It is a neat division and the first part of 70 pages is the Kotia-Ketaki memoir. In the second section, Chandana picks up the narrative and weaves the micro family history of the Jonas family with the macro events of the late 19th century and her grandmother's journey that brought her to Santiniketan in the 20th century.
Today, the tape-jama survives on the margins of a rapidly changing marketplace. It is still found in local bazaars, though no longer a default festive purchase for children. Yet its significance lies beyond its material presence. The garment endures as a symbol of memory—of simpler times, of long summer afternoons, and of a cultural ethos shaped by resourcefulness and tradition. Its soft cotton folds carry stories of Bengal’s textile heritage, its artisanal practices, and its ability to absorb and reinterpret external influences. In doing so, the pinny becomes more than a childhood dress—it is a living archive of history and identity.
According to the latest (2024) survey by the International Mother Language Institute, 45 languages have been identified as existing now in Bangladesh out of which there are 11 indigenous languages including Lushai (Mizo)—that have become critically endangered. Based on UNESCO data, a handful of languages which have made it to the endangered list in Bangladesh are in such a forlorn state that only 5-12 older folks from respective communities can still converse in them.
And perhaps the greatest truth is this: when veterinarians do their work properly, the world stays normal. People drink milk without fear. Farmers sleep without panic. Markets remain stable. Outbreaks do not explode into disasters. Children grow up safer. Communities remain healthier. The world continues smoothly, unaware of how close it often stands to crisis.
Legendary cricketers Vinoo Mankad of India and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara are the two cricket greats from South Asia among ten cricketers freshly inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame to mark the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final this week between India and New Zealand
Ziona Chana, believed to be the head of the world’s largest family with 38 wives, 89 children and 33 grandchildren from Mizoram state in northeastern India, died in state capital Aizawl on Sunday
Nepal Pride Parade this year will be organized virtually, organizers announced in the wake of the Covid-19 situation and the travel restriction in the capital, Kathmandu
Bangladesh star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended for three games and fined Tk 500,000 for abusing the match officials and damaging equipment during the Dhaka Premier League Twenty20 outing between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani
Bangladesh’s star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has apologized on Facebook for his repeated unruly behavior during a Dhaka Premier League T20 match between arch-rivals Mohamedan Sporting Club and Abahani at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium
Once known for its rich cultural notes, Pakistani music is now veering dangerously towards western styles, raising questions about whether it is losing its identity
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plans to bid for five major ICC events to be held from 2024 to 2031, some of them jointly with Asian countries minus India, could come unstuck due to the enormously resourceful Indian cricket board’s influence and the huge advertising reach and market that it commands
Hindustani lassical music lovers are in for a treat with the telecast of Doordarshan Delhi Kendra’s new show "My Favourite Raaga" on DD Bharati
National Award-winning Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta, known for delving into magic realism through his works, passed away on Thursday
In an immaculately conducted award ceremony at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Junior Under Officer (JUO) Kinley Norbu, a Foreign Gentlemen Cadet (FGC) from Bhutan, was awarded the prestigious motivational trophy for his excellent all-round performance during his training at the IMA
Pakistan’s famous ghazal singer, Sunny Benjamin John, 87, better known as SB John, passed away on Monday in Karachi after a prolonged illness
Veteran Indian actor Dilip Kumar, who is currently hospitalised, is on oxygen support, his official Twitter handle confirmed
Recognizing her efforts to protect the ecology on World Environment day, Filza was awarded by the South Asian Voluntary Association of Environmentalists (SAVAE), a Kashmir-based organisation that focuses on environmental policy in South Asia
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar has been admitted to Mumbai's Hinduja hospital on Sunday morning after complaining of breathlessness, media reports said
Pakistani actress Saba Qamar, who starred in the super grosser Bollywood comedy-drama Hindi Medium opposite late Irrfan Khan, says she learned a lot from the Indian actor
