| vo l 2 I ssu e 20 | F R I D AY, se pte m b e r 26, 2014
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Who is Durga?
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Your ticket to space
17 Vegetarianism
CONTENTS
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Volume 2 | Issue 20 | September 26, 2014 Editor Zafar Sobhan
News
Executive Editor Shahriar Karim
2 News
Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder
3 Meanwhile
Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
Features
Assistant Magazine Editor Rumana Habib Weekend Tribune Team Tasnuva Amin Nova Mark S Baidya Farhana Urmee Farina Noireet Faisal Mahmud Ishrat Jahan Sabrina Toppa Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo
4 Top 10 Heroines from myth 5 Origin story Who is Durga?
9 Photo story
6 Standpoint Young and female in Dhaka 8 Feature Sculpting Durga 12 Feature Your ticket to space 17 Foodie Vegetarianism
10 days of Durga Puja
20 Interview Murtaja Baseer
Contributors Rajib Bhowmick Sharmin Choudhury Shadman Hasan Tausif Sanzum Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique Dina Sobhan
Regulars 16 Tough Love 18 Stay In
Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Alamgir Hossain Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com
the cover
Vibrant in vermillion, this woman is fully enjoying Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja, when married women dressed like devis. This photo was taken last year.
Photo: Sharmin Choudhury
19 Go Out
14 Parenting
Raise a good man
Editor’s note
Devi H
ow do you make a goddess? Sugar and spice have little to do with it. We learn the ingredients (including soil from a brothel) from master sculptor Horipada Pal (pg 8), and meet the top 10 mythical minxes who had the right stuff (pg 4), including of course Durga. Durga Puja is here. Get to know the very Bangali devi (pg 5), and witness the 10 days of electrifying festivity (pg 9-11) that commemorate her annual visit to earth, and her return to the heavens. Ready for your own celestial journey? Apply for a chance to win a trip of a lifetime to outerspace. Yes, really. (pg 12).
Meanwhile, the young ladies on the ground tell us what it’s like to navigate Dhaka city as a woman (pg 6-7). Parents can make it easier on them, with our ten tips on talking to teenage sons about how to respect the ladies in their lives (pg 14-15). The artist Murtaja Baseer certainly does, as women are the subject of almost all his work. (pg 20) Next week is Eid-ul Adha. Perhaps it’s a good time to give vegetarianism a try? (pg 17). Sharodiyo subhheccha everyone. - Rumana Habib
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2 News | This week
The world at a glance
Hok Kolorob: Students across India protest assault inaction
Weekend Tribune Desk US and allies bomb Syria for the first time
The United States and its Arab allies bombed Syria for the first time on Tuesday, killing scores of Islamic State fighters and members of a separate al Qaeda-linked group, opening a new front against militants by joining Syria’s three-year-old civil war. Israel shot down a Syrian warplane on Tuesday, saying the aircraft crossed the battle lines of Syria’s civil war and flew over the Israeli-held Golan Heights, perhaps by accident. The incident coincided with but did not appear to be directly related to air strikes by the US and Arab allies.
UN Climate Summit
carbon emissions Hit record high Concentrations of carbon dioxide will surge to a new high in the atmosphere in 2014, scientists announced on Sunday in advance of the UN Climate Summit.
China sentences Muslim Uyghur scholar for separatism
Less than a week after a tightly controlled trial, a Chinese court Tuesday found a prominent Uyghur scholar guilty of separatism and sentenced him to life in prison, his lawyer said. Ilham Tohti, an economics professor at Beijing’s Minzu University, was tried for two days last week at the Intermediate People’s Court in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang. The trial took place in China’s restive western region where a spate of recent violent incidents have been blamed by the government on Muslim Uyghur separatists seeking to establish an independent state.
UK parliament vote to recognise Palestine
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks during the opening session of the UN Climate Change Summit in New York on Tuesday. Photo: AFP The first item on the long list of issues addressed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week was climate change. On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama addressed a group of world leaders at the UN Climate Summit, a one-day meeting hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Leaders of 125 countries met for the summit, which was intended to jumpstart a global pact to cut greenhouse gases and slow down climate change.
In an apparent sign of division between back and front bench MPs in the House of Commons, backbenchers in the United Kingdom have secured a vote for the House to recognise the state of Palestine. The title of the debate is “The future of the two state solution in Israel and Palestine.” The debate will take place on October 13. It will be six hours long and happen in the main chamber. It will be a debate on a substantive motion: “That this House calls on the government to recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel.”
Qatar may not host 2022 World Cup FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger expressed his personal opinion during an interview Monday that the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar, owing to the searing temperatures in the Middle Eastern nation. The tiny Gulf state has also faced multiple accusations of corruption, and questions surrounding the conditions provided for migrant construction workers who would build the new stadiums that would host the games.
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H
ok Kolorob, or “Let there be noise,” is a revolution that started in Jadavpur University and spread like wildfire across India and the rest of the world. It all began when a female student was molested and assaulted on campus a few days ago. The students were outraged by the vice chancellor of Kolkata’s Jadavpur University Abhijit Chakrabarty’s inaction, and complained that he was protecting the culprits instead. Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal, dismissed the entire episode as a “chhoto ghotona” (insignificant event). The #HokKolorob movement is now taking social media by storm as students from across India are expressing their solidarity with Jadavpur University students. The hashtag #hokkolorob on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram shows photos and strong views of the students against the administration. Police and “plain-clothed people” had beaten students who were participating in a sit-in protest against the authorities over the sexual assault
of a woman on August 28. About 100,000 students took to the streets last Saturday demanding the resignation of the VC of Jadavpur University. Students also posted a list of colleges that were going to be a part of the huge protest. Against the backdrop of the protests, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee has sparked off a row by a post on his Facebook page that suggested students are protesting because of the ban on liquor and other illegal substances, and not the molestation. Hok Kolorob was a famous 2006 song by Bangladeshi singer Shayan Chowdhury Arnab, which he composed while he was studying in Shantiniketan in Kolkata. It is now the anthem for the movement, and has been recreated by Rupam Islam, a rock star in Kolkata, in support of the students. The song voices the students’ determination with the words: “Andoloner shuru aacchey, shesh nei” (This movement has a beginning, it has no end). News: Desk. Photo: Facebook
Muhith: New pay scale from July B
angladesh government officials and employees will get salary and other benefits, as per the new pay scale from the first month of the next fiscal year, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has hinted. “I hope the report of the pay commission will be available in December, and if the report is simple, I think it will not take more time for implementation. If the report is complex and needs recasting … it may not be possible to implement this
fiscal year,” he added. However, the finance minister said: “Recommendations of the pay commission will be executed from the next fiscal year if implementation is delayed.” The minister made the disclosure while talking to journalists at his secretariat office after holding a meeting with the delegation of the IMF on Tuesday, reports BSS. News: Dhaka Tribune
meanwhile ... | News
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I AM DHAKA
‘I spend all my days taking care of this house and saying my prayers. When there is time, I watch TV. My children are all grown, and have finished their college education. They live in Kurigram. I live here, with my wife.’ Afzal Hossain, 40, Mohammadpur
Send us your photos about Dhaka and its people. Email your submission with the subject ‘I Am Dhaka’ to weekend@dhakatribune.com
Photo: Fahim Ahmed
Indian reporter sacked for calling Xi Jinping “Eleven”
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n Indian TV news anchor was fired after referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping as "Eleven" Jinping, apparently confusing Xi's name with the Roman numerals XI, a senior official at the state television channel said on Friday. Xi left India on Friday after a visit to boost trade and economic ties that have been marred by a longstanding border dispute. The blooper occurred last Wednesday on a show on the government-owned Doordarshan news channel. "It is an unpardonable mistake," the official told Reuters on the
condition of anonymity, saying the anchor was employed on a casual basis. "We have debarred her from news reading for a few months." The incident comes at a time when Doordarshan news is trying to reinvent itself to compete with private broadcasters. Its programmes are often a matter of public ridicule for their poor production quality. The gaffe led to a wave of sarcastic comments on social media. "The silver lining: At least the anchor knows Roman numerals," Kanika Gahlaut posted on Twitter. News: Reuters
You’re welcome
Wall Street climate protesters land in jail
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bout 100 protesters were arrested on Monday in New York City during a demonstration. It blocked streets near the stock exchange at one point, denouncing what organisers say is Wall Street’s contribution to climate change. The demonstration, called Flood Wall Street, drew hundreds of protesters, and came a day after a
bigger action that brought 310,000 people to the streets of New York, which activists described as the largest protest ever against climate change. The protest group behind Monday’s action has roots in the Occupy Wall Street movement that started in a downtown Manhattan park in 2011 to protest what it called unfair banking practices that serve the wealthiest 1%, leaving behind
99% of Americans. In all, about 100 people were arrested on Monday, including three protesters taken into custody earlier in the day, a police representative said. Protest organisers gave the same estimate for the number of arrests. For several hours on Monday, protesters stopped traffic on Broadway, south of the New York Stock Exchange.
