weekend tribune vol 3 issue 32

vol 3 Issue 32 | FRIDAY, DeCeMBeR 4, 2015 Dhaka Tribune

5 FooD BennIes 8 soCIAl PolItICs

oF khADI 20 the Bong MoMMA

WEEKEN D TRI BU N E | FRI DAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

1CONTENTS

Volume 3 | Issue 32 | Dec 4, 2015

EditorZafar Sobhan

Features EditorSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Asst Magazine EditorFarina Noireet

Weekend Tribune TeamSaudia Afrin

Moumita AhmedN Anita AmreenFaisal MahmudSakib MridhaSaqib Sarker

Syeda Samira SadequeShuprova Tasneem

ContributorsTanim AhmedMinu Ahmed

Jennifer Ashraf KashmiDina SobhanSyed Tafhim

CartoonistSyed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

GraphicsMd Mahbub AlamAlamgir HossainTahsin Momin

Colour SpecialistShekhar Mondal

AdvertisementShahin Ahsan

ProductionMasum Billah

CirculationMasud Kabir Pavel

Websitedhakatribune.com/weekendfacebook.com/WeekendTrib

Email your letters to:[email protected]

Editor’s noteAbout the coverDear Readers,

This week, we have a little bit of everything from you. Wrapping up the Bengal Classical Music Festival, we bring you a charming interview with three generations of a musical family. In areas more literary, we hark back to a sit down we had with a quirky Torontonian author whose novel has garnered rave reviews internationally.

Looking ahead to an exciting fashion event, we have a breakdown of the upcoming khadi festival, and the first of many interviews with the Fashion Council of Bangladesh.

Turning to the hot topic of climate, we focus on the lives of haor dwellers, also the subject of our lush, green and refreshing photo story this week.

If all those interviews make you hungry, join us in the hunt for the perfect plate of Eggs Benedict, all around the world, and right at home. Finally, head on to see how Bong Momma introduces Jellybean to the family.

Wishing you a colourful week

-Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

News 2 News

3 Meanwhile

FeatuRes 4 Interview Dr N Rajam

5 Food Bennies

6 Event Tresemmé Khadi Festival

8 Focus Social Politics of khadi

12 Interview Ghalib Islam

14 Focus Haor-dwellers

RegulaRs16 Legalese

17 Tough Love

18 Stay In

19 Go Out

20 The Bong Momma

FaShIONTalKING KHaDI

9

7

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

PhOTO STOryMISTy MoRNING


2 NEwS | This week

Putin snubs Erdogan in Paris as pilot’s body returned to Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin snubbed a meeting with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in France last week as the body of a pilot, killed when Ankara downed one of Moscow’s warplanes, returned home.

Meanwhile Turkish authorities again pledged not to apologise over the downing of the Russian jet on the Syrian border as Moscow rolled out its sanctions aimed at exacting economic revenge on Ankara.

Putin and Erdogan have been locked in a furious war of words

since the incident and the Kremlin strongman rejected the Turkish leader’s offer of face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a climate summit outside the French capital.

The downing of the Russian jet on the Turkey-Syria border - the first time a NATO member has shot down a Russian plane since 1952 - has seen ties shattered between the two rival players in the Syria conflict.Photo: AP

Boko Haram raids in Nigeria, Niger kill eight

Boko Haram fighters killed eight people in the weekend in northeast Nigeria and southeastern Niger, in deadly raids that saw houses burnt and villagers kidnapped.

The attacks in Bam-Buratai, in Nigeria’s Borno state, and in the

Diffa region of Niger, happened on Saturday while

there was another raid in Gulak,

in Nigeria’s Adamawa on

Sunday.Boko Haram hit-and-run raids

- once a trademark of the Islamic State group affiliate - have declined in recent months in the face of a sustained Nigerian army counter-offensive in rural areas.

Instead, the group has increasingly favoured suicide and bomb attacks against civilians in towns and cities to secure maximum casualties and publicity.Photo: AFP

The United States warned its citizens in Kabul of an ‘imminent attack’ in the city within the next two days, amid renewed official efforts to revive stalled peace talks with the Taliban.

The US embassy in Kabul urged extreme caution during this period of ‘heightened threat’ but gave no details on potential targets or methods of the planned attack.

“US embassy Kabul has received credible reports of an imminent attack in Kabul within the next

48 hours,” it said in an emergency warning posted on its website.

“The security situation in Afghanistan is extremely unstable, and the threat to all US citizens in Afghanistan remains critical.”

The embassy frequently issues such emergency warnings but the latest post comes as the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to meet on the sidelines of a UN conference in Paris.Photo: AFP

Last Friday, an Islamic State group associated in Bangladesh said it was behind an attack on a Shia mosque in Haripur village in the Bogra district, that killed one man and wounded three others.

A statement posted on IS-affiliated Twitter accounts from Islamic State – Bangladesh said that the mosque was hit by a barrage of shots fired from machine guns.

Five attackers fired on worshippers during evening prayers at the mosque on Thursday. A mosque official in his 70s who had been leading the prayers was killed.

Police on Friday detained two suspects for questioning, said local police official Arifur Rahman. He said the men were picked up from the area of the attack. Details of their identities were not clear.

The statement from the IS offshoot

said “the soldiers of the caliphate targeted a place of worship for the apostates” built with funds from Iran. It vowed more such attacks.

Police have arrested six members of the banned local group Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh. The bombs, lobbed into the crowd as people were gathering for an early morning procession through the capital, killed a teenage boy and wounded more than 100 people.

Authorities had quickly dismissed a claim of responsibility by the Islamic State group in that attack too, saying it had no presence in the country, and that the culprits were likely from Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh.

On Thursday, security officials killed the alleged mastermind of the October 24th attack, Al Bani, during a gunfight in a Dhaka suburb, Islam said. Source: abcnews

Associate of IS group claims Bangladesh Shia mosque attack

US embassy warns of ‘imminent attack’ in Kabul

The world at a glanceWeekend Tribune

Desk


. . . MEaNwhILE 3

Photo of the week

Sunset over Dhanmondi lakePhoto: Sakib Mridha

Say what?

Man aged 60 marries his pregnant teenage girlfriend – with his wife’s blessing

Most women would hit the roof if their beloved husband got his 19-year-old girlfriend pregnant.

But Belinda Miller told her other half Thom, a 60-year-old vicar, to go ahead and marry his mistress – with her blessing.

Thom is now in the process of building a massive home for his two brides – where each wife will occupy her own wing of the house.

The bigamist will split his time between the pair.

He currently lives in a smaller home and has each of his wives spend three nights with him before the other one takes her turn.

Thom, a former mafia enforcer turned pastor, had talked about polygamy with his first wife Belinda but it was seven years before they settled on 19-year-old Reba Kerfootruba joining their family.

Now the trio plans to raise Reba and Thom’s future biological child together as a family.

Reba said: “At first my family thought that what we were doing was not right.

“They didn’t think it was proper for me to be with a man that was already married.

“But they started to come around and now they’re happy as they know I am happy.Source: Daily Mirror


4 INTErvIEw | Dr N rajam

The fourth edition of Bengal Classical Music Festival featured some major exponents of classical music

from both home and abroad, bringing in an impressive line up that enthralled audiences over the five day period. While Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Ustad Rashid Khan were recurring acts this year, the festival’s epochal introduction also included famed tabla player Zakir Khan and violinists from three generations led by Dr N Rajam, or the “singing violin” of India.

“I am told we have a very unique and wonderful audience here in Bangladesh - around 40,000- 50,000 people will attend. So many people going to a classical music festival at a sports auditorium - its amazing!” she said on the third day of the festival, prior to her performance with daughter Dr. Sangeeta Shankar and granddaughters Ragini and Nandini Shankar.

“We have not seen anything like this fest anywhere in the world - Bangladesh is definitely the first country which is able to host such a huge festival for classical music,” added Sangeeta. She has explored new genres like world music, fusion, and has also been nominated for a Grammy Award. Fundamentally a musician, she has also branched out into being an educationist and a motivational speaker.

Hailing from a family of musicians, Rajam began playing the violin at the tender age of three under the guidance of her father A Narayana Iyer, becoming a professional musician by the age of nine.

“I belong to a family where music was the way of life for the last seven generations. My father was a violinist, his father was a vocalist and beyond that music was there in a serious way. According to family tradition, the moment a child turns three, regardless of whether they’re boys or girls, they’re

instantly handed the violin, undergoing serious, intensive training.” With her children and granddaughters following suit, Rajam said there are at least a dozen musicians in her family, with most of them taking violins as the instrument of their choice.

Trained under the tutelage of her father, she developed a very highly sophisticated violin technique called the Gayaki Ang. “Some violinists play the violin adopting the instrumental style, whereas I wanted to do something new. I thought why not try to bring about a technique which would enable one to reproduce vocal music on the violin, and I had to work very hard for 15 years. It was an uphill task.” She mastered the carnatic style at a very young age, and later ventured into the Hindustani style, and made a path-breaking entry as she pioneered the Gayaki Ang, earning her the title of the “singing violin.” From the khayal and thumri to the bhajan, she developed all the techniques to make it possible to play these forms on the violin in the way a vocalist does.

At 77 years of age, Rajam is still wholeheartedly passionate about performing and teaching, be it at Rajam School of Violin or as when

she served as Professor and Dean in Banaras Hindu University for 40 years. She has extensively toured the USA and Canada, and performed in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Netherlands, to name a few. Despite being the recipient of countless awards, including the Padmashri and the Padmabhushan, Rajam is tirelessly devoted to her art, playing everyday, regardless of time or place.

On the topic of her daily practice routine, she said: “I cant remember a single day that I have not played. My father used to be very strict and he was a very hard task master. You may not eat or sleep, but violin practice is a must. There is and has never been any other way around it.” It was advice she took to heart, and has passed on to her granddaughters too.

As a young girl, Rajam practiced up to seven to eight hours everyday. “Even Ragini and Nandini follow in the family footsteps. While one of them is a mechanical engineer and the other is studying accountancy, they still find time to get their daily practice,” she added.

At the age of twelve Rajam heard 78 rpm records of Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, an influential Indian educator,

Bengal Classical Music Fest ‘15: The singing violina lively chat with three generations of violinists: N Rajam, her daughter Dr Sangeeta Shankar, and granddaughters Ragini and Nandini ShankarN Anita Amreen

musicologist, and Hindustani classical singer and a disciple of classical singer Vishnu Digambar Paluskar of Gwalior gharana.

“I was so captivated by his emotional singing and musical content that I decided I would one day like to become his disciple. I was pretty sure it would happen and it happened,” she added with a smile. Taking her guru’s advice about playing, she approaches the violin with “utmost tenderness, love and humility,” to “caress them, cajole them,” making it one piece of advice she’s carried with her throughout her performances.

What people don’t know about Rajam is that behind the serious musician, there lies a woman with a rollicking sense of humor and a penchant for telling a good story. “Contrary to her perception of being very strict, she’s extremely fun loving. At home we get to see the fun, jovial side of her,” Nandini explained with a warm smile. Ragini, too, believes that if she warms up to people, they are able to see a side of her that ordinary people would be surprised to know.

To be in the family of such revered musicians may have been a difficult task, but taking up the violin felt like a natural task for her grandchildren, one they enjoy just as much as their mother and grandmother. “We want to be in the line of music. Once you’re in the field that is so connected to what you love and what everyone loves, it gets very hared to think of an alternate career because this is the best option. You get to see things, travel to places, it’s wonderful!” Ragini added. When asked about who inspires Rajam and her love for music, she said “There is no question of being inspired. From the day I was born, I was born with the love for music, a passion for the violin. I can’t imagine a life where I am not a violinist. Rajam minus music - there really is no existence.” n

Photo: Bengal Foundation


BeNNies | FOOd 5

No one remembers how, but there they were. A bunch of noisy students strayed from their haunts at the McGill

Ghetto to end up in a more gentile part of old Montréal. It was the summer of 1995 and the annual jazz festival was afoot. The heart of the French speaking metropolis was warming up to the hordes that headed up there for a little music and much mayhem.

It was just about a hundred years after Lemuel Benedict had ordered the first version of the eggs named after him to chase away a stubborn hangover that the rowdy sophomores attempted to emulate him. The quaint little eatery had fittingly replaced Lemuel’s

buttered toast and the more common English muffin with toasted baguette, and for the better.

That Saturday turned out to be the beginning of a journey. There have been several continents and many disappointments since and I have never passed up the opportunity to order the bennies wherever I found it. At Mike’s Breakfast in Kathmandu the hollandaise sauce was lumpy and cold, at the Grán Melía in Cancún the yolk seemed to have cooked a little. At the Simba Lodge in Kenya’s Maasai Mara it was too runny. And in a very breezy restaurant in Bali, I thought I might as well have ordered a half-boiled egg.

So it was, as they say, music to my

ears when I first heard Gloria Jeans would be serving bennies for breakfast. Little did I know, the disappointment would continue. What this place tries to pass off as bennies is an abomination. There is literally two drops of the hollandaise, which is not that great anyway, and the eggs are a pair of stiff sunny side ups. Tastebud tries to do a fairly decent job but it is too bland and the bacon has to cook a little more. At Bistro E, the bread and the bacon pretty much killed it.

O Kitchen was the last sanctuary of hope. An egg connoisseur and kindred soul, the owner himself makes sure the bennies are served right. And it did not disappoint with the salmon benedicts.

It came with gravlax and whole grain bread. To be fair though, there was a bias to begin with. I love salmon. But that was not all.

The bennies did turn out really well. Its not just because they were almost perfect and the sauce brought back fond memories that it was a unique experience. The gravlax, with its strip of salmon and pinch of caviar, added a touch of zest.

The expansive grounds make for a great lazy hangout on a weekend and although the whole experience is more expensive, at Tk 825 net, than most other eateries in Dhaka, I tend to think it is still worth it. And yes, it will take care of your hangover. n

In search of the perfect Eggs BenedictTanim Ahmed

Lemuel’s legacy

Photo: Bigstock


6 EvENT | Tresemme khaDi fesTival

TRESemmé and FDCB’s fashionable collaborationSabrina Fatma Ahmad

The great festival season continues. We’ve jived to jazz, frolicked with folk music, nerded out at the

DLF, and pulled all-nighters on some seriously cool classical music. Each event had its own unspoken aesthetic, as all those Instagram photos will testify (once the social media ban is lifted); in addition to the cultural aspect, fashion played a strong role in the experience of it. This time, fashion itself takes central stage as the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) brings in the two-day Khadi Festival.

The festival, which will be inaugurated on December 11, and conclude the following day will feature fashion shows and an exhibition on both days. While the fashion shows are invite-only, the exhibition will be open to public. The entire festival is to be hosted at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel.

The ideaWith the international climate conference putting all things environmental on the forefront of discourse, and the recent spate of festivals bringing culture into the frame, the organisers felt that it was time to revisit khadi, a local product very much steeped in tradition, with a rich and complex history behind it, and a very low carbon footprint. What better way to bring this treasured textile back under the spotlight than through the language of fashion? This is where the FDCB comes in.

The CouncilThe Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh was as launched in February last year, with fashion designer Maheen Khan at the helm as President. The board members of the Council feature such fashion luminaries as Emdad Hoque, Mumu Maria, Chondona Dewan, Lipi Khandaker, Biplob Shaha, and Shaibal Shaha.

In what Maheen Khan describes as “an army of designers aiming to bid farewell to those days of struggling alone in this industry”, this not-for-profit organisation strives to create a support network, with cooperation from various ministries responsible for handling finances and cultural affairs, to help all those involved in the art and trade of fashion in Bangladesh. In addition to promoting our local culture and fashion on a global platform, the Council wants to boost the market and demand for Bangladeshi products. There is also a strong emphasis on research and archival of culture and tradition, which they believe is a necessary framework for new and upcoming designers.

ParticipantsThis year’s event showcases the work of some of the biggest homegrown names, including, but not limited to the founding members of the FCBD. It will also debut the collections of some young up and comers in the biz. Six designers from India are crossing over to present their own lines, and, to discuss the socio-political significance of khadi, the event will also see representation from the Gandhi Ashram in Noakhali and Kranti Babu from Comilla.

SponsorsTRESemmé is the title sponsor for the event. Other sponsors include The City Bank Limited, Green Delta Insurance, Square Toiletries, Bengal Group Ltd, Sailor and Keya. n

Khadi, revived

Photo: Courtesy

TRESemmé Khadi Festival

Dates: December 11-12 Timings:

Fashion shows: 6-8pmExhibition:

December 11: 2pm-6pmDecember 12: 10am – 6pm

New Designers

Farah DibaAfsana Ferdausi Wormy

Rifat Reza RakaSamia Rafique

Indian Designers

Debarun MukherjeeSantanu DasSanjukta Roy

Paromita Banerjee Sayantan Sarkar

Rimi Nayak

Additional participants: Gandhi Ashram, Noakhali and Kranti Babu, Comilla

Renowned designers

Chandana DewanLipi KhandkerHumaira Khan

Biplob SahaMumu MariaShabana Ali

Tenzing ChakmaKuhu

Emdad HoqueShaibal Saha

Farah Anjum BariNawshin KhairShahrukh AminMaheen Khan


7

“Khadi is inspired by nature. It doesn’t require the crutch of fashion. It just needs people of style to endorse it”

TalkiNG khaDi | FaShION 7

A moment with Maheen KhanThe style maven dishes out on the upcoming khadi festivalSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Visiting Maheen Khan’s Gulshan office may feel like something of a literary pursuit. The latest copies

of Vogue and Vanity Fair lie on the table in the waiting room. More books, magazines, and cuttings mingle with fabric in the workroom, and in the office room of the boss lady herself, the bookshelves are piled with tomes about everything from toe rings to calligraphy. Clearly, when the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) pledged to invest in the research and preservation of the culture and heritage aspects of local fashion, they meant business.

Maheen Khan’s absorption in her latest venture, the upcoming Khadi Festival, is total. A single biscuit-coloured khadi stole adorns the stark, minimalistic gunmetal grey long kameez ensemble she is wearing. Intricate paper cutting patterns are draped over her desk. The Mayasir designer and President of the FDCB is all business, wrapping up a photoshoot, tapping out a staccato of text messages, firing off instructions about logistics, all without seeming the least bit distracted. Sitting down for the interview with Dhaka Tribune, she dives right in without preamble.

Why khadi, why now?If you’re concerned about the environment, khadi is probably the most eco-friendly fabric. Made from cotton, spun and woven manually without any electrical support, it doesn’t use any fossil fuel. If dyed with natural dye, it becomes a green fabric. Furthermore, this hand-woven fabric uses significantly less water than mills, so the overall carbon footprint is very low.

If you’re interested in history, you would know that it played a significant role in the self reliance movement that ultimately led to the end of the British rule in India. Inspired by the example set by the Gandhi ashrams, people in thousands of homes in the subcontinent took to weaving their own wearable fabrics instead of buying from British mills. Khadi is a symbol of peaceful non-cooperation.

Even today, being a fabric using the simplest of technology, khadi doesn’t require much in terms of skills and training, just time and effort, it can easily bring employment to the rural poor without even requiring them to leave their homes; this can be particularly empowering for women.

This natural fabric has unique properties that keep you warm in winter and cool in the summer months, so it’s the perfect material for our climate.

Unfortunately, in spite of all this, we haven’t been able to treat khadi as the national asset that it is, haven’t recognised its economical, ecological and cultural potential. That is why we’re hoping that this festival will bring this traditional treasure trove into the limelight, and also change the way we see and use khadi, and raise awareness about, not just khadi itself, but our rich cultural tradition as a whole.

What can we look forward to in this exhibition?We’ve got established designers, young new local designers, and a team of foreign designers from India, all working with khadi in interesting ways. We’re inspired by other local traditions, such as shondesh, pitha sheetol pati, kagoj kata (paper cutting), alpona, etc. Each of us has tried to pick one such

influence and incorporate it somehow into our designs for this collection.

We want to showcase the fact that a traditional fabric such as khadi can be reinterpreted to suit contemporary and international tastes without losing out on our heritage.

Our counterparts just across the border have done a far better job of preserving their khadi, and have done some wonderful things with it. Unfortunately, the quality of our own local khadi has declined over the years. The famous muslin of old, for example has a thread count of about 200. Typical khadi produced locally at present has about a 20-40 thread count. However, I am proud to say that the products the FDCB has brought out for this exhibition is high quality, about 150 thread count. We want to restore our hand woven textiles to its former glory.

And also, you can’t ignore the history of khadi, particularly in the non-cooperation movement. This year, the khadi festival has representation from the Gandhi Ashram in Noakhali and Kranti Babu from Comilla.

What can you tell us about your collection?I’m working on kagoj kata, or paper cutting. Once upon a time, people at home would create intricate patterns from paper, using it to decorate their homes for festive occasions. You’d see it at weddings, at school fairs. This art, like so many of our local talents, is dying out because mass-produced alternatives are available.

The items I’m showcasing will have print, woven, and embroidered elements inspired by paper-cutting patterns. I’ve played with drapes, cuts and colours to highlight the beauty

of paper-cutting and the fineness of khadi.

