A History of Bangladesh by Willem Van Schendel
Cambridge University press, Cambridge, 2009
pp. 347, ISBN 978 0 521 679749
DOI: 10.3329/jbayr.v1i1.6952
A History of Bangladesh written by famous author Willem van Schendel is a
narrative that moves about the amazing twists and that have produced
contemporary Bangladesh Society. In this book , the author tried to show, how to
write a history poverty stricken and overpopulated Bangladesh, a country that after
the British left India in 1947 first became (east) Pakistan and officially exists only
since 1971. In its five parts that covers twenty two chapters, the book depicts a
brief and selective history of Bangladesh.
In part I, van Schendel expands on Richard Eatons idea of Bengal as a region of
multiple frontiers such as land-water frontier (north-south), the ancient cultural
Sanskritic frotier (west- east), the agrarian, state, Islamic and Bengali language
frontiers etc. Part II describes how, over the last few centuries, these age old tends
(developing its distinct identity) encountered middle-range ones, especially foreign
(British) rule and its lasting effects, colonial conflicts, partition of Bengal during the
foreign role. Almost two thirds of the book (part III-V) concerns the recent high
politics of famine of 1943, the partition of British India, the Bangladesh liberation
war, the creation of the national cultures of, consecutively, Bengaliness and
Bangladeshiness, the tense relationship with India, military role (1975-1990), cold
war politics and so on.
What I find missing in part I of the book, however, is a specific discussion of what
th
can be labeled the imperial intellectual frontier, which since the 19 century
undeniably has been the most crucial frontier. Besides, on the whole, the author
does not explain how Bengalis created a liberal public sphere, in which processes of
identity formation, rationalization and intellectual interaction between metropolis
and colony come together. In writing this book, Van Schendel was very much
selective in depicting the chronological development of Bangladesh highly
depending on secondary data. In some cases, he failed to link up cultural
development of Bangladesh.
In conclusion, the author deserves the appreciation for using easily understandable
language in writing the book. Readers intended to know brief and selective history
of Bangladesh can go through this book.
Reviewed by Mustafa Murshed, Assistannt Director, Bangladesh Civil Service
Administration Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Authors Biography
Dr. Afrose Sultana Chamon is an Associate Professor of the Department of Soil, Water and
Environment, University of Dhaka. She secured 1st class in both her B.Sc (Hons) and M.Sc from the
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka (DU). She has done her Ph.D from
the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria. She has
about 27 research publications in her credit. She is the former Scientific Officer of Aftab Bahumukhi
(multipurpose) Farm Ltd. (Agri. Div.), Bhagalpur, Bajitpur, Kishoregonj. She has also worked as
research and teaching assistant in the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences
(BOKU), Vienna, Austria
Anna Maria Tammaro is Researcher at University of Parma (IT), Italian Coordinator of the
International Master in Library and Information Studies (by distance) and of the Erasmus Mundus
Master DILL. Main issues in teaching and research: Digital Library, Electronic publishing, Learning
and Libraries, Internationalization and Quality Assurance. She is serving as Chair, IFLA Education and
Training Section. She is also Board member of EUCLID.
ATM Shamsuzzoha has been working as lecturer in the Department of Islamic History and Culture,
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He secured First class First position both in B.A (hons) and M.A
programme. He achieved the Brigadier Doctor Yunus Dewan Gold Medal for his outstanding
performance in M.A programme. He has presented several papers at various national seminars and
conferences. He has 04 papers in his credit. His research interest goes to socio-economic and
cultural history of Bengal and India as well as Muslim theology and architecture.
Hamidul Islam is working as Lecturer in the Department of Islamic History & Culture, Shahzadpur
Govt. College, Sirajgong. He secured First class First position in M.A programme (Group C). He
achieved Dr. Ayesha Begum Gold Medal for his outstanding performance in M.A programme. He
has presented several papers at various national seminars and conferences.
Haseeb Ahmad Piracha is Deputy Chief Librarian, Punjab University Library, University of the
Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. He has been IFLA Scholar and did a diploma from Asian Institute of
Technology, Bangkok in library automation. He completed projects in Qatar and also in British
Council. His core interest is in digital libraries. He established Information Resource Centre in Punjab
University Library which provides online SDI service to researchers. He also supervises digital
resources of Punjab University. Haseeb Ahmad is Erasmus Mundus Scholar 2009-2011 and is in the
process of completing his Masters in Digital Library Learning.
Md. Munsur Rahman, Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University
of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka. His research fields are river channel processes,
erosion management, ecosystem services of river and floodplain systems, and impact of climate
change on river and floodplain morphology, sediment transport, Bridge hydraulics. His general
research interests can be grouped into River channel processes; River training and bank protection;
Ecosystem services of river and floodplain system, Indigenous approach on river and floodplain
management; Bridge hydraulics and related problems. He has about 40 technical publications in
these research areas, with many papers published in top international, peer-review journals.
Recently, he is doing research for the development of low cost method for river erosion disaster
mitigation through alluvial channel stabilization.
Dr. Md. Nadiruzzaman Mondol is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Soil, Water and
Environment, University of Dhaka. Mondol secured 1st class in both his B.Sc (Hons) and M.Sc from
the department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka (DU). He has done his Ph.D
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