Infograph: Dhaka Tribune
Say what?
Shortly after the close of trading, demonstrators tried to push back metal barricades that police had put up, an effort that ended when police used pepper spray on the crowd. Police ordered protesters to disband, but some core activists staged a sit-in, and police officers handcuffed and walked them away one-by-one. News: Desk. Photo: AP
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4 top 10 | Heroines from myth
Fierce ladies of lore
In honour of Durga, we round up the most influential mythological female characters from cultures around the world – women who symbolise fierceness, love and strength Tausif Sanzum goddess whose name means the clawed butterfly. She is the goddess of purification and rejuvenation and also the patron of the day, mostly prominently, of Cozcuauhtli and Trecena House in the Aztec calendars, which were days dedicated to midwives and women in labour. She ruled over Tamoachan, the area in paradise for victims of infant mortality, and where the human race was created.
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Scheherazade: Leave him hanging
The legendary princess of Persia was the narrator of the One Thousand and One Nights, Scheherazade epitomizes intelligence. Legend has it that Prince Shahryar’s first wife’s infidelity spurred an utter hatred of women, and he decided to marry a new virgin everyday, and behead her before sunrise. Finally when his minister can find no more virgins in the land, his own daughter Scheherazade offers to marry the prince. On their wedding night, she starts narrating a story, and just before the climax, she stops. Eager to know the ending, the prince postpones her execution. This cycle of story telling continues for 1,001 nights, by which time the prince is smitten with his brilliant bride, and lets her live.
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Itzpapalotl: Daily battles In Aztec mythology, she is a fearsome skeletal warrior
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Ng Mui Si Tai: Martial nun
According to Chinese fables, Ng Mui is one of the Shaolin Temple’s “five ancestors,” who escaped the Fujian temple’s burning and destruction. She was a Buddhist nun, credited with the creation of Wing Chun Kuen, a form of Kung Fu suitable particularly for women.
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Blenda: Siren call
A mythical warrior from Småland, a southern province in Sweden. According to legend, the king of the province went to war, taking a majority of men with him. The Danes came to know about the defenceless state of the area and attacked it.
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Valkyrie: Angels of death
According to Norse mythology, the Valkyrie were female helping spirits to Odin. They are depicted as armoured women who flew or rode into battlefields, collecting the spirits of warriors who died valiantly and escorted them to Valhalla, the blissful land of slain soldiers where they would join the ranks of officers in Odin’s army.
Queen Gwendolen: Woman scorned
In British folklore, Queen Gwendolen is the first recorded queen regnant. She was married to Locrinus, with whom he had a son, Maddan. Upon the death of her influential father, Locrinus dumped her for his German mistress. Gwendolen fled to Cornwall, from where she raged a war upon her husband. After he was killed, she took over the throne and ruled for fifteen years until her son came of age. If you are wondering what happened to the German mistress, Gwendolen drowned her along with her illegitimate daughter.
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Blenda, who was of noble descent, took things into her own hands and brought together the women of the village. They threw a grand banquet and seduced the Danes to drink and feast. When they fell asleep, they butchered every last one of them. Talk about femme fatale.
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4. Isis: Holy mother
Isis is one of the oldest and most revered goddesses of Egyptian mythology. Her influence has survived the test of time, and she has a cult following even today. She is considered to be the great mother goddess and is the wife of Osiris, King of the Dead. One myth tells how much difficulty she faced in her attempt to resurrect her husband, who was tricked by Set, god of chaos. Set dissected Osiris’ body and scattered the pieces all across Egypt, which she collected. As the goddess of rebirth and wisdom, Isis is believed to have taught her people to read and carry out agricultural works. She symbolises the highest level of empowerment and femininity.
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Kali: Warrior goddess
Kali is one of the fiercest amongst deities in the world, goddess of creation and destruction. She has four arms, with one hand holding the slayed head of a demon, and the other carrying a sword.
She also symbolises affection for her followers with her other two hands held in a blessing posture. Kali is eternally depicted as a fearsome warrior goddess with obsidian skin, with a garland of bloody human heads around her neck, standing over a man in a pose to strike. In her most famous legend, Kali in her anger, fired by the demons who were wreaking havoc in the mortal world, went on a killing spree, destroying everything in her sight. To stop her, her husband Lord Shiva threw himself on the ground, and when Kali walked over his chest, her tongue fell out in astonishment in recognising him as she was about to kill him, and only then her anger was subdued.
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Athena: Art of war
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Durga: Bangali devi
According to Greek mythology, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, philosophy and strategic warfare. Said to have been born out of Zeus’s forehead, fully grown in an armour, the fierce goddess preferred peace through strategy and treaties rather than all-out conquest and bloodshed. Unlike her half-brother Ares, god of war, she only took part in wars to protect her homeland. Athena was the woman behind heroes such as Perseus and Hercules, but the virgin goddesses never had a consort or lover. see next page ...
who is durga? | origin story
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The Bangali woman inside the Vedic goddess Like a regular Bangali woman, Durga comes to visit her father’s house with her four children – except in her case, she is descending from heaven, and blessing the harvest along the way Rajib Bhowmick
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he Ritoparno Ghosh classic “Antarmahal” ends with an immensely sad song, which is also incredibly Bangali in
spirit. “The whole palace of Giri is emerged into darkness. When will you come again?” It is the lamentation of a father who married off his daughter in a distant land, now eagerly waiting for her annual visit. The worship of Durga is exclusive to Bengal. Other Indian states are not known for worshipping the goddess the way people do here. The rank and file of their deities are comprised mainly of male figures, unlike the Bengal of antiquity, who have many female deities such as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Jagadhhatri, Basanti and Annapurna. Historians say this is because the ancient societies of Bengal were by and large matriarchal.
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Core of strength
Most female Hindu deities are different forms of Shakti. Goddess Shakti, which means power in Sanskrit, is the quintessential female representation in the Vedic world. Because Hindu mythology has gone through transitions over a couple thousand years, the characters have been seen in various lights. In some scriptures, Shakti appears in the form of Kali, the symbol of destruction. She is like chemotherapy: In order to wipe out evil from the face of the earth, she destroys some of the good things as well (see pg 5). Other myth descriptions portray Shakti as Mother Nature, the reason everything has come into existence.
