Stories of valour
and sacrifices

by Mohiuddin Alamgir

History is a mirror to the past helping future generations clearly understand past events and the individuals who sacrificed their all to make the future brighter for them. Bangladesh’s history is a remarkable example of the notion.

   Various sculptures, monuments, mausoleums, artworks and other such items all over the country has signified the sacrifices made by the millions to achieve the independence for this country. Khulna Press Club has joined this list recently through the thought-provoking terracotta, on its auditorium walls, retelling the story of Bangladesh in 1971 from an unbiased angle.

Excerpt from the story
‘Interrogation’
by Mahmud Rahman

The boys are processed through my station here on the banks of the Jamuna.
   They think they are so smart. They try to rob a bank. To raise money for the struggle, they say. Or they attempt to snatch a policeman’s rifle. To collect weapons for their people’s army, they say. The adaptable ones —those with the rural equivalent of what might be called ‘street smarts’ elsewhere — don’t get caught easily. But I would estimate that as many as eight out of ten of the others do. With few exceptions, they are from what we call ‘good families’. Children who grew up in privilege in the city. Why they think they can survive in the villages — swimming like fish in the sea, they quote Mao — I will never know. To me, they look like fish out of water.
   When I say boys, I do mean boys. I am only responsible for those who are under sixteen. That is my charge from the ministry: to interview the youngest prisoners and choose who qualifies for rehabilitation.
   By the time the boys face me, the constables have already knocked some sense into their skulls. But I have made it clear to my superiors that I shall not have my hands dirtied with that job. I have even managed to get them to agree that the prisoners will be given a bath before I see them. I do not want to see any signs of blood.

Greek writer Doreta Peppa found a sketchbook that is believed to belong to Vincent van Gogh. The sketchbook has portraits similar to thos found in Greece. Doreta Peppa is the daughter of a Greek resistance fighter. Doreta Peppa commissioned an art expert who found the sketched were made by Vincent van Gogh. Now Doreta Peppa seeks to establish the authenticity of the works with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. 

"Who would not be moved by such a discovery? This is van Gogh's soul," Peppa stated. "He intended this sketchbook as a gift and there is no other like it in the world."

-Culture Desk

by Khamin

On September 6, the 20th founding anniversary of the news and photography agency Drik was celebrated at Gallery Drik, in Dhanmondi.

Established on September 4, 1989, Drik has emerged as the country’s leading photography agency built around the concept of social justice and has been playing potentially significant roles in human rights movements both at home and abroad.

To commemorate the occasion, the teaching staff, graduates and enrolling students of Pathshala (a photography institute and a wing of Drik) gathered at the gallery in jovial spirits.

photo by Prito Reza

The day’s proceedings were divided into three phases the first of which began with a portfolio review session involving works by Pathshala’s students. The review session was conducted by internationally renowned Indian Magnum photographer, Raghu Rai.

During the evening, Raghu Rai formally inaugurated the group photography exhibition titled ‘20 years of Drik’. The gallery had been lit up from corner to corner by the flashing cameras as participants were greeted with loud cheers. More than 30 photographs, taken by Drik photographers in the last 20 years have been put on display.

 By Madhusree Chatterjee  
Agra, March 17 (IANS)          

 The  Gandharva  Culture of Mahabharata

Bangladesh : Dance and Music

photo from flickr

Bangladesh : Museums

National Museum: Established as Dhaka Museum in 1913. It has been renamed as the National Museum and was shifted to its new building at Shahbag in 1983. It is a four storied building and has forty galleries under four departments, namely.