apart from being a mere beverage, tea can also be viewed as a symbol of cultural assimilation as it is one of the world’s favourite drinks which is consumed globally across cultures.

Over the past few years, the essence of resistance poetry and literature has grown in the hook and corner of the nation and have made prominence in every sphere of socio, political, religious and economic realms giving much more massive strength to the voices of social movement rebellions and protestors. We know that poetry or literature in politics has a long history. Earlier, the rulers used to have poets to sing and write about the virtues, conquests, and triumphs of the monarchy and populace associated with them. But after the 19th century, poetry started becoming more linked with anti-colonial and anti-establishment movements across the world.

“In post-independent India, the cow symbolism continues to hold a prominent position in the country’s politics. The proponents of the Hindutva ideology have been using this symbol for stimulating religious sentiments amongst people of a particular faith and using it against others. In the recent past, the concept of the sacred cow has become a propaganda, being used recklessly by political leaders without realizing the effect it has on the ‘secular and democratic’ India.”

Judaism is a monotheistic ethnic religion that is based on the belief of God revealing himself to various Hebrew prophets following a covenant signed with the Children of Israel. Jews account for 0.2% of the world population comprising 14.5 million adherents. India has a sizeable population of the community which has produced prolific individuals who have made contributions in far excess to their proportion – from the decorated Bangladesh War veteran Jack Farj Rafael Jacob to the popular Bollywood actress Florence Ezekiel Nadira are among other examples.

The earliest census in India in the modern sense was conducted during the British rule, in the 19th century with the practice occurring every ten years without interruption since 1881. The census has expanded in its scope significantly over more than a century and the 2021 census, likely to be the largest such exercise in the world will be held online, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article gives a succinct history of the census as it evolved from the colonial period to the modern day while also locating the census within a larger social, political and economic context.

The realisation that photos of the private and sacred lives of their community are so easily available on Google leads one to question our ability to respect the verbally unuttered yet much-needed privacy the Jarawas need. The Jarawas form a crucial part of our intellectual and cultural heritage, and therefore, they should be protected from being subjected to the forces of figurative and literal museumization.

History always states that politics and sports are closely interlinked to serve both nations vested interests to a large-scale prospect. The political arena uses cricket diplomacy as a mechanism for image building and advancing their political interests rather than for the love of the game that draws fans to the stadiums. Nevertheless, it depends on the fairness of the political will and diplomat’s commitment to benefit from sports diplomacy in mitigating the deep-rooted issues prevalent since the few decades between India and Pakistan.

The terrestrial heritage of the Indian peninsula is well documented and popularly known worldwide over. Unfortunately, for a country that is surrounded by water, minimal regard has been given to the under the sea heritage of India. This article aims to explore the measures that have been taken to research, identify and preserve the recessed underwater heritage of India.