Ma Durga
Nearly a thousand years ago, Bangalis started worshipping Durga, reimagining Shakti as both an embodiment of power and of
and foremost identity is as the wife of Shiva, one of the supreme Hindu trinity. He is also the most widely worshipped Hindu deity in India. Legend says after Shiva’s first wife Sati (another form of Shakti) killed herself, Shiva fell into a thousandyear spell of melancholy and inactivity. Since he plays a crucial role in the destruction and regeneration of the universe, he had to be brought back. So the gods decided to create
motherhood. As the story goes, she descends to the earth from her heavenly abode once every year, and her arrival begins the harvest season – the vegetation bears fruit and the crops start to ripen. Scriptures suggest she had two sons, Karthikeya and Ganesha. But Bangalis also like to imagine that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge,
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The things she carries, and what they mean: 1. Arrow (kinetic energy) 6. Conch shell (Om, or god in the 2. Trident or trishul (three qualities: form of sound) satwa (inactivity), rajas (activity) 7. Trident or trishul (satwa (inactivity), and tamas (non-activity)) rajas (activity) and tamas (non3. Lotus (detachment) activity)) 4. 4 Sword (sharpness of knowledge) 8. Bow (potential energy) 5. Sudarshan chakra (the world is 9. Empty (to bless worshippers) subservient to her will) 10. Club (loyalty and love)
Devoted wife
No matter how matriarchal the society might have been, Durga could never quite be free from the marginalisation that women have faced for thousands of years. Her first
Mortal heart
Born a human, to human parents from earth, Uma has very human qualities and behaviours. Just like a regular Bangali woman, Uma comes to visit her father’s house with her four children – except in her case, she takes the form of the fearsome goddess Durga. Other Bangalis also benefit from her presence. A typical Bangali idol of Durga will always have Mahisasura – the buffalo demon – on the pedestal. For thousands of years, the economy of Bengal was agro-based. The buffalo was always seen as a threat by peasants, since an uncontrolled buffalo tramples and gobbles up nearly-ripe crops in fields. So farmers need Durga to get rid of the Mahisasura.
Shifting seasons
Photo: Bigstock
are also her children.
into single-minded, austere worship of him. Eventually, Shiva becomes impressed by her worship and takes her as his second wife, and they live happily through the ages.
a reincarnation of Sati, embodied in Parvati, aka Uma, daughter of Himalayan King Daksha. Since Uma was born to eventually unite with Shiva, her love for the god was there from birth. She devoted herself to the worship of Shiva from a very tender age, throwing herself
The annual worship of Durga was inspired by the Ramayana, showing the influence of the great Indian epic in this part of the world, and how it shaped the way Bangalis practice their religion. According to the Ramayana, before invading Ravana’s Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, Rama staged an “akal bodhon” of Durga on the banks of the Indian Ocean. Rama’s “akal bodhon,” meaning untimely worship, was done in autumn instead of the usual time of the worship, in spring. This may be have been the first Durga Puja. Many Bangalis also worship Basanti, another form of Durga, in springtime, but the autumn celebration of Durga Puja still takes precedence in our hearts.
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6 standpoint | Young and female in Dhaka
What women don’t want
I try to live so being ‘a woman in Bangladesh’ doesn’t mean anything out of the ordinary. I live like a world citizen, neither man or woman Neda Shakiba tells us how she travels around Dhaka fearlessly on her motorcycle
Tales from all corners of the city on being a woman and its consequences Ishrat Jahan
An everyday battle
Life in Dhaka is something that parents, well-wishers and society prepare women for with a ready-made package of wisdom and values. This often includes teaching a woman to avert her eyes, cover herself and feign ignorance. Being a woman is a dangerous thing in Dhaka, and you have to either keep your silence or fight it, everyday.
“This is what is means to be a woman in Dhaka: • To instinctively cover your chest while sleeping on the bus back to Dhaka from home, because otherwise it’s your fault if that uncle stares at you. • To dress so you blend into your surroundings, because how dare you call attention to yourself. • To walk fast and have your deathstare ready, because obscene noises and lewd gestures are normal, and you “have to accept it” • To have to prove your intelligence in that engineering class every single day, because half the guys will ridicule your for a mistake. • To remind yourself everyday that you’re just as good, because there is that one colleague who’ll make you or your gender the punchline of his joke.” – Sameera Hussain Wadood
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To wear or not to wear
Any woman who has ever taken a walk along the streets of Dhaka will tell you that dressing is a challenge. There is a long list of precautions handed down to a women girl if she chooses to clothe herself in anything that does not include a scarf or has a deep neckline. “Every morning I take out my favourite t-shirt and jeans to wear. But then I hesitate and think of all the people who will stare at me on my way to class, irrespective of age and gender.” – Mashiat Lamisa
Photo: Sadia Marium
Weighty problems Being female also comes with intense beauty expectations, and the world will only smile at you if you make it your duty to fulfil them. “Being big is stigmatised everywhere, so it’s really nothing new. It’s always: ‘Lose weight!’ or ‘Wow, you’re so unattractive.’ No matter how small I make my neckline, a bit of cleavage always makes its way through. And you’d think being quite so ‘disgusting’ to look at would make men avert their eyes – but hey, if they’re not [leering] my body – they’ll be making jokes about my size. Of course, it’s all my fault because obviously I choose to be my size and that’s the biggest crime of all. You’re a woman, how will you find a husband looking like that? How will you have kids? A lot of the time, it’s not the strangers, it’s people you know, people who are otherwise so openminded and kind. It’s something I’ve learnt to ignore at this point, but I see it affecting my parents and my sister.” – Selima
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Being a woman in Dhaka means wearing not what you’re comfortable in but what others are comfortable seeing
Photo: Shadman Hasan
Overparenting It’s just a Joke Whether it’s sexist jokes shot around teastall addas, office cubicles or classrooms, the habit of trivialising these as is a common phenomenon in Dhaka. Somewhere in the thousandyear path of patriarchal society, the word ‘woman’ became the punchline of the joke. The desire to protect is strong for all parents, but it might not always be for the best. Chasing careers involves risks and sacrifices that parents are not always ready to accept. Thus the curfews, constant phone calls and ultimatums come into play as a fight in and out of the home. “Many parents wouldn’t let their daughters go abroad to study without getting her married off first. They start facing pressure to marry from the age of 20, when relatives and family friends start asking why she isn’t married yet. Parents begin to do and say hurtful things, but you can’t really blame them, as social pressure and status are a big deal to them. I personally know women who stay work all the time or out of the house to escape the pressure “ – Ahmed Babar
“I see how most educated guys in my university talk about women. They might not do anything, but when they talk about girls … they tear them apart with words. I’ve lost friendships for not being able to ‘take a joke’. Even the decent guys just ‘go with the flow.’” – Rizia Iqbal Tinni “A male classmate of mine once said: ‘I support feminism, but I don’t see why I can’t stare at boobs. Boobs are awesome and if they’re that big, they’re meant to be stared at.’ I should have roundhouse kicked him in the face, but I couldn’t because every guy was nodding in agreement, and the girls were like, ‘If they don’t cover properly, I guess eyes tend to go there.’ Like really?” – Zahra Mayeesha
If you can make it here …
The fights have not been fought in vain. Beginning at home, on the streets and in the office, the constant battles can leave one exhausted but also exhilarated. “Women in Dhaka have a thing for independence. Independence is the driving force behind the thousands of garment workers we see on the streets, behind every new startup – from online boutiques to cupcake shops to henna artistry to craft stores – all these Facebook ventures are run by women. Women in Dhaka are becoming independent on the streets too. Look at BDCyclists, ask them how many female members they have and you’ll know. Plus I see at least one scooty everyday with a confident woman riding away. More and more women are living all by themselves in Dhaka and that’s a great sign too.” – Mustabeen Quazi
