Shukto occupies an important place in the culinary tradition of Bengal. More than a preparation of bitter vegetables, it may be understood as a social and cultural text through which…

Swarnakumari Devi Translated from Bengali ’Kshama’, 1893‘Conquer anger with patience, evil with goodness, the miserly through generosity, and falsehood through truth.’Everyone in this world hopes to be forgiven. Whether intentionally…

There is something revealing about how we speak about the environmental crisis. We talk of saving forests, protecting rivers, conserving species, and combating climate change. Nature appears as something outside…

IntroductionIn a quiet suburban apartment in South Kolkata, eighty-two-year-old Subir Sen lives surrounded by century-old mahogany furniture, yellowed photographs, and a modern array of medical equipment. His son lives in…

To understand Kolkata, one must walk its streets. The city's pavements, markets, tram routes, railway stations, and neighbourhood crossings are as much culinary spaces as they are public thoroughfares. Street…

Long before Bengal became known for its Bhakti saints, Sufi traditions and rich literary heritage, it stood at the heart of the Buddhist world. Between the eighth and twelfth centuries,…

Colonial Calcutta was not only the administrative capital of British India until 1911, but also a crucial node in the global circuits of imperial capitalism. While British firms dominated formal…

The ghats of Kolkata are an integral part of the city’s cultural, historical, and social life. Built along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River (a distributary of the Ganges),…

Rajwati and Her Times