HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kabir@kabir.Eng.Sun.COM (Ihtisham Kabir)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Nirod C. Choudhuri
Date: 28 Jul 1992 17:30:45 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: kabir@kabir.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: kabir

In light of the recent discussion on Nirad Chaudhuri, I dug up
his book and went over it.

Here is how he dedicates "Autobiography of an Unknown Indian:"

                To the memory of the
                British empire in India
                which conferred subjecthood on us
                but withheld citizenship;
                to which yet
                every one of us threw out the challenge:
                "civis britannicus sum"
                because
                all that was good and living 
                within us
                was made, shaped, and quickened 
                by the same British rule

Another quote from the same book (p. 115):

The servility and malice ingrained in very fibre of our being
which made us indulge in grotesque antics of alternating genuflexion
and defiance before the Englishman persist to this day... [goes on
to furnish instances of M. K. Gandhi suffering from this] 

[ genuflexion - to bend one's knee in worship]

This man is hard to deal with. On the one hand, he is outrageous.
He attacks the most cherished pillars of tradition. But he seems
to always back up his reasoning with sound evidence. He always
has his _reasons_ which he uses to back up his outrages. So even
though I hate many of the things he says, I cannot simply dismiss
him as another crank.

He once said that he did not care whether old people read his books
because "they are only interested in themselves and their prostates." 

One other thing. Someone mentioned that he had been poking into the
private life of Tagore. While I do not advocate censorship, what
possible gain could come out of this? Isn't this a kind of sick
voyeurism? [Or was there more to this venture?]

- Ihtisham Kabir



Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: kazi@mercury.cis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi)
Subject: Re: Bangladesh and the Olympics?
Organization: University of Delaware, Newark
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 14:57:44 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.134631.7132@udel.edu> kazi@mercury.cis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi) writes:
>It must be my bad karma that caused me to be in the United States during
>the Olympics. My question: Did Bangladesh send anyone? 

What I have always dreaded has happened. I am posting a followup to my own
article. Bangladesh is supposedly at the olympics. This is what I obtained
from rec.sport.olympics:


SWIMMING - Men's 100m Breaststroke - Heats 1
==============================================
 
World Record		1:01.29
Olympic Record		1:01.65

HEAT 1:
-------
1  ZAVOLI, Daniel                   SMR   1:09.65
2  AL RUMAITHI, Obaid               UAE   1:12.77
3  HUNG, Foy Gordon                 FIJ   1:13.51
4  BIN ABID, Mohammed               UAE   1:15.12
5  ROBERTS, Kenny                   SEY   1:16.52
NoStart	RAHAM, Mohammed Mukhesur    BAN   Did not start <----- *****
NoStart	DIOP, Mouhamed              SEN   Did not start

The swimmer is actually Mohammed Mukhlesur Rahim. From what my vague
recollections can recall he is either from BTMC or Navy. I will put
my money on Navy. Why is he a no show? Did the Bangladesh team actually
make it to Barcelone?

>-Zunaid Kazi
> kazi@cis.udel.edu

-- Same Chap
From: samaddar@siemens.com (Sumitro Samaddar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Humayun Ahmed's literature
Date: 28 Jul 92 02:54:09 GMT
Reply-To: samaddar@siemens.com

kabir@kabir.Eng.Sun.COM (Ihtisham Kabir) writes:

>and stories of the supernatural. Anyone who has read the super-
>natural story about the pregnant woman (the name escapes me
                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>again) is unlikely to forget it soon.
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

:-) :-)

>My main complaint against him is when his characters throw up.
>They "hor-hor korey bomi korey dilo." I have never heard anyone
>making a "hor-hor" sound when throwing up. I think that should be 
>a "waaak."  :-)))))

I guess the usage must be old, for my folks use the term at home, in
Moddho Prodesh (Madhya Pradesh).

Sumitro
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: kazi@hercules.cis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi)
Subject: Olympics: Shooting results, anyone?
Organization: University of Delaware, Newark
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 15:04:47 GMT

Does anybody know how Shahana fared in her event at the Olympics? From what
I know of the schedule, her event is complete.

This leaves the 4X100m relay to look forward to. Does anybody also know
whether any one of our 4 sprinters is going to participate in the 100m
sprint. Isn't Golam Ambia the current fastest man in Bangladesh?