“What comes to mind when I hear ‘Being a woman in Dhaka?’ To be honest, fear and respect. I fear for the women in Dhaka. I respect the women in Dhaka, in all of Bangladesh actually. I fear because of the neverending potential threat they’re under. God knows how many times I’ve wondered what I would have been like if I were female. I respect them because they still manage to face this misogynistic world and battle it head on. It means being a ‘mentally stable and powerfully resilient individual of an oppressed gender.’ Being a woman in Dhaka is a big compliment, because you need to be one of the most courageous and mentally powerful people on Earth.” – Mahdi Azmi
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8 feature | sCulpting Durga
How to make a goddess
Ingredients: a cup of soil from a brothel, a pinch of inspiration and two cups of pure-hearted worship Farhana Urmee
Horipada Pal, at work in his shop
H
oripada Pal, 60, is a sculptor who has devoted his life to making idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. Having inherited this profession from his forefathers, Horipada has been passionately involved in his work since the Pakistan period, and has only grown to love it even more over the years. With Durga Puja just around the corner, his workshop is abuzz with activity and is filled with clay figures of the goddess, her children and many others. As we talk about his work, Alo Rani Haldar, a middle-aged widow, comes looking for an idol of the goddess Monsha, who she claims had appeared to her in a dream. As a devoted Hindu, she wants to
Photos: Farhana Urmee hold a puja in the goddess’ name. One of Horipada’s regular customers, she explains that she holds many pujas on different occasions throughout the year. “Five hundred and one taka, please,” says Horipada Pal, after Alo Rani has had her pick from the finished idols on display. As Hindu devotees, they both believe strongly in avoiding even numbers in business dealings for religion, especially when it comes to purchasing something for a puja. Once he’s done attending to his customer, Horipada diverts his attention back to the unfinished statue he has been working on, giving the bamboo structure a good heave to position it to his liking. As he speaks about his work,
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he muses aloud like a philosopher, while his deft fingers fashion eyes, a nose, and other facial features from a mound of clay. He is an artist who strongly believes that his work comes from within, and that it takes many years of practice to make something universally beautiful. From his workshop-store Shemulia Vashkar Shilpalay in Shankhari Bazar, Horipada creates idols of his beloved gods and goddesses and fashions them with colours, positions and expressions that he says emerge whenever he closes his eyes. He himself carries out all stages of the statue-making. “Who else will understand how I imagined my goddess? Who else can make the perfect balance of the clay statue that I
started to create? Who can give her the expression that I see her wearing when I close my eyes?” The elements used to make the idols include “everything in this beautiful world,” Haripada says. “If you do not include all kinds of people while calling Ma (the goddess), why would she respond to you?” Durga is an inclusive goddess, honouring even those women who are socially marginalised. “Soil from the home of a sex worker or a brothel is crucial in making the idol,” Haripada tells me. The puja is not a mere religious observation with no connection to our world, he explains. Sex workers, who face so much discrimination, were recently forcefully evicted from the brothels in Tangail and Madaripur. The spirit of inclusiveness in this puja is a reminder that sex workers are also an important part of society. Their participation is vital in Bangladesh’s most significant celebration of the Hindu religion. “A society also has a need for brothels,” Horipada says, “since these ensure some order in the society and helps to curb sexual violence. Whether we name them sinners or not, they also pray, and the goddess listens to them.” Hinduism is a religion that evolved from the lifestyle of diverse peoples living together as a singular unit, and it imparts a moral lesson about inclusive coexistence. It has been said Durga idol-makers must use soil from Kolkata, which Horipada flatly denies. “This holy celebration cannot be owned by any territory. I will make Ma from the soil from my own country. These so-called rules only creates divisions among people.” Idols are often adorned with gold jewellery, but Horipada is open-minded about this. “It simply depends on the financial ability of the worshipper. It is actually the beauty in one’s mind and the honesty of confessing one’s misdeeds that truly adorns the goddess in the truest sense.”
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10 days of Durga Puja | Photo story
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Durga’s journey through the land of mortals Tasnuva Amin Nova
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very year during the Bangla month of Ashwin (September-October), the goddess Durga descends from the heavens to the land of mortals. With her along are her four children Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikya. Their arrival is celebrated by devotees through fasts, feasts and worship over a ten-day ceremony. In accordance with the Hindu astrological calendar, puja preparations started with Mahalaya on September 23 before the pandals/mandaps are open to public. Puja celebrations will start with Shasthi on September 30 and continue till October 4. The last four days – Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami – are marked with much gaiety and grandeur among worshippers of the ten-armed Mahishasura Mardini, the slayer of the buffalo-demon. Durga Puja is celebrated with much grandeur in Bangladesh. The vessel on which she arrives and departs changes anually. It’s usually an elephant, a horse, a buffalo, a palanquin or a boat. These symbolise wealth, prosperity, harvest, happiness and health. This year she will come on a boat, symbolising the bringing of a good harvest. She will depart in a palanquin, symbolising the possibility of epidemic. The puja will be celebrated in almost 25,000 puja mandaps across the country this year, of which 205 are in Dhaka, according to Narayan Saha Moni, General Secretary of Dhaka’s Sharbojonin Puja Committee.
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Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
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10 PHoto story | 10 days of Durga Puja
Photo: Mahmud Hossain Opu
Mahalaya: Puja Preparations
(September 23/Ashwin 6 1421) Mahalaya is an auspicious occasion observed seven days before Durga Puja. It’s an invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth: “Jago tumi Jago.” This is done through the chanting of mantras and singing of devotional songs. Puja preparations reach its peak during Mahalaya.
Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
Mahashtami: Kumari puja
Navami: In the name of the goddess
(October 2/Ashwin 15) After performing Puja on the eight day, aarti and pushpanjali are performed. Kumari Puja is done during Ashtami, where young virgin girls are worshipped as manifestations of the Devi. A special puja known as Sandhi Puja is done during the last 24 minutes of Ashtami to the first 24 minutes of Navami, when 108 dias (lamps) are lit continuously as counterpoints to the call of the conch. Durga is then worshipped with various ingredients, before the Navami puja, which is when animal sacrifices are made in some places, to mark the power of the goddess.
(October 3/Ashwin 16) The ninth day is signified by animal sacrifice, or Boli. It involves a goat sacrifice to the Goddess. Later, the meat from the sacrifice is eaten by devotees. Followers of Lord Shiva refrain from animal sacrifices, they offer vegetables like pumpkin as the sacrifice.
Photo: Mahmud Hossain Opu WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 26 , 201 4
Photo: Sharmin Choudhury
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Photo: Sharmin Choudhury
Photo: Sharmin Choudhury
Mahashasthi: Giving life to Uma
Mahasaptami: Public worship
(September 30/Ashwin 13) It is the day Durga Puja begins. It starts off with Devi Bodhan, where Uma (another name for Durga) is unveiled on earth. Drum rolls elevate the spirits. Vedic hymns are chanted from early morning to mark Durga’s presence on earth. She and her children are ornamented with flowers, garlands and new clothes. Idols are first seen inside local pandals during Shasthi. Only vegetarian foods are eaten on this day by some Hindus. Offerings can be made to the goddess in the form of fruit and sweets.
to: Sharmin Choudhury
(October 1/Ashwin 14) Saptami is marked by the bathing of banana trees dressed like a bride (Kala Bou Snan), in the rivers. This is when life is bestowed on the clay idol through a process called Pran Protistha (giving life) and the pushpanjali (public worship) is started. It marks the auspicious moment, again followed by melodious drum beating. There are interesting myths surrounding Kala Bou. Some say she is the bride of Durga’s son Ganesha, and some say she is another counterpart of Durga herself.
Photo: Sharmin Choudhury
Dashami: Devi’s departure (October 4/Ashwin 17) Puja ends with Dashami, when the idol is worshipped by Bangali married women for the last time. She is immersed in vermillion and sweets. There is a fond farewell by the ladies of the house, with vermilion and sweets as well as tears for the impending separation. The Durga sculpture is led ceremoniously to the river banks, and immersed into the water. It is time for Durga to journey back to her husband, Lord Shiva, on Mt Kailash.
