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British Raj

Sucker Punch

Imperialist poet Rudyard Kipling’s White Man’s Burden is an unashamedly racist poem predicated on the premise that the ways of Westerners are superior to those of the “devil-like” irresponsible and flighty natives.

Indian exponents of occidental music

The British Raj had once introduced occidental music, namely western classical music, to this city when they reigned supreme in an era long gone into the past.

Agrarian movement that jolted colonial rulers

Birsa Munda (1875-1900) emerged as ‘Dharti Aba’ (Father of the Earth) in Munda society and is now being worshipped again as ‘Lord’ or ‘Bhagwan’. He was the prophet, the visionary and the ultimate revolutionary. The short life of Birsa commands profound respect.

Language and Power

Language is not just an instrument of expression, grammar, and philosophy, it embodies the genius of a race and its culture. It is also an icon an emotive symbol for which people die as martyrs. It happened with the Jews, the Irish and the Bengalis (rather Bangladeshis). As an instrument of articulation, it is indispensable, and as an icon, so noble and chaste. But when it is used as an instrument of oppression by means of imposition, it may prove to be dangerous 

Kolkata must reclaim its place

More than three hundred years ago Kolkata was promoted by a band of adventurous British traders with a vision to make it a competitive business centre on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi.