June 6, 2021
CULTURE AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR UNITING BENGALI COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK
Historically the Bengali language and culture have been critical in cementing solidarity among Bengali communities. The British colonial authorities failed to partition Bengal to establish their divide and rule policy because Bengalis were united and Bengali culture played an influential role in uniting Bengali communities. This is also evident in Bangladesh's struggle for establishing Bengali as the state language in 1952 that subsequently paved the path of Independent Bangladesh in 1971.
June 4, 2021
A Literary Representation of 1971
Professor Shazia Rahman and I will engage in a critical conversation about the Literary Representation of 1971. I am reading Dr. Shazia's brilliant book Place and Postcolonial Ecofeminism. One of the chapters of her book explores the genocide of 1971 represented in literature. I haven't seen the 1971 war, but I am the son of a freedom fighter (Muktijodhha). I am eagerly looking forward to our conversation to critically understand our history on June 4.
June 2, 2021
Negotiating Immigrant Identity in a Globalized World
Dr. Tahseen Shams (University of Toronto) will join us on June 2 at 9 PM Bangladesh time to discuss her book Here, There, and Elsewhere which explores our complex process of Identity Negotiation. Dr. Sangeeta Roy has written a review of the book, and she will join us as a discussant.
May 28, 2021
Exploring Transgender Rights in Bangladesh
Exploring Transgender Rights in Bangladesh with Tashnuva Anan—the first Bangladeshi Transgender Newsreader in Bangladesh.