Photo: Mahmud Hossain Opu
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12 feature | Your ticket to space
Reach for the sky Travel to outerspace is no longer limited to astronauts, film heroes and the filthy rich, thanks to the Buckminster Fuller Institute’s Spaceship Earth Grants Faisal Mahmud
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here do astronauts keep their sandwiches? In a launch box! If you don’t get the punch line, don’t worry, you will soon. Space jokes may not be esoteric much longer. The childhood dream of being an astronaut and taking a trip into space is now within our grasp, as a new astronaut-led, private space flight training group plans to send regular people like you and me to space. Spaceship Earth Grants (SEG), a US public-benefit organisation and affiliate of the Buckminster Fuller Institute, has launched a contest to give away one space flight for every 50,000 applications it receives.
You are not alone A zero gravity training centre in the US SEG will increase the ratio of awards per applications as the number of applicants grows. “This contest actually increases the number of winners as more people apply and engage,” SEG officials said. “And we will do this contest more than once. This is a long term effort aimed at making the experience of space travel possible, for as many people as possible,” said the official.
Star council
With a judging panel that includes
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former NASA astronauts, industry experts and space enthusiasts, this new program aims to be a crowddriven and crowd-funded effort to send private citizens into space. Bangladeshi mountaineer Wasfia Nazreen is one of the members of the judging panel. Other judges include the likes of Bill Nye “The Science Guy,” former NASA associate administrator Alan Ladwig, astrophysicist Maraia Hoffman, and author Frank White of “The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution.”
SEG is not the only contest or crowd-funding effort to offer trips to space. Land Rover recently announced a contest with Virgin Galactic aimed for adventurous individuals and the Mars One Foundation is giving away a space flight on XCOR’s Lynx rocket-powered spaceplane to underwrite its plans for an Earthbased simulation of a future settlement on the red planet. Unlike those however, SEG’s focus is on what the winners will do after they return from space.
13 Apply yourself
Golden ticket
The winners will receive a trip aboard the spaceflight provider flight available at the time of the award announcement. This means, should the likes of space tourism companies like Virgin Galactic or Space Adventures be capable of offering trips into space at the time, then the winning candidate would be booked aboard one of their flights. According to former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, the programme is different from space tourism. Since the inception of space
tourism in 2001, a total of seven people have made the trip, with a minimum price tag of $20 million per seat. Melvin, who is also the president of Spaceship Earth Grants, said this particular programme gives regular people the opportunity to take the expensive journey. “Space is thrilling. However, this is not just about creating thrill rides,” he said. “There are aspects of spaceflight that can generate shifts in perspective to positively and profoundly influence the way people behave and
Spreading the wealth SEG is a public benefit corporation. This is similar to a non-profit, though with fewer restrictions on how to make money, and more freedom on how to give it away. A percentage of funds generated (from application fees, etc) will be granted to outstanding organisations around the world that share their mission, including: Fragile Oasis, The Overview Institute, The Planetary Society and Project Nominate. The goal is to have SEG be a supporting part of a network of organisations who make everyone’s lives better.
think about our world,” said Melvin. “We want to facilitate that positive impact by awarding space travel to enthusiastic individuals who will be influential ambassadors, by sharing their new insights with others in a compelling and inspiring way.”
The Academy
Though it’s all about making a trip to outer space, the programme includes other major prizes also. There will be spaceflight training packages from SEG’s Star Harbor Space Training Academy, with all expenses paid. SEG also plans to give away an in-atmosphere, parabolic flight, weightlessness experience ride to one in every 100 of the first 5,000 applicants. These people will also receive a $500 discount for entry into the (yet to be announced) Star Harbor Space Training Academy programme, a one-year membership to the Planetary Society, and an SEG Crew Member ID.
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This is not a lottery or random drawing contest. Like any other grant application, you will need to lay out a plan of action and explain why you are qualified to execute your plan. The field will be narrowed based on the applicants’ demonstration of a clear ability to communicate and a desire to convert their spaceflight experience into a planetary benefit upon their return. 1. Create a basic profile by September 15 - December 31 at spaceshipearthgrants.com/ application. 2. Application fee: $15-90, adjusted according to the relative wealth of the applicant’s home nation, allowing all of Earth’s citizens to participate. 3. Complete application by midnight December 31: Full application to include a short written summary 90 second video answering the question: “How will you use this experience to better yourself, your community or our planet?”
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4. Social media rally: January 5 February 28, 2015 Applicants are encouraged to leverage their social media networks to garner wider attention and support for why they should be chosen. 5. Finalists announced by SEG Council: March 20, 2015 The primary selection criteria will be the applicants’ demonstration of a clear ability to communicate and a desire to convert their spaceflight experience into a planetary benefit upon their return. Additional selection criteria will also include the level of the applicant’s engagement in the campaign as well as the engagement of the globe with the applicant. Consideration will be given to applicants on a regional basis in an effort to ensure winners represent the diverse geographic locations of the applicant pool.
They should have sent a poet
6. Winners announced by SEG Council: April 12, 2015, the 54th anniversary of the first human spaceflight.
Photo: Bigstock
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14 Parenting | Raise a good man
Son, let’s talk about rape It is vital for parents to have ‘the talk’ with their sons as well as their daughters Ishrat Jahan
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he desire to protect is strong for parents, especially when it comes to sex, sexual violence and its consequences. For a long time, the conversation about rape prevention has emphasised teaching girls to protect themselves. We talk about sex and the dangers of abuse with our daughters. But never our sons. If parents don’t talk to young men about how to treat women, they will take their cues from peers and movies and other questionable moral guideposts. By not educating our sons on the issues that they will face – as well as the ins and outs of steering sexual relationships, consent, and respect for themselves and others – we are actually doing them harm. It can be a difficult conversation. Here are some pointers:
1. No ‘yes’ also means ‘no’
Both boys and girls need to express their intentions, and always respect one another’s bodies, as well as their own. Our sons need to understand definitions of consent. “No” always means “no.” The absence of a clear “yes” also means “no.” Alcohol and clothing choices do not indicate consent. And no one is ever obligated to have sex with anyone else. Ever.
2. Consequences matter
It is second nature for teenagers/ young adults to test boundaries. In important matters, its critical to be a child’s parent first rather than their friend. There is no such thing as “boys being boys.” We must encourage our young people to think about the long-term effects behind their decisions, and about the power of choices and use real-life examples because our decisions will have consequences.
3. Bystanders aren’t innocent
A major problem of sexual harassment is the silence that accompanies it. This allows the stigma and fear around sexual abuse to exist. If they see someone else being harassed, our young men need to know that their silence can cost someone their lives. If they are ever in a situation where there is an imminent danger to another person, they should step away and call a trusted adult: a parent, a police officer, or another person of authority. Intimidation in abuse cases is not exclusive to the victim, but also influences bystanders as well. Their decision to speak up could have a beneficial effect on another individual for the rest of that person’s life.
4. Don’t ‘be a man’
Boys as young as four years old are
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told to “be a man” usually in response to crying or showing fear. The over-all definition of masculinity encourages violence and a sense of gender superiority that trivialises words such as “sexual harassment” and “rape” in a man’s vocabulary. It is important to recognise and eradicate these gender boxes as a parent and the first step to do that is to stop using them on our kids.
5. Not just a girl thing
Rape and sexual abuse are not merely women’s issues, they are human issues. Sexual harassment happens everywhere: next door, in buses, in streets, in schools and universities. Just because it’s not happening to them, that does not give young men a free pass to avoid the violence happening around them. Whether they like it or not they are a part of it.