Fashion has been described by the local media in different ways. What are we missing in the conversation?We don’t experiment enough, I think. We’re all about showcasing and buying foreign products, but afraid to look at our own in a new light. It’s as dangerous to be too conservative about innovation, because it leads to stagnation, as it is to be reckless with changing the traditions.

Also, I feel like there is sometimes a tendency to generalise when talking about designers. You have the kind of person who has maybe bought some fabric from Pink City and a fancy border from Chandni Chawk to create an outfit inspired by something already in the market. And there are designers who painstakingly take a design from conception to execution, from the creation of the fabrics, to the construction of the final garment. And somehow they are both seen as the same thing; it really hurts.

We’re extremely grateful to our sponsors for their continued support in raising awareness about all these issues. They have really helped us bring together this endeavour, and they are with us in our effort to create a community that promotes our heritage and strengthens our industry.

What should we be wearing more of this season?

Layers. Definitely layers. Last season was about more all-purpose single pieces, but layers add dimension and versatility to your wardrobe, and allow you to play. n

Photo: Courtesy


Khadi: spinning revolutions for a centuryHow a piece of fabric stitched the identity of a nation, and empowered India to stand up against British rule Syeda Samira Sadeque

8 FOCuS | social poliTics of khaDi

You can tell the immensity of a revolution by how frequently it comes back – whether through discourse

or as another revolution itself. And the revolution of khadi, propagated by Mohandas Gandhi during the early 19th century as a means to revolt against the British rule, was huge.

And it’s back. About a century ago, in 1920, Gandhi, in his non-violence rhetoric, began promoting the use of khadi – a kind of homegrown cotton – to stand up against the colonial rule: it was a symbol for the emancipation from poverty, a means to become self-reliant as an economy, and a call for equality and economic liberation from the British rule.

Perhaps Ragini Nayak best summarises why Gandhi chose an article of clothing to revolutionise a whole population that had been shackled by colonialism for so long.

“[Gandhi’s] sympathy, sensitivity and support to the suffering masses made it inconceivable for him to accept a lifestyle higher than the lowest in the land and so, he created the concept of “consume only what you can produce,’” she wrote in in The Hindu 2011.

Close to 100 years on, today the khadi industry makes only one percent of the textile industry in India, and employs 20 lakh people. But that may be changing as Indian fashion houses begin to revisit the fabric that stitched their identity as a nation.

Turning the economic wheelWhen it was first introduced, the concept resonated well with the people - possibly because economic emancipation and financial equality among all was something that most, especially those in the lower rung of the socio-economic status, were also striving for.

“Gandhi realised that unlike the West, India has excessive labour because of which there was acute unemployment,” Nayak further writes. “Since capital was scarce, low capital and skill intensive, full employment-oriented industry was needed. He saw the employment opportunities created by the khadi movement as the solution.”

Gandhi propagated Khadi as a “way of life,” writes Jasodhara Banerjee in Forbes, “one that is centred around the village, where the practice of khadi would be able to generate self-reliance.” Indeed self-reliance was a significant aspect of the economic emancipation.

“[Gandhi] started the Khadi movement also to promote the idea that ‘we are Indians. Let us be self-sufficient. Let us do things that India is capable of,” Roopali Rawat, a freelance fashion consultant from India, tells me.

Economic self-reliance was one of the biggest drives of motivation behind the khadi revolution, as India began to realise that the key to freeing themselves from colonialism was to be self-sufficient economically.

Khadi: a symbol of equality, hope, freedom Other than economic independence, khadi symbolised a completely different lifestyle – one that was easily distinguishable from the British. This meant, people who were beginning to revolt against the British rule could now – literally – wear their opinions on the sleeve.

“Khadi was used as a symbol of homogeneity, absence of status, simplicity and nakedness or uniform clothing,” Nayak writes in The Hindu. “It was the instrument which made the swadeshi movement possible.”

While it was a gesture for the revolutionaries, for Gandhi, it was a

tool to become more accessible to the common man.

“Not only was it Gandhi’s way of symbolising change and roots, but also his way of communicating to the people,” Susan S Bean writes in the book Modern Indian History and Mahatma Gandhi.

“[Gandhi] used his appearance to communicate his most important messages in a form comprehensible to all Indians,” she writes. Through his clothing, Gandhi “….communicated the dignity of poverty, the dignity of labor, the equality of all Indians, and the greatness of Indian civilisation….the communicative power of costume transcended the limitations of language in multilingual and illiterate India.”

Another symbolisation of the khadi revolution was the empowerment and emancipation of women. Making khadi spinning a source of income for thousands of villagers meant making the women empowered as well.

“The khadi industry would not just utilise and harness the potential of lakhs of women but also bring them out from the boundaries of the household to the mainstream of political struggle,” writes Nayak.

In fact, in 1940, when 2,75,146 villagers, including 19,645 Harijans and 57,378 Muslims, scattered in at least 13,451 villages, received, as spinners, weavers equivalent of Rs. 34,85,609, most of the recipients were women. One can only imagine how vastly it shifted the gender dynamics in both

the economic and social contexts after such a revolutionary change.

The mill that spins today Today, close to a century later, the mills of khadi spin on – and khadi as a fashion statement has made a reemergence in the past decade in India.

“Nowadays, there’s a lot of blend of khadi in the fashion industry,” says Roopali, who studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology and taught there for six years. “There are exclusive outlets opening up and it’s becoming huge. Fashion shows are being opened by designers that encourage students to use this Indian fabric.”

In the last few decades, India has had a very strong awakening of its own identity – with Bollywood and butter chicken making their way across to different continents and countries.

Khadi, what Roopali and many other Indians refer to as the “national fabric” of India, is catching up to this sense of awakening of identities. It is remerging as an Indian identity – through a different, subtler revolution – a revolution in the fashion industry. Maybe this time, it will resonate with a different generation, a different times, and will have newer stories to stitch – but the root of it will always tell the story of how a piece of fabric defined the identity of a nation. n

How a piece of fabric stitched the identity of a nation, and empowered India to stand up against British rule Syeda Samira Sadeque

Khadi: spinning revolutions for a century

Photo: Bigstock


misTy morNiNG | PhOTO STOry 9

Photos: Syed Zakir Hossain

It’s that time of year again, when the morning air brings with it that crisp winter chill from the North and farmers take advantage of the dryness of the season to prepare the land for new crops. This week, join us on a trip to Baikkar Bil, a Haor region in Srimangal, during one of those beautiful winter mornings – complete with pearly dewdrops on blades of grass and a light, smoky mist enveloping the green fields and hazily blending with the horizon.

A winter welcome


10 PhOTO STOry | misTy morNiNG


11


12 INTErvIEw | GhaliB islam

Tete-a-tete with Ghalib IslamN Anita Amreen

1001 nights now

One look at Ghalib Islam and it’s hard to believe this 32 year old is Toronto’s next big literary star. Slim-

framed and slight of build, clad in dark skinny jeans that hugged his ankles, revealing scuffy blue converse shoes. He wore a white shirt that was anything but basic, with a light smattering of polka dots, the collar secured with a tightly fit top button. Describing his sense of style as a “preclusion to punk,” he believes he “never quite gets there” but gives it a try anyway.

