We here at WoWasis find the statistics to be chilling. In the Bangladesh Liberation War, an estimated 3 million people were killed, 200,000 women raped. Pakistani troops kept comfort women, many taken from universities. These women gave birth to an estimated 10,000 babies, and eventually Bangladeshi President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman suggested that he be listed […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis book review: ‘Saraswati Park’ by Anjali Joseph, a novel from India
Homosexuality is a theme we here at WoWasis have yet to encounter while reading through the Bangladeshi fiction we’ve been reviewing recently, but it strongly resonates through Indian writer Anjali Joseph’s first novel, Saraswati Park (2010, ISBN 978-93-5029-061-3). Set in Bombay (Mumbai), the activities primarily concern Ashish, a young student whose emerging gay consciousness involves […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis book review: ‘Invisible Lines’ by Ruby Zaman from Bangladesh
The setting is revolutionary-era Bangladesh, and political players include Pakistan, India, Bengali revolutionaries, and perhaps the central focus of the book, the Biharis. Bangladeshi author Ruby Zaman’s Invisible Lines (2011, ISBN 978-93-5029-071-2) weaves a thrilling tapestry of intrigue, war, and romance in this thriller, but Western audiences are advised to consult an encyclopaedia to understand […]
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