6. Rape is the last domino piece
When you talk to your sons about sexual violence, it shouldn’t just be about rape, because sexual violence isn’t just about rape. Sexual violence starts the instant a girl is called a “slut.” The objectification of women is apparent in everything from sexualised cartoon princesses marketed to kids, to the $3b-a-year pornography industry. Rape is a consequence of a deepseated and society-wide misogyny, and your conversation should reflect that.
A major problem of sexual harassment is the silence that accompanies it 7. Ignorance is not bliss
Many parents believe restricting access to media is all they need to do for their sons to live in a porn-free, sexually objectifying-free world. But in reality, a simple “no” and a parent block on the internet will not teach your sons anything concrete. It is important to explain to them exactly why you are against certain forms of media and the messages they stand for. Being open about sex and porn is the first step to making our sons realise that sex is a biological truth that they need not be ashamed of, and that sexual violence in the media is unacceptable.
8. Recognise male rape
Our society has never quite accepted male rape and the sexual abuse of men. But like it or not, it exists. It is important that your sons know that men are raped too, and they will meet men who, over the course of their lifetime, have survived sexual abuse or rape.
15 Nadir Nibras: One of the good guys
TAKE A STAND
Nadir Nibras, a 21-year-old Bangladeshi student at Oklahoma State University, tells us why he chose to take a stand against sexual violence – and how he pulled it off Ishrat Jahan
Photo: Bigstock
The format is created this way because research proves that in cases of sexual harassment, interacting with a single-sex audience brings better results. We also have a women’s chapter group that deals with an all-female audience as well. For the most part, it is positive. It's important that the presentation or message we make is crafted by experts who understand the issues and psychology of students. So for the most part we get a good response.
Photo: Bigstock
Photo: Courtesy
The first thing your sons need to know is that male rape is no laughing matter. Most men who survive sexual abuse are subjected to victim-blaming and dismissal of their suffering. Teach your sons how to navigate these murky waters, and acknowledge this as a concrete human issue. Knowledge is key to perception and is essential in understanding the truth about sexual violence.
9. Walk the talk
Children will hear what their parents’ say, but actions speak louder than words. It is important that what is preached is practised. If necessary, take the time to reflect on your own behaviour before talking about this with your sons. Respect, after all, is best learned through practice. Despite the rebellious streak that
comes with being a teenager, parents remain the blueprints of how their children will interact with the world.
10. Be part of the solution
There are so many ways for our sons to support non-violence against women. For instance, the decision not to laugh at sexist jokes. From refusing to use derogatory language to describe women, to taking time to read up on what researchers say about rape and rape culture, there are numerous ways our sons can choose to be an ally rather than an abuser. There are different ways they can be involved – whether it’s learning more about the issue, volunteering at non-profits, or discussing it with their male and female peers – they can do something to stop the violence.
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What motivated you to get involved? When I first joined university, I got to know about this group, One in Four Men's Chapters, that works with the sexual harassment of college women. I always had an interest in knowing how harassment could be prevented. I knew a victim of harassment back in Bangladesh, so that kind of pushed me in that direction. What does the 'One in Four' stand for? It comes from the prevailing statistics that there are one in four women in US universities who face sexual harassment, or survive sexual abuse once in their lifetime. There are 18 chapters across 18 universities in the US. What the group basically does is deliver one hour presentations to all-male audiences covering a wide range of topics. This includes helping them find solutions to problems and teaching them how to intervene effectively if they see someone being harassed – something we call bystander intervention. Why do you cater to an all-male audience? What is their response?
OSU introduced a mandatory course on sexual harassment recently. Could you elaborate on that? The online program we have is called Haven, and was created by the company Everfi. It's a 45 minute module that provides introductory education in the topic of sexual violence prevention and discusses healthy relationships. It was made mandatory for all students. partially due to a resolution passed by the OSU Student Government Association and partially due to new federal laws in the US. Would you say this has helped you in any manner? This work has helped me develop in a lot of ways. It gave me a better understanding of the dynamics and power play of gender in the society, and how important it is to address sexual harassment issues from a wider platform. Where do you think Bangladesh stands when it comes to addressing sexual harassment? I think how we address the issue is dependent on our culture and perspectives, and right now it’s all about learning the intricacies and dynamics of sexual harassment, and spreading effective awareness regarding the matter. It’s not going to be easy, but as time progresses I hope we experience a substantial and positive change.
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16 TOUGH LOVE | DINA SOBHAN
Gay pride and graceful stride
Got a problem? Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune. com
Q
I am a 30-year-old male in Dhaka and am proudly gay. Usually, people don’t think it is a good thing to be gay, and it is really hard to come out of the closet. I am confused whether I should ever come out. If I do, how should this be carried out? I have no clue so please do suggest how I could pull it off?
A
I’m happy to hear that you are proudly gay, however I’m almost certain that being proud is the direct opposite of being in the closet. The whole concept of gay pride is to be openly gay and celebrate the choice and the freedom to be who you are. Hence, waving a rainbow flag within the confines of your closet does not indicate pride. Furthermore, coming out is not something that you can “pull off” like a magic trick. It’s a wellconsidered decision that involves a great deal of courage and preferably a backbone. Of course, the world is teeming with a million and one imbeciles who think homosexuality is unnatural, or even worse, a sin for which you will burn in hell fire for all eternity. The whole idea of being proudly gay – hint: the key word here is proud – is to allow others to have their myriad opinions but not give a tinker’s cuss as to what those might be. It’s to stand tall and announce to the world who you are without fear of repercussion, of which there will be a great many. Ultimately, the decision is yours, and you have to either be brave enough to live in the world as an authentic – albeit potentially unpopular – fairy, or to suffer silently as a cowardly closet dweller.
Cartoon: Priyo / Dhaka Tribune
Q A
My boyfriend and I have been involved in a relationship for the last five years. We were recently going to get engaged even though
Honey, I think this is what is referred to as a non-issue. If you have already made the wise decision to dump the philandering dirt-bag on his grimy behind, why wring your hands about what to tell your parents? They’re hardly likely to question your decision if they never cared for him in the first place. Indeed, they are more apt to do a gleeful jig upon hearing the good news, although I hope they possess the requisite sensitivity to not perform it in your presence.
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my parents were never happy about us being together. I just found out a couple of days ago that my (now ex) boyfriend had been cheating on me with multiple people. I am very hurt and ashamed
and know that seeking revenge – even if just to teach him a lesson – will do no good. I know I need to break this news to my parents, but I don’t know how. Please help.
If they do ask, you can take the opportunity to present to them a delicate white lie that will satisfy both parties. I would go with: “Well, upon reflection, I realised that parents know best, and if you don’t like him, it is with good reason. Ultimately, my happiness would have been incomplete without yours.” Ding! We have a winner! As for your lecherous ex, revenge is a dish best served cold. You should wait for the ideal moment in which to shame and humiliate him in such absolute terms that he will rue the day he deceived you for the rest of his life.
I trust that the opportunity will present itself to you in time. If impatience is a problem, you can just tell everybody that he gave you STDs, no doubt from the hoochies he fraternised with behind your back. That should cast a pall on his popularity with the opposite sex.
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Dina Sobhan is a freelance writer, and cautions readers not to take her ‘advice’ here too seriously!
Vegetarianism | foodie
The non meat eaters Bangladesh’s vegetarian movement is online, and both religious and non-religious in its motivations Sabrina Toppa
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or breakfast, Ronbir Sarker prepares unleavened flat bread with mixed lentils. Sometimes, his table features a vegetable curry made from potato, cauliflower, pumpkin, or other seasonal vegetables. In Bangladesh, the practice of vegetarianism, or just abstaining from meat, has long been linked to Bangladeshi Hindus, who constitute less than a tenth of the population. In Ronbir’s Hindu family, he is the only vegetarian, but not for religious reasons. In fact, he is an atheist now. “My extended family all believe it’s for religion, but I see it as totally secular, as I have strong logic not to eat meat.” The exact percent of Bangladeshi vegetarians remains unknown, but in his early days, Ronbir struggled to find secular vegetarians outside the Hindu community. In 2013, he created the Vegetarian Society of Bangladesh Facebook page, which accumulated over 40,000 likes. “People send messages saying they thought they were the only vegetarians in Bangladesh,” Ronbir says. “Since Facebook is popular here, I am trying to teach the
concept of vegetarianism, and tell others that they are not alone.”
Religious baggage
“According to most Bangladeshis, vegetarianism is an alien concept,” says Raimuna Haque, a member of the Muslim Vegetarians Facebook group. “Some think it’s part of Hindu culture and against Islam. But vegetarianism is not prohibited in Islam.” Often, the assumption that Hindus are universally vegetarian is itself fallacious. In a Hindu neighbourhood of Old Dhaka, several shopkeepers admit they do not practice vegetarianism. Though they say they would like to, the temptation for meat is high. In Bangladesh today, the notion of a Muslim vegetarian – much less a secular vegetarian – remains contentious. “This is a new idea,” says Rubaiya Ahmad, founder of Obhoyaronno Bangladesh Animal Welfare Society. “Through education and with the passage of time, the attitudes will shift.” In Islam, vegetarianism has been a practice of some ascetic Sufi orders, with many renowned
Muslims, from Kabir to Moinuddin Chisti, eschewing meat to demonstrate a more principled respect for God’s creatures. Muslim vegetarians point to Quranic statements that animals are living creatures sharing ownership of the Earth with humans: “And the earth: God has assigned to all living creatures.” (Quran 55:10). These devotees argue that animals were created by God for their own purpose and trials, and not as protein sources exclusively for human consumption.
Fish eating
Among Bangladeshis, who consume a high quantity of fish, a more palatable concept may be pescetarianism, or non-meat eating that allows fish consumption. Dipen Bhattacharya, a 54-yearold professor, has practised pescetarianism for 25 years. “Bangalis live on fish, and it was initially a bit awkward to tell them that I do not eat meat or fish.” After giving up both protein sources, he re-introduced fish to his diet. “It made my life easier in terms of what to do during lunch or dinner invitations.” From newfound spirituality to weight loss, Bangladeshis ascribe a motive to vegetarianism that is rarely rooted in secularism or animal rights ethics. Dipen recalls eating out with a Muslim friend who linked his vegetarianism to increased piety. “We ordered pizza and then I ordered a beer. She was surprised because she mistakenly associated my vegetarianism with religion and thought I also did not consume alcohol.” “The fact that I can survive without taking another mammal’s or bird’s life is mentally satisfying,” Dipen says, decoupling a religious morality from the animal rights framework.
Meatless Mondays
The majority of Bangladesh’s
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vegetarians adapt their lifestyle to Bangladesh’s food culture. Rubaiya still cooks meat dishes for her family members and shops in the same street markets. She promotes vegetarianism through a project titled “Meatless Monday,” where carnivores experiment with not eating meat for one day. On her Facebook, she posts recipes of simple vegetarian dishes. “So far, no one has unfriended me.” Rubaiya says: “It takes time, because people don’t know what to eat. If they’re not eating meat, they think they’ll just starve. I have friends eating Cornflakes all day. They’re like a sacrificial lamb on Mondays. You don’t have to suffer.” Her hyperlocal advocacy is probably the best tactic to challenge myths. As a term, vegetarianism is so new that most Bangladeshis are unclear about its meaning, much less its practice. Rubaiya sees this as an opportunity to be creative, including in her kitchen. “I love daal bhaat and salad, but it’s not exciting.” she says. “Everyone knows about grapefruit, but nobody thinks to eat grapefruit with pomegranate. We mostly eat three types of protein: fish, chicken, and goat. There’s a plethora of vegetables, legumes, and other protein sources that we should explore. Daal bhat and chickpeas – that is the best vegetarian food. Daal is very high in protein.” Thankfully, Dhaka is not too difficult to navigate with a purely vegetarian palate. Ronbir points out that Dhaka has a glut of vegetarian options, even if the number of exclusively vegetarian restaurants is low. “Old Dhaka has a lot of vegetarian places, where eateries don’t use onion or garlic, and we also have Delhi Darabar, a South Indian eatery in Bashundhara City.” At least for now, vegetarians are still saying bon appétit in Bangladesh.
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Photos: Courtesy
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18 stay in
Bangali screen devis Tausif Sanzum
Suchitra Sen in Aandhi (1975)
If you had to pinpoint one role in which the grande dame of Bangla cinema shines the brightest, it would have to be Aandhi. Many established actresses had declined the controversial role, which bore a marked similarity to Indira Gandhi. The actress played a politician’s spoilt daughter who takes up her father’s place in politics, sacrificing her own marital life in the process.
ACROSS
1 Lettuce for boy from South Africa (5) 5 One card? (3) 6 First of games in red sport (5) 8 A step forward once more (5) 10 Place to exercise in soggy mud (3) 11 Delivery of venue for 6 Across (5)
Upon release, the movie faced backlash from the ruling. However, after two years of the emergency period in India (1975-1977), the ban on the movie was lifted and it was re-released. While Razzak is referred to as the Nayok Raja of Dhallywood, Bobita can aptly be called the queen bee. While she was a favourite amongst the masses and classes in Bangladesh, her charm transcended boundaries. Even the great Satyajit Rai was in awe of her acting kills and cast her as the lead in his internationally lauded classic, Ashani Sanket. Her portrayal of a simple wife who was stuck in the great famine of 1943 in Bengal became the talk of every international film festival where the movie was screened.
Kajol has mostly appeared in commercial movies, but even then she portrays meaty and strong characters, and has received the highest number of Filmfare awards. For ample evidence of her acting chops, check out Dushman. Her portrayal of twin sisters, Sonia and Naina, one of whom is brutally murdered by a rapist while the other rises from the ashes to seek revenge, left the audience in awe of the brilliant actress.
Joya Ahsan in Guerrilla (2011)
A newcomer when it comes to Dhallywood movies but mesmerising nonetheless, Joya appeared on the critically and commercially successful movie Guerrilla.
The audience couldn’t get enough of her. Even when the movie’s screenplay faltered at times, she carried it forward on her petite but strong shoulders. Her portrayal of a regular Bangali woman who searches for her husband and brother during the Liberation War – and in the process ends up collaborating with freedom fighters – was full of anguish, desperation and strength all rolled into one. n
1 2 3 4 7 8 9
Unusual saint was General Electric boss (7) Record piece of wood (3) Diary, oddly, of movie star Doris (3) Arrange hens and vet after the 6th (7) Listen secretly to insect (3) Current unit of map arrangement (3) Painting of confused rat (3)
Solved it? Email answers to weekend@dhakatribune. com and win one free month of the Dhaka Tribune.
Last week’s solutions
Kajol in Dushman (1998)
Bobita in Ashani Sanket (1973)
Sharmila’s most notable role is in Amar Prem where she played the role of Pushpa, a demure sari-clad woman who was abandoned by her husband, and turned to prostitution for survival.
Clues
DOWN
Sharmila Tagore in Amar Prem (1972)
In a career spanning more than five decades, Sharmila Tagore mesmerised audiences with her portrayals of strong women, as well as her goddess-like beauty. Born to a Bangali father who is a distant relative of Rabindranath Tagore, and an Assamese mother, she was daring not only on the silver screen but also in real life. She unleashed uproar when she married into a Muslim family.
