It's not only about Bengal and Bengalis!
Notwithstanding its Bengali antecedents, the story-line has a direct bearing on the historical criminality of entire Indian subcontinent. There are many unaddressed questions about socio-political history of India. Since British rule started with their victory at the Battle of Plassey in Bengal, this story is based on that background. It uncovers some obscured chapters of our past, which are crucial for all of us to know. Who had started the Hindu-Muslim discord, and how? Why, following partition, the displaced people from Pakistan received different treatments in different regions in India?
It starts with the ancient period of Bengal’s history touching upon the origin of the Bengals and the Bengali language. It provides a glimpse of the archaeological discovery of ancient civilisations as early as in the period C. 1500 B.C. to C. 300/400 B.C. at ‘Pandu Rajar Dhibi’ located in present-day West Bengal - not known to many.
Then it navigates quickly through the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism in the ancient period and touches upon the mediaeval period of Bengal when Bengalis come in contact with Islam for the first time. Up to this stretch, the region is one of the most affluent destinations on the earth.
Then, the Christian period of Bengal’s history begins. The British arrive in Bengal. Soon, the lives of the Bengalis turn topsy-turvy. Repeated famines - till unknown to Bengal - take place. People experience attacks on their religion; and witness fabrication of communal divides in them, daylight robberies, destruction of trade, commerce and agriculture and all such unthinkable atrocities. It results in revolt, mutiny and mass uprising against the British invaders. After 200 years of their plunder, torture and brutality finally, the foreigners are shown the door. The departure of the ‘Brutish’ rulers marks the modern incarnations of Bengal - Bangladesh and West Bengal – as the most impoverished part on the earth.
There are several twists and turns in the freedom struggle of India, but Indian history depicts the stories of the freedom struggle in a discriminatory manner. The story makes the revelation of certain well-guarded secrets, including the bias treatments against some renowned personalities of Bengal. The discrimination is also persisting unabated in the secular period of both in Bangladesh and truncated India. Yes, Bangladesh IS a secular country!
The high points of the story are some glaring issues which are left unmarked by the dominant historiography. The partition of India in 1947, for instance, is not restricted to Punjab and Bengal. There is seldom any mention of the partition of Assam.
Further, our history textbooks or other publications do not include much on how a handful of the British could subjugate and rule zillions of Bengalis as well as Indians. The present generation needs to know this to guard against committing the same mistakes.
The last two chapters are devoted to the burning issue of Hindu-Muslim discords, a phenomenon prevalent since the time British rule. Why is it perceptible only from the Christian period? The Bengalis and the Indians should know the truth. In fact, despite the disastrous effects of the partition based on communal line, this issue remains unaddressed till date. The book concludes with a suggestion on how to address this communal imbroglio.
For the book lovers in general and history buffs in particular, many thought-provoking issues can be found in the book
Story of Bengal and Bengalis: Ancient to Contemporary Era Of Bangladesh & West Bengal : Genesis of Hindu-Muslim Discord
It starts with the ancient period of Bengal’s history touching upon the origin of the Bengals and the Bengali language. It provides a glimpse of the archaeological discovery of ancient civilisations as early as in the period C. 1500 B.C. to C. 300/400 B.C. at ‘Pandu Rajar Dhibi’ located in present-day West Bengal - not known to many.
Then it navigates quickly through the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism in the ancient period and touches upon the mediaeval period of Bengal when Bengalis come in contact with Islam for the first time. Up to this stretch, the region is one of the most affluent destinations on the earth.
Then, the Christian period of Bengal’s history begins. The British arrive in Bengal. Soon, the lives of the Bengalis turn topsy-turvy. Repeated famines - till unknown to Bengal - take place. People experience attacks on their religion; and witness fabrication of communal divides in them, daylight robberies, destruction of trade, commerce and agriculture and all such unthinkable atrocities. It results in revolt, mutiny and mass uprising against the British invaders. After 200 years of their plunder, torture and brutality finally, the foreigners are shown the door. The departure of the ‘Brutish’ rulers marks the modern incarnations of Bengal - Bangladesh and West Bengal – as the most impoverished part on the earth.
There are several twists and turns in the freedom struggle of India, but Indian history depicts the stories of the freedom struggle in a discriminatory manner. The story makes the revelation of certain well-guarded secrets, including the bias treatments against some renowned personalities of Bengal. The discrimination is also persisting unabated in the secular period of both in Bangladesh and truncated India. Yes, Bangladesh IS a secular country!
The high points of the story are some glaring issues which are left unmarked by the dominant historiography. The partition of India in 1947, for instance, is not restricted to Punjab and Bengal. There is seldom any mention of the partition of Assam.
Further, our history textbooks or other publications do not include much on how a handful of the British could subjugate and rule zillions of Bengalis as well as Indians. The present generation needs to know this to guard against committing the same mistakes.
The last two chapters are devoted to the burning issue of Hindu-Muslim discords, a phenomenon prevalent since the time British rule. Why is it perceptible only from the Christian period? The Bengalis and the Indians should know the truth. In fact, despite the disastrous effects of the partition based on communal line, this issue remains unaddressed till date. The book concludes with a suggestion on how to address this communal imbroglio.
For the book lovers in general and history buffs in particular, many thought-provoking issues can be found in the book
Story of Bengal and Bengalis: Ancient to Contemporary Era Of Bangladesh & West Bengal : Genesis of Hindu-Muslim Discord
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