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.
After a COVID-19 induced season in the United Arab Emirates in the second half of 2020, the cash-rich Indian Premier League – now arguably one of the biggest sporting brands internationally – returns to its indigenous roots on Friday, albeit amidst a renewed surge of Covid pandemic and before empty stands for the second year in a row
Thousands of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Bhutan not only need early diagnosis and intervention, but require trained speech therapists, behavioral therapists, and other experts
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has recently stirred a controversy by stating English cricketer Moeen Ali would have worked for ISIS had he not played for his national team
FIFA, world football's governing body, on Wednesday suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) citing third-party intervention, reported Dawn. The move came after a group of people forcibly removed the normalization committee, appointed by FIFA in the PFF
India's tourism icon and a symbol of earthly love, the 17th-century white marble mausoleum, the Taj Mahal in Agra, is a victim of both nature and man
Jammu and Kashmir, a magnet for tourists, is agog with a burst of colours as Srinagar hosts a six-day long Tulip Festival from Saturday
The Mrs Sri Lanka 2021 pageant ended in a major brawl after the reigning Mrs World stripped the winner of her crown after she was announced, and instead crowned the first runner-up
A professional model and actress, Tangia Zaman Methila, has been crowned Miss Universe Bangladesh 2020, by Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh
Of all of the exhibitions of Indian arts and exotic wonders held during the colonial period, the Jaipur Exhibition of 1883 is perhaps the most significant
Kashmir, slowly returning to normal life, witnessed its first fashion show called 'The Kashmir Fashion Show' recently
Famed Pakistani actress Mahira Khan has lent her support to women footballers, asking people to “respect the game, respect the players.”
An Indian Army sportsperson on Thursday commenced a mission to run 4000 km from Kashmir, in the up north, to Kanyakumari, in the deep south, in 50 days, media reports said
A decade passed today since India won their second 50 over World Cup title under the leadership of MS Dhoni in 2011
She is the only Pakistani who has received two Academy Awards. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a filmmaker, journalist, and activist, who has to her credit six Emmy Awards and a Knight International Journalism Award, has launched Pakistan's first digital platform for minorities
It all started after a Twitter account by the name of Katherine George, claiming to be a traveler, praised Pakistan, its scenic beauty, and its culture