Mini cryptics
ACROSS 1 Volume won’t make you fat, it’s said (5) 5 Bird eaten by lemur (3) 6 Bike race in toilet is chancy game (5) 8 Drive around composer (5) 10 Short aim of Indian state (3) 11 President of Northern Ireland on after ten (5) DOWN 1 Dreadful criminal in small community (7) 2 Strange act of Persian, for example (3) 3 Sign of 2 Down? (3) 4 Where to buy lots of thing (7) 7 Match is a draw (3) 8 Vehicle of footballer Persie? (3) 9 Reigning monarch about ten (3)
Sudoku
Use 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
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Go out
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Art |
Only Connect Edition One When Sept 14-30, 12pm-8pm Where Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, 64-65 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue
Weekly Planner Sept 26 Storytelling | Moncho
B
engal Foundation presents Only Connect Edition One, an experimental art exhibition of works by a group of young artists. Only Connect is to be a series of exhibitions with new and emerging artists. The participating artists include:
When 11am Where Cafe M, 1st floor, 8/1 Main Road, Mohammadi Housing, Mohammadpur What This series of storytelling circles seeks to bridge the gaps between the various facets of society by using our personal stories as the form of community art. The aim is to start a dialogue about issues like gender, class, sexuality, mental illness and ethnicity. The programme will be a platform for people to get together informally and share stories with a common theme. This time the topic is: violence. Arfun Ahmed (site-specific installation of photographic prints), Emran Sohel (prints and paintings), Manik Bonik (paintings), Pervaj Hasan (paintings), S. M. Asaduzzaman (origami and installation) and Syed Tareq Rahman (sculpture).
Education |
Self Development Workshop When Sept 30, 9am-8pm Where EMK Center, House 5, Road 27, Dhanmondi
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ife Carnival Foundation, a youth based organisation, is putting together a workshop to develop life skills such as: professionalism, presentation skills, great attitude and sense of duty. This workshop will enhance those qualities for students and professionals who want more competence in their respective fields. The topics included at the workshop are: setting goals, presentation, volunteerism, CV writing and how to face interviews. Presenters at the workshop include: mountaineer Mohit (who
conquered Mt Everest twice), Jahan Aronyo (senior RJ at RadioToday 89.6FM), Sabhanaz Rashid Diya (founder of 1° Initiative) and Shahana Siddique (head of content & communications at Maya, a technology company). This is a unique opportunity where you can learn to discover yourself, communicate, network, develop and learn to apply these valuable skills in your life. For registration, please contact 01743826983 as early as possible as seats are limited.
Sept 26-27 Comedy | Charles Burks
When 7:30pm Where Baridhara DOHS Convention Centre, Cantonment What Naveed’s Comedy Club presents stand-up comedian Charles Burks from New York. Burk has performed on CBS, NBC, HBO, BET, VH1 and MTV. Tickets are available for Tk1,000 (excluding VAT) and are available at: Bittersweet Cafe, Cream & Fudge Factory and Tastebud. To get your tickets delivered for an additional Tk100, call 01755618541.
Sept 27 Fair | Celebration World Tourism Day
When Sept 27, 10am-8pm Where Jatra, 60 Kamal Ataturk Ave, Banani What Due to political unrest Jatra postponed their Shaatkahon Mela, and will be holding this day-long programme instead. On the occasion of World Tourism Day, there will be an exhibition of souvenirs from Shaatkahon’s latest designs based on Bangladesh’s traditional crafts, culture and natural splendour.
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At 7pm, there will be a screening of Arnob Dewan’s film “Life is still not ours.” This will be followed by a musical performance by the activist band Madal from the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Sept 29 Art | Essence of Nature
When 11am-6pm Where La Galerie, Alliance Francaise What NS Chowdhury Dancy prefers to use mixed elements for her artwork, including acrylic and paper, for her murals. In recent years, she has started working with metal. The artist hopes the audience will find inspiration in her work. Currently working as a graphic designer, she has had a number of exhibitions held in Braddy Centre, and at Harrow Art Centre, in London, UK.
Oct 2 Meditation | Peace In Peace Out
When 4pm-7:30pm Where EMK Center, House 5, Road 27, Dhanmondi What South Asian Youth Society (SAYS) is organising a workshop on inner peace and meditation, in collaboration with Peace Revolution in Thailand, supported by the EMK Center. Renowned Thai monk LP Pasura Dantamano will speak at the workshop. Participants can learn from him about seeking and achieving inner peace and leadership skills through mindfulness, self-discipline and compassion. Dantamano will show practical methods of stress management and ways to increase emotional intelligence. The workshop will include a lecture followed by a guided meditation session and a round of questions and answers.
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WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 26, 2 0 1 4
20 Interview | Murtaja Baseer
Artist of the people Octogenarian artist Murtaja Baseer talks to WT about his inspirations and influences, fascinations and despairs – just before his exhibition inaguration at Gallery Kaya Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique
What are you showing at this exhibition? The exhibits here are pieces I have been working on since 1993. Forty-six pieces of artwork will be displayed, of which 19 are most recent, two are oil paintings. Nine are collages, which I compiled from scraps of my own canvases that I have drawn on. The event was deferred several times, and was originally scheduled to kick off late August. Finally, it is going to happen. I heard about your health condition on the news. How did you overcome your illness to prepare for the exhibition? Death is inevitable. I swore to do something that will keep me alive in some way. I have to survive to complete my work, so even when I was sick, I tried to draw. I tell my students to nurture their urges to do something big. If you do art, try to be someone like Zainul Abedin because you must reach the top and leave a big footprint. What are the salient features of your work? As an artist, I prefer the renaissance outlook with an impressionist’s style.
However, we must not confine ourselves to a certain period and must look forward. What inspires and influences your art? People and their struggles form the core of my art. For instance, after I went to Italy for higher education in arts, I drew the working people and their lives, instead of drawing the beauty of nature. I also get inspiration for my work from scriptures of different religions. I follow the metaphors used in scriptures with great care. Then I try to translate those metaphors into artwork. Ancient myths and classics provide me with insights that help me with my work. Do artists often follow similar paths on their journeys? No. In the 1960s, artists like Aminul Islam and Mohammed Kibria began abstract or impressionist art. My art had always been figurative. As I was educated in Europe, I had an idea about the latest trends. Then, I innovated realist impressionism, later moving on to mingling realism and impressionism – the form which perhaps only I do. But I never did abstract art.
WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 26 , 201 4
There was a time when I explored other religions in search for personal identity. At that time, I didn’t do any art as I was spending a lot of time in libraries. It was like a reincarnation of my life as an artist. Previously, I had the idea that folk art would be something rural, but through this advent I realised that it is my own personal root. How did you become an artist? In the beginning, I didn’t know that I would be an artist. My father was an avid reader, so many publications on art would come to our house. I had a hobby of collecting autographs then. Once I approached Bhabani Sen, a legendary Marxist theorist, for his autograph. He also wrote on art in a magazine under the pseudonym, Rabindra Gupta. What he wrote left a lasting inspiration, and I decided to be an artist from that point onwards. How has politics influenced your work? Since the Language Movement, you have been involved in many of the historical events that made our country what it is today. In the time of the Liberation War, I drew Epitaph of Martyrs – a series of
artwork dedicated to the souls who sacrificed themselves. During the people’s uprising against the autocracy of HM Ershad, I drew images that resembled a volcanic eruption. In my art you only see that which is realistic, figurative, and bears the impressions of something else. I also drew on walls, something that has always symbolised the resistance to me. Witnessing the increasing recurrence of vices like rape in the 1990s, I vehemently searched for the colours on the backdrop of darkness, then I drew the wings of the butterflies. You know that Bangladesh has been systematically plundered over the years by many. Once I drew a figure of a body, imagined as Bangladesh, whose chest bones were open and vital organs had been removed. You suggest to be a very serious sort of man, particularly when we read about you in newspapers. I am like a snail, which has a tough exterior, but is very delicate inside.
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Artitude is a new Dhaka-based online portal for Bangladeshi art. To purchase work from Murtaja Baseer’s exhibition or browse the work of other local artists, visit artitude.com.bd.