-zunaid kazi
 kazi@cis.udel.edu


Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed)
Subject: Re: Our attitude towards homosexuality
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 00:43:00 GMT


In article <1992Jul28.111831.20674@newstand.syr.edu>, fahmed@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Famin Ahmed) writes:

> but i'm curious about their reception in south asia.  i also don't 
> know what the Qur'aan has to say about homosexuality 


You might want to look at Sura Al Nisa.  Check out 4:16.

-- Shakil
From: debchat@vax2.concordia.ca (DEB CHATTERJEE)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: What's wrong with you guys/ gals ????
Date: 23 Jul 92 23:07:00 GMT
Organization: Concordia University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <5495@umriscc.isc.umr.edu>, raza@ee.umr.edu (Md Ishfaqur Raza) 
writes...
>..... (stuff deleted) ....
> 
>khoda Hafez,
> 
>Md Ishfaqur Raza
>BUET-UMR

 Asoley, amar-i dosh ! Ami Kolkata'r maal ! Tai taal-gyan thik thakena !

 - khoda hafez

  deb chatterjee
(a good samaritan)
From: debchat@vax2.concordia.ca (DEB CHATTERJEE)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Humayun Ahmed's literature
Date: 27 Jul 92 19:23:00 GMT
Organization: Concordia University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <59241@mimsy.umd.edu>, zahid@cs.umd.edu (khandaker zahidul a.) 
writes...
>In article <24JUL199210431736@zeus.tamu.edu> a0h9342@zeus.tamu.edu 
(HAQUE, ANISUL) writes:
>..... (stuff deleted) ..... 
>While reading one of his recent books last month, I had the impression that it
>had nothing new to offer except the cover page. 
> 
>Zahid

 This is exactly the idea I get about not only Bangladeshi novelists, but also
 about Indian (Calcutta) novels. IMHO, Sunil Ganguly is the only one who still
 remains dynamic and vibrant and contemporary. Sirshendu/ Sanjib have just 
 become fossils. What do you think about these authors ???

 - deb chatterjee
(a good samaritan)
From: ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Our attitude towards homosexuality
Date: 30 Jul 92 21:33:12 GMT
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science


In article <MRAHMAN.92Jul30162019@occs.cs.oberlin.edu>, mrahman@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Mushfiqur Rahman) writes:
> In article <1992Jul30.181126.9182@cs.yale.edu> ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed) writes:

> Depends. Let's leave religion aside. If say A decides to enagage in 
> sexual activities with others but both B and A have an understanding
> (in other words it's also ok for B to have sex with others) then I dont
> think anyone should get hurt. If they dont have an understanding then
> it is not moral as long as a marriage contract is concerned. The point
> is as long as couples are not engaging in acts that are harming each
> other (or others) then things are ok.

Well, we could get into a long discussion on the point of marriage in
that context, but I think we have very different views on that. :)

> >   But at the same time you would argue that
> >   homosexuality is sexual tendency which should not be considered
> >   immoral and nobody should feel uncomfortable about it.  
>                 ^^^^^^
> It should be considered immoral as long as the couples engaged in it
> are not harming each other or society in genaral. And it would be
> ideal the majority of the people weren't homophobic. 
> People should be valued for what they are and not for their 
> sexual orientation.

I'm not sure what you understand by "homophobic."  I do know quite a
number of homosexual people, and have no problems getting along with
them at all.  I certainly treat them no differently from any others.
But I do consider homosexual acts to be sinful and immoral, just like
I consider many other acts to be sinful and immoral.  For that, the
people who commit them will be responsible to God, not me.

> >   Now the
> >   problem is, why should B be hurt?  Extending the sexual attitude story
> >   a little further, could it not be argued that the need for multiple
> >   sexual partners is simply another sexual tendency?  
>                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> I'm not sure here, but are you saying that homosexuality means having
> multiple sexual partners and/or being promiscous? Not the ones I
> know.

No, that was not my point.  What I mean is that if homosexuality is
just an orientation, then why shouldn't the need for multiple partners
be considered an "orientation?"  And if so, then why should person B
feel hurt by what person A did?  I was merely looking for a
consistent solid basis for the views being advocated, and was thus
pointing out what I think are shortfalls in the approach presented.

-- Shakil
From: debchat@vax2.concordia.ca (DEB CHATTERJEE)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Magical reality in Bengali literature.
Date: 26 Jul 92 20:07:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: vax2.26JUL199215070625
Distribution: na
Organization: Concordia University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Jul23.111159.11375@newstand.syr.edu>, 