Durga । দুর্গা
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ওদের নবরাত্রি, আমাদের দুর্গা দুর্গা
আদি নবরাত্রি উৎসব ছিল বসন্তকালে, চৈত্র মাসে। কিন্তু নিঃসন্দেহে, শারদীয় নবরাত্রি বা অকালবোধনকে (রবিবার থেকে মহানবমী অব্দি) ভারতে প্রায় প্রতিটি অঞ্চলে অনেক বেশি গুরুত্ব সহকারে পালন করা হয়।
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The Evolution of Durga: Tracing Her Multifaceted Origin Across Continents and Ages
Durga in her present form incorporates different streams, like Simha Vahini (the goddess who rides the lion), the Mahishasura Mardini (one who slays the Buffalo-Demon) and the Dashabhuja or ten-armed goddess. They evolved in different stages and ages.
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Academic Writings
HISTORY
Caught Between Myth and Reality: A Nation Called India
IIC Quarterly, Summer 2023, Volume 50, Number 1Looking Differently at Ancient Indian History — From a Scientific Angle
This article is an edited version of a talk delivered at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata on 25 August, 2017.The Company’s Policy & the Consolidation of the Bhadralok Castes
Prof Amalesh Tripathi Memorial Lecture Bangiya Itihas Samiti, Kolkata, 25 th April, 2019Rammohun Roy: His Contribution to the Making of India
Studies in People’s History, Sage Publication, Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2020, Pages 53-64Alexander Duff: Visionary and Educationist.
Alexander Duff Memorial Lecture, Scottish Church College, Kolkata,
185th Foundation Day, 14th July 2014Revd. Dr. William Carey: An Enquiry into the Obligation of a Social Reformer
The Bible Society of India (Calcutta Auxiliary), 17 Aug 2014The Last Days of the First Rebel: Derozio
Bicentennial Publication of the Presidency College Alumni Association, 20th Jan 2017Ruling The District: Evolution of district administration in Bengal: A Brief Account India
International Centre Quarterly India International Centre Quarterly Vol 15, Summer 1988. (p 71-87)Reconsidering Local History: Some Facts, Some Observations
In Quest Of The Historian's Craft: Essays in Honour of Professor B. B. Chaudhuri; Part II: The Polity, Society And Culture
Edited by Arun Bandyopadhyay & Sanjukta Das GuptaHow Buddhism Was Re-discovered in Modern India
6th Kripasaran Memorial Lecture, Bengal Buddhist Association Kolkata, 22nd June 2015The Slow Silent Emergence of India’s National Identity
Maulana Azad Memorial Lecture
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute Of Asian Studies, Kolkata, 11 November 2016১৭৫৩ খ্রিষ্টাব্দঃ বাঙালি 'ভদ্রলোক'-এর উত্থান
ইতিকথা, বর্ষ ১০, সংখ্যা ২, জুলাই ২০২২ খ্রি। ( ISSN 2320-3447 Itikotha)POLITICS
Assembly Elections in West Bengal, 2021: How Socio-Political Traditions Defeated a Superior Electoral Machinery in Electoral Democracy
An Inquiry into the Fairness and Integrity of Elections in India, 2022. Edited by M.G. Devasahayam, Publ: Paranjoy, (p 73-192)
Major Issues Concerning Free and Fair Elections: The Case of West Bengal in Electoral Democracy
An Inquiry into the Fairness and Integrity of Elections in India, 2022. Edited by M.G. Devasahayam, Publ: Paranjoy. (p 193-212)Between Myth and Reality: A Nation Called India
[Epic in India]75 years of the Congress Family: Is a Reconciliation Possible?
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav : India at 75
Ed: Amb.Surendra Kumar, Har Anand Publishers, Delhi, 2022, (p 62-75)Contending with Contentious Cows
The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy, Feb 9 2019
Subservience, Not Efficiency: Modi & Civil Service ‘Reforms’
The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy, 20 July 2018Secularism Under Threat in Bangladesh and India
International conference: 'After the Genocide: Fifty years of Bangladesh & Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman', Dhaka, 22-23 November 2019The Hegemonic Gene: Bureaucracy And Mindless Dominance.
Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists, (INCAA) Bhubaneswar, 21.02.2015
Round Table: 2015 on Society, State and GovernanceVividh Bharati's Role In Unifying The Indian Nation
RKMIC, Kolkata 29th January 2014SOCIOLOGY/ RELIGION
Krishna’s Long Journey: From Sacred Text to the Popular Arts
Published by the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata, in March 2017 as Krishna: Iconographic Representations, edited by Jayanta Sengupta, 5 Feb, 2016Appropriation & Absorption: Examples from the Dharma Cult of Rarh-bangha
(Download PDF)
Folklore Summer School, April 12-14, 2017, Bangla Academy, DhakaFrom The Aniconic To The Iconic: The Folk Gods Transform, While Dharma Resists
Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society. Nov2004, Vol. 39 Issue 3, p209-226. 18p.The Bengalis: A Thousand Years
An English translation of the Bengali article in Ananda Bazar Patrika’s Special Supplement on the New Millennium, dated 1 Jan 2000. -
How Ancient is Durga Worship?
It’s a little difficult to say precisely — because Durga in her present form incorporates different streams, like Simha Vahini (the goddess who rides the lion), the Mahishasura Mardini (one who slays the Buffalo-Demon) and the Dashabhuja or ten-armed goddess. They evolved in different stages and ages.
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Contradictions within Bengal’s Durga
Now that Pujas are almost here, and Corona notwithstanding, millions of Bengalis will hop from pandal to pandal — a few questions may be interesting.
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In Search Of Durga
When we look at Durga's image in her desperate battle against the ferocious Mahishasura, we may also notice that her family members appear rather disinterested. Handsome Kartik does not lift his weapons; Ganesh appears almost smiling; Lakshmi holds on to her jhampi more tightly and Saraswati looks pretty with her veena. To understand this strange situation, we have to turn to history, first from other countries and then closer at home.
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অসুরকেও বাপের বাড়ি টেনে আনলে মা?
একটা জিনিস পুজোর সময় আমাদের সকলেরই চোখে পড়ে। মা দুর্গা মহিষাসুরের সঙ্গে ধুন্ধুমার লড়াই করছেন, অথচ তাঁর ছেলেমেয়েরা নিতান্ত উদাসীন ভাবে পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে। সুদর্শন কার্তিক তাঁর অস্ত্র তোলেন না, গণেশের মুখে তো একটা হাসির আভাস, লক্ষ্মী নিজের ঝাঁপিটা আরও শক্ত করে চেপে ধরেন, সরস্বতীও বীণা হাতে দিব্যি দাঁড়িয়ে থাকেন। এই অদ্ভুত দৃশ্যের অর্থ বুঝতে ইতিহাসের দিকে নজর দিতে হবে। প্রথমে বাইরের ইতিহাস, তার পর ঘরের।