As he slowly prowled through the

host of stalls at Dhaka Lit Fest, from afar, he could have been just about anyone. A wandering student, a lit fest enthusiast, a young twenty-something on the look out for a day out. Had it not been for the VIP pass hanging around his neck, it was difficult to set him apart as one of the speakers at DLF – one who was there to launch his debut novel Fire in the Unnameable Country. As a book that explores existential themes in a post-apocalyptic setting, Islam’s debut garnered major international buzz for its originality. Margaret Atwood, his mentor and a Canadian

I want to know how Bangladesh can represent itself in this moment, at this event – does it? I’m interested in that and also I’m interested to see how Bangladesh presents itself as the voice of the south now

Photos: Mahmud Hossain Opu


13

poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist, described the book to be the “1001 Nights of its time – rooms opening into rooms, stories into stories, in the same literary mansion as Calvino, Burroughs, and other metafabulist satirists: horrifying, funny, written in a language all its own.”

Catching up with him for a brief chat prior to his session at DLF, there seemed to be more questions that came my way then that went his. Revealing keen interest and a single minded curiosity about Bangladesh, he inquired about DLF, asked if there are any more literary events and wondered if it would be possible to have free internet connectivity around Bangladesh.

“What I’m trying to understand is that what this sort of crowd or mass or what collective iteration is represented in this space. I want to know how Bangladesh can represent itself in this moment, at this event – does it? I’m interested in that and also I’m interested to see how Bangladesh presents itself as the voice of the south now. So for me, this is an extremely important political moment as well,” he explained, his eyes flitting from one point to another.

Migrating to Canada at the age of seven, he pursued a bachelor’s degree and an MA in creative writing from the University of Toronto. Set to stay in Bangladesh for a month, the introspective Islam sat there gathering his thoughts and making short but copious notes for his session. When asked about what he was looking forward to the most, he said: “I want to have just a space in which to consider my next work. Want to be able to consider that and be able to attend other festivals, perhaps?”

“I’m trying to prepare for my talk. I’ve got a few theoretical notes but also trying to sort of station short stories in relation to the theory and

trying to understand how I can relate both through a unified artistry. I’m sort of concentrating more on my presentation now.” Soft spoken and shy, the conversation was punctuated with several pauses and thoughtful answers.

In a world of his ownAs a writer who’s able to produce the greatest number of words when surrounded by books or a library, Ghalib loves writing in local public and university libraries. When writing Fire in the Unnameable Country, he spent a number of days holed up at home, blocking out the world, dishing out up to 10,000 words during that span of time. Cutting off all contact with friends and the outside world, he trudged on, unwilling to let go of at least one chance at a writing career.

Spending nearly a decade writing this book, Islam is someone who’s quite self contained and in his own world. On the topic of pet peeves, he says he is “so self absorbed and solitary” that it’s sometimes his own extensions into the environment that bother him. Constantly on the look out to learn more, write more and read more, he seems like the type of person who is incapable of dislike. When asked about one book he wished was burnt, his immediate response was, “I don’t wish any book was burnt. I like to preserve books for the sake of history, even if you don’t want to read them now you can read them later.” Lit savvy but tech challenged “What’s an iOS?” peering through his large rimmed glasses, he asked, confused. Despite his interest in Bangladesh’s technological possibilities and his wish for Bangladesh to develop it’s own smartphone, Ghalib doesn’t know whether he uses an iOS or an Android phone. With a nervous smile, he reached for his phone to check. “I wouldn’t know the difference between

the two,” he admitted with a shy smile.Interestingly, the last book Ghalib

read was A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia by Gilles Deleuze, a book he read to “understand how modern technical society pieces various arenas and levels of existence that are difficult to unite.” As a writer who takes keen interest in subjects he feels curious to learn more about, he remains quite self contained. When asked about items he has crossed off his bucket list, he asked “On my what?”, confused but curious. After a brief explanation, he smiled and said, “I don’t have a bucket list.” As for skills he wish he had, Ghalib had one of the most interesting responses. Softly shaking his head from side to side, he smiled and said, “I don’t know..I don’t know.” After a short pause he realised there was no such skill he wishes he had.

Not a believer of free will or destiny, Ghalib believes “in the rights of self determination, in the fight for free

will that requires a certain faith in democratic exchange.” Planning a month long stay in Bangladesh, the young author wants to find out more about the country, spend some time exploring the literary environment and would like to also find out if it would be possible for him to one day have a talk at the local Ekushey February programme.

The Toronto Life’s review of his book termed it “as one of the buzziest novels of the season.” His complex book has gotten a fair amount of positive reviews, putting him up in the list of promising writers of the year.

“Some readers may suffer from altitude sickness in the thin air over the unnameable country while others will enjoy the view and recognize in their distance from earth something of our own alienated, postmillennial condition. Either way, expect a bumpy, exhilarating ride,” reads a review by Toronto’s The Star, Canada’s largest online news site. n


14 FOCuS | haor-Dwellers

Hanging in the balance

In the north eastern parts of Bangladesh lies the haors – a wetland ecosystem consisting mainly of low-lying swamplands.

Much of the land is submerged almost half the year, creating unique islands that are constantly at risk of being affected by flash floods that can, within a day, bring the river to the doorsteps of its inhabitants. One might wonder why these people continue to live on these high-risk land masses, but once you visit the haors, you come to understand the importance they place on preserving the homesteads and memories they have inherited through generations, despite the risks that come with them.

The curious climate of the haorsThe haors exist within an extremely delicate environment – on one hand, the flash floods threaten to submerge the land, but the sand deposited by the same floods can end up drying the pockets of water (bil) that create the perfect ecosystems for fish to thrive in. One does not see the endless shoals of rani, ayr, pabda, chital, koi, magur

and rita fish that used to populate these waters, thus exposing the haor inhabitants to a much greater danger than before, since most of them depend on harvesting fish to survive – a source of income that is dwindling fast.

The siltation in the bils is also reducing the number of borun, chaila and jarul trees on the haors, although the hijal-karosh trees still continue to survive. The karosh trees in these areas are a curious structural anomaly – unlike the usual trunk above and root below feature of a standard tree, the roots of this special tree can spread far above the ground and around the tree in order to garner enough nutrition for it to grow.

The multiple uses of the karosh make it an integral part of the lives of haor inhabitants. Its wood provides them with fuel in the dry season and during the months of rain, when the trees become submerged in floods, the karosh tree acts as shelter to shoals of fish – making it an ideal place for fishermen to find their catch of the day. When the flash floods crash on to the shores of the haor, rows of karosh can even work as a

dam and protect the haor-dwellers from the rising waters.

Drifting on land yet landlessGovernment organisations and NGOs have been working to develop the haor areas, but there have been very few positive changes in the lives of its inhabitants. Once, you could go fishing anywhere on the haors but over time, the rights of property have been forced upon the freshwater bils and surrounding lands. The haors are now in the clutches of the powerful who have used their influence to grab the land, although according to the law, they should have been the property of the fishermen community.

It has come to a state where even if the overflowing water reaches the courtyards of the haor inhabitants, the fish in these waters are considered the property of the lease-owner. Despite the hardships faced by the families who dwell in that harsh environment, the lease-owners’ cohorts will snatch the fish from right under their noses. The haors no longer belong to the fishermen.

There are now only land-owners and labourers, and the fishermen have to sell their labour at whatever price the owners see fit, with little or no room for negotiation.

Coupled with the harshness of the haor climate, these inequalities and master-labourer relations have only made life worse. What is needed for the development of haors is for children to go to school, and an efficient system of networks by boat to make school attendance a reality. They need proper sanitation facilities, safe drinking water and primary care facilities in some of the most inaccessible areas of the country, as well as new and innovative methods to ensure food security. And what they need the most is alternative sources of income in the face of dwindling

The trials and tribulations of life in the haor regions of BangladeshSyed Tafhim and Shuprova Tasneem

Photo: Syed Tafhim


Photo: Syed Tafhim

fish populations and high risk of flash floods.

Effective development strategiesThe establishment of the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Board proves that the government is aware of these problems, but is this Board enough? The authorities need to focus on a proper budget for the Board, as well as come up with effective strategies for implementation. In the run-up to the COP21 in Paris, there has been a lot of debate on greater energy efficiency and conservation in Bangladesh, and there are hopes of receiving grants from the climate change fund. However, it is imperative to use these funds to not only mitigate the effects of climate

change and improve infrastructure, but to invest on social safety nets and services and reduce the vulnerabilities faced by haor-dwellers.

Even then, development services are not enough – the rule of law and just distribution of property rights in the haor areas are necessary to ensure that its inhabitants are not at the mercy of powerful landowners. If these unjust relations of power are not tackled immediately, it might not be possible for future generations to subsist on the haors, and we will all be to blame for ignoring one of the most marginalised communities in the country. Until then, the haor-dwellers will continue their struggle to survive on the harsh terrains – building and rebuilding

their homes, harvesting fish and paddy and laying down their roots deep into the shfting lands, refusing to be made exiles of the harsh climate, much like the resilient karosh trees. n

Photo: Syed Tafhim

15

Photo: Ripon Achariya

Photo: Ripon Achariya


16 LEGaLESE | jeNNifer ashraf

I am a business proprietor and had applied for a massive loan to sustain my business a few years

back. All the correct documentation was established and I was a consistent re-payer, giving the financial institution no reason for complaint. Over the last two years, however, owing to the constant political upheaval and associated economy issues, my business has taken a nosedive and I have been unable to sustain the repayment obligations. The financial institution sent me several letter reminders, followed by legal notices but, despite my best intentions, I was unable to deposit any payments. They have now initiated a money suit against me. Can you please advise about the different stages of the proceedings that I can expect?

Dear Reader,Firstly, thank you for writing in to us. Secondly, I’m truly sorry to hear about your business and

the financial situation. Times are hard indeed and the political mess has meant that our growing economy took quite a blow as well. You introduced yourself as a business proprietor, so I am assuming that your business is a sole proprietorship i.e. you are the sole owner. Unfortunately a sole proprietorship would not be able to avail the advantages available to a company in a similar situation such as this, i.e. it would not be recognised as a ‘separate legal entity’, which would further mean that you will be solely held accountable for the liabilities of the business.

Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate

Q

AIllustration: Syed Rashad Imam Tonmoy/Dhaka Tribune

Matters regarding recovery of loans by financial institutions are covered by the Artha Rin Adalat Ain Money Loan Court Act) in Bangladesh. Please note that, these matters are regarded as matters of civil nature. The loan-receiver cannot file a case against the financial institutions under the aforementioned law. All the matters under this statute, as long as it is regarding recovery of loans by financial institutions, has to be entertained by Artha Rin Adalat of the relevant district.

If any property is given in mortgage or pledge or lien before filing the plaint, the financial institution has to sell the property and adjust the loan or has to fail after trying to sell the property. You mentioned that all the documentation was drawn up correctly, so I am assuming that the bank/financial institution took due care in ensuring that a mortgage was secured. The contents that are to be included within the plaint and the relevant formalities

to be followed are mentioned within the Artha Rin Adalat Ain itself. This plaint, supported by affidavit will be counted as substantial evidence and the court, in case of default or summary judgement, can give order or judgement by solely relying on the plaint without examining any witness.

The court will also issue a summon in your name and you will have to appear before the court as a defendant. If the parties are not at issue on any question of law or fact, irrespective of their presence or absence at court, the court may at once pronounce judgement or order if it appears to the court upon scrutinising the plaint and written statements. If the defendant admits the statement of the plaint whether by written statement or any other way, the court can at once pronounce judgment or order by ignoring other pending issues awaiting to be disposed of. It is therefore your prerogative to decide whether you want to put forward a

defence. However, judging by the facts provided, this matter seems straightforward and it is likely that the financial institution will be deemed to be on a stronger footing in this case. The decree given by court is to be counted as final decree in all respects, except in case of mortgage suit for foreclosure of immovable property. This decree will become a final decree after the auction sale of the immovable property.

Based on the above, I would recommend that you start preparing your affairs in order and wait for the inevitable. I realise this may not be the answer you were looking for but, whilst I empathise with your situations, the law against loan defaulters is pretty strong and I do not want to give you false hope. Perhaps if you got in touch earlier, this may have been salvageable. I wish you the very best in your future endeavours. n

Loan default


DiNa soBhaN | TOuGh LOvE 17

Dangerous territoryDear Dina, My boyfriend of five years and I recently ended our relationship fairly amicably and are on

civil terms with one another. The thing is, over the past five years, we’ve accumulated several mutual friends, and we’re even friendly with each other’s family. Is there some kind of accepted protocol for this kind of breakup? Please help us navigate the uncharted territory between coupledom to friends with history.

Dear Magellan,You’re not chartering shark-infested waters here, so your problem is a moot

one. Had your break up been less than amicable, you might have had a battle in your hands. Your friends would have had to go through hand-wringing bouts of tension at the dawn of every new day about who to invite to their afternoon hang at Crap O Lay, and your mother would have wept herself to sleep every night about the son-in-law who got away and the spinster daughter sponging off their retirement funds and ruining their plans for that Nile cruise they were hoping to take next year. Well, the latter probably still holds true…

However, you have no cause for concern because trouble only arises when the couple in question has a nasty split and spends the post-break up period torturing all their friends and family with postmortem reports of slut sightings and past transgressions. If you two are cool with each other, there is no need for ‘protocol’ of any kind. I would avoid planned picnics and immediately introducing new paramours to one another, but otherwise you’re good to go.

Dear Dina, I am a woman in my late 40’s, staring middle age in the eye and ready to embrace this new phase in my life.

My husband, a handsome man, used to turning heads, doesn’t seem to be faring so well. He has always been nonchalantly well-groomed, but not vain. However, recently he has been obsessed with his looks, spending more time in the gym, fussing over his diet and horror of horrors – using up all my skincare products. I can handle his new phobia of being photographed or tagged in candid shots and even his reluctance to step out of the house on bad hair days, but the poaching of my creams and masks is the last straw. How do I boost his fragile self-esteem and save my cosmetics?

I’m heartened to hear that you are embracing your wrinkles and expanding waistline with a grace that your husband has

apparently not managed to summon. I, too, am pleased to know that your concern lies not with his midlife crisis but with your diminishing toiletry supply. I would like to point out that once your fair and lovely stash has been spent your hubby might actually go find his own supply, and she will undoubtedly be more sensitive to his needs than you are presently. As tedious as it may be, pay a little extra attention to your man, cook him a nice meal, and put on that chiffon sari you usually save for events that you actually enjoy attending. Let your delicate flower know that his hairy

ears and protruding paunch are not as heinous as they may appear, rather lending him a latter-day Brando-like charm. Massage his shoulders and his ego by telling him what he wants to hear: that he’s still as spectacular as he was when you first met and that you admire his desire to stay healthy and active and concentrate on the less superficial aspects of aging through the betterment of his mind and body. And if all that fails, buy him his own line of Clinique Men supplies and call it a day.n

Q

Q

A

A

Dina Sobhan is a free-lance writer, a part-time counsellor and a full-time mom

Illustration: Syed Rashad Imam Tonmoy/Dhaka Tribune


18 STay IN

S u d o k uUse the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

Last week’s sudoku solutions

ACROSS5 Partly cover, like a thirsty cat might (7)6 Sat back in quiet hide (5)9 So bride changes, take off dress (7)

DOWN1 Beer jump (3)2 Sit up in hollow for medic (7)3 New owl gags for Northern city (7)4 Imitate pea soup (3)7 Sounds like a debt poem (3)8 Fix fabric of close weave (3)

Last

wee

k’s

solu

tion

s

aCROss1 Rodent in pastry for seagoing rogues (7)4 Write back with song for heavenly body (7) 6 No time for dead nut, unfortunately (7)7 New lace run provided a kind of energy (7)

DOwN1 Emperor for example, or publisher (7)2 Quick attack around platoon leader (5)3 After first of September, banker not fat (7)5 Free iTune, strangely (5)

Clues

Solved it? Email answers to [email protected] and win one free month of the Dhaka Tribune.

Mini crypticsho

rosc

opes

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19): What does it mean when we say ‘you can’t have too much of a good thing’? Does it mean you can’t be too content at once? Or does it mean you have to balance out being happy and have to anticipate the worst whilst enjoying the best moment in front of you? Well we’ll leave that to you while you enjoy having your cake and eating it too.

Taurus (Apr 20-May20): Your finances are way out of control and if you happen to find a penny just by chance, pick it up and here’s hoping for the next year you’ll have better chances at numbers. As far as this year is concerned you’ve had money on your mind all year round and boy has it had a good time slipping out of your pockets.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): Be on the look out this week for the perfect twin, ‘cause you’ll be projecting exactly what that your

twin will be. In other words you will drain energies from just about anyone you want to be it positive or negative, so be very very careful Gemini with who you connect with.

Cancer (June 21-Jul22): It may be hard but try to focus as much as you can this week at work without the help of social media sites. Try to distract yourself with something else like online video games or songs from off of youtube.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22): So we hear when it comes to putting up a first impression on a prospective paramour the devil really is in the details. Keep the conversations light and short but mysterious and edgy, dress nice and smart and be yourself unless of course you can’t tone down the beast then we suggest be a little more human.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): Here’s the universal truth: people talk, so let them and don’t let what they say get to you or others around you. What people say rarely matters what you say and think always matters and that it what’s important.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): Sensitivity is a gift and honing it is a skill that takes years to master. In order to survive in the world one must

have it and some great leaders are usually born with it; however the absence of it can also sometimes mean that you’re someone who is more straightforward and upright. Which can be a good thing but not all the time.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): It is beginning to get cold around here, remember to keep warm and take shelter from the cold. After all it is only you who will be there to look after yourself and no one else but you.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21): Almost the end of the year which means it’s almost the end of time for relaxing and time to get up and get going and start fresh. Get a hold of life by the hand, let your hair brush against the strokes of the cool wind and welcome another chapter written by you.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan19): Hard work has just begun and it will keep you busy for a long time coming now.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18): Ready to close the curtains, dim the lights, lie down and finally read that book for leisure?

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20): After a swim across the currents be sure to stick to your plans and do what you love.


GO OuT 19

Weekly Planner Dec 01-10Exhibition | Theory of ColorsWhen 5-8pmWhere EMK Center, House 5, Road 16 (New) 27 (Old), 9th Floor, Midas Center, DhanmondiWhat The series exhibits a binary elucidation of colour through the means of superimposition and distinct grid symmetry while paying homage to abstract expressionism of the 40s New York movement. While some of the photographs have been published in Vogue and Mess Magazine, most of them are unpublished work and only have only been exhibited in Copenhagen earlier this year. The sole goal of this project is to blur the lines between fashion and art; street and fashion photography and ultimately move into the bright area of fashion where it is not just about the clothes or the location or the model, but about the creative process and the feeling it induces on the naked eye. The Theory of Colors is ultimately an homage to the sense of aesthetic that refuses to fall into any specific frame of evaluation or medium while remaining consistently within it’s

own parameter. It is a dissection of deconstruction and a reconstruction of constructivist philosophical attributes that have governed our sense of aesthetics both through the means of architecture and through the means of fashion.

Dec 4Music | Mobassher Choudhury @ The Stage, DhanmondiWhen 7pm Where The Stage, House: 74, Road: 5/A, 2nd floor, Dhanmondi R/AWhat Mobassher Choudhury, from the band, Old School will be performing all his hits at The Stage at Dhanmondi on December 4.

This show is free for all. Music lovers are advised to bring friends/family to enjoy a wide range of Bangla songs.

Dec 5Culture | EMK Happy Hour: Women of Heart and MindWhen 7 pmWhere EMK Center, House 5, Road 16 (New) 27 (Old), 9th Floor, Midas Center, DhanmondiWhat EMK Happy Hour is an

EMK initiative to feature established individuals or groups in arts, culture and performances. This time EMK Happy Hour – Women of Heart and Mind, will feature 10 songs, both in Bangla and English, performed by three female singer songwriters and guitar/ukulele/dotara players. Sharmee Hossain, Maha Mirza and Warda Ashraf accompanied by short, profound poets, that will take the audience through an intimate journey inside the different crevices of a woman’s experiences. Besides the original tracks by the performers, the show will feature songs by inspirational women singer songwriters from around the world like Moushumi Bhowmik and Joni Mitchell.

The event is open for all. Tickets will be available at the EMK Center before the event at only Tk100.

Dec 5Photography | 34th TTL Photo AddaWhen 3-6pmWhere Counter Foto, Uttara Campus, 29 Gareeb-e-Newaz Avenue, Sector 13, Uttara

What Through The Lens is organising the 34th TTL Photo Adda. Photo Adda is an open discussion regarding photography. This is a great platform for the photographers to show individual work or photo series to others and get opinions from the experienced photographers. Here everyone can discuss, ask questions or generally debate anything related to photography or imaging techniques.

Anyone can participate. Interested photographers are highly encouraged to come with 5 individual photos maximum or photo story/series with maximum of 10 photos. No one should take the discussion/criticism personally. Photograph which creates most impact (not the best photo) among the participants will be crowned Photo of Photo Adda title and the photographer will get a TTL souvenir.

For more information please contact: 01711507894, 01672503850, 01713426518

Dec 10-12Culture | Dhaka Comicon 2015 - Beyond Borders

Dec 4Music | Indalo: The Takeoff Concert

When 11am-8pmWhere Jamuna Future Park, BaridharaWhat Dhaka Comicon returns for the fourth time. And this year with an international contingent arriving, it is time to get ready to be part of an experience beyond borders. With over 80,000 square feet of space to play host to thousands, the entire 5th floor main atrium would be hosts to DCC’15. Dhaka Comicon Beyond Borders will be a crossover event where locals will get to meet cosplayers, fans and distributors from different parts of the world.

Cosplay Competition – join the event dressed as your favourite character and bring them to life. Pre-register at our site for free. Registration at the venue on the event days can also be done for a nominal fee.

Submit artwork – This year’s

themes would revolve around Star Wars, Captain America: Civil War, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Suicide Squad

Also there will be action figure photography competition, artist’s corner, collectors’ exhibitions, themed corners, and vendor booths which will be selling tons of pop culture merchandise.

All Registered Participants must wait for email approval from the Dhaka Comicon Panel.

One day pass is Tk200, and special three day pass is Tk500. Passes will be available for purchase at the venue.

Tickets will also be available for pre purchase online via bikroy.com and can be delivered to your doorstep for a charge and at different locations. n

When 5:30-8:30pmWhere Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium (KIB), Krishi Khamar Sharak, Farmgate (Opposite of Islamia Eye Hospital) What Indalo’s solo concert after the release of their debut album, Kokhon Kibhabe Ekhane Ke Jane, organised by LiveSquare Entertainment.

Radio Foorti is the radio partner for the event while Dhaka Tribune is the media partner of this event.

Tickets and limited edition posters are available at Tk500, at:

Just Juice | Gulshan 2Dhaka Republic | Gulshan

AvenueDhaka Republic | UttaraThe Upstairs Lounge and Bistro

| BananiCoentro | BaddaCilantro | DhanmondiOnline Tickets at Tk525

(inclusive of all bank charges and other service charges) http://shop.thelivesquare.com/product/indalo-the-takeoff-concert

For more information please contact: 01716111111


As soon as Jellybean was fed, she immediately fell asleep. This amazing feat was very akin to our Friday afternoon

siesta, where we often passed out after a heavy lunch. I cradled the little sleeping head and watched on as her tiny pink mouth twisted into a deep yawn.

The Husband peered into the room a while after, still dressed in a blue hospital gown and cap. He sat on the bed and took his daughter into his arms for the first time. She looked so soft and vulnerable in his gigantic hands, and The Husband just smiled at her, and then at me, unsure of what correct emotion to display. I laughed and told him to relax and enjoy the moment. He kept cooing at how small she was, and how he could carry her entire body in one arm. I told him to lay off the heroics and just quietly bond with Jellybean.

The nurses came and took her away to the nursery, after which they made me more comfortable on the bed. It was then that I realized how tired I really was. I slipped into a mute exhaustion, while The Husband chatted with my mother who had come to check up on me. Then there was a knock on the door before my in-laws flooded in, all smiles and shaking with excitement. They looked around for the baby and a nurse informed us that they would bring Jellybean back in a bit. My brother-in-law had brought me some chocolate, and I realized I was famished, but with no energy to eat anything. My in-laws planned about which and how many kilos of sweets they would have to distribute the next day, and argued over whether biriyani was a better offering or not. They fell into a hushed silence as soon as there was another knock on the door.

The nurse wheeled a sleeping Jellybean in, and as soon as she reached my bed, her eyes shot open and she stared at the throng of smiling faces now hovering above her. She looked inexplicably annoyed at first but then curiosity overtook her, as she

opened her eyes wide and looked from face to face. My mom-in-law exclaimed at how alert she was for a few hours old baby and unable to hold back their eagerness, everyone rushed to douse themselves with hand sanitizer.

Meanwhile my dad-in-law returned from performing wudu and discreetly called out the azaan in Jellybean’s ear. There was a silent debate as to who would pick her up first, and of course the honour went to my dad-in-law, and then my mom-in-law, and subsequently everyone else. They ooed and aahed and showed great restraint as they were strictly forbidden to smother her in kisses.

Jellybean was returned to the nursery and I was transferred to a cabin. There were flowers and cakes waiting for me in the room and lunch as well. I tried to eat as much as I could but the tiredness got the better of me. I just wanted to sleep but the room was filled with my parents and in-laws chatting and gushing over Jellybean.

And then someone asked the inevitable question, “What are you going to name her?”

After a pause, I replied with my

name of choice. There were murmurs of assent amongst the elders while my brother-in-law loudly enunciated to make sure he said it right. The nurse came in with some forms for Jellybeans birth certificate, and as I wrote out her

full name,

became very

conscious of the fact that

Jellybean’s existence was now official. She had

a document to her name, and an identity. Just a few hours

ago she was known as “Baby of So and So”, and now she was referred to by her name. So cool!

My in-laws left after a while and I was finally left alone to sleep, whilst The Husband went to his office to distribute sweets. In the evening some friends stopped by for a visit and had brought presents and flowers. Finally by dinner time everyone had left, and while The Husband watched TV, I fell asleep.

I was woken up a few hours later by a nurse, while another one wheeled in Jellybean. Groggy and half-asleep, I fed her and passed out again. This happened a few more times during the night and I had an inkling of what the next couple of months were going to be like – tired, sleep-deprived, and semi-

conscious.The next morning The Husband

helped me go take a shower. I was so afraid of what might happen if I had bowel movement that I refused to sit on the loo. I felt much better after my shower and proceeded to consume a bland breakfast of bread with watery milk.

Jellybean came in for a feeding, and I was taken to the nursery where

I was shown how to bathe, clean her, and change diapers. The nurses were very particular about keeping the clamped umbilical cord clean until it dried and fell off. They also taught me how to position the baby during

feedings so that the flow is good. Feeding Jellybean was like meditation

to me. I would stare at her tiny face the entire time and watch her fall asleep every ten minutes and then I would gently rub behind a petal-like ear and immediately she would “restart”!

I was scheduled to leave that afternoon and after lunch Jellybean was brought in, and I changed her out of the hospital clothes and put on what we had brought for her. I nervously eased teeny arms and legs into a onesie, hat, socks and mittens. I practiced swaddling her and till date, The Husband has turned out to be the best at this. He was an expert at folding things and would deftly swaddle Jellybean into a tight momo-shaped bundle. My in-laws arrived and we carefully carried Jellybean to the awaiting car. n

20 ThE BONG MOMMa | Tales from a firsT-Time mom

The family meets Jellybean for the first time! Minu Ahmed

Minu Ahmed is your not-so-average homemaker, norm-shirker and abomination of awesomeness, juggling a career in communication, mother- hood and a fatter half. Questions? Send to [email protected]

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Meet the family

weekend tribune vol 3 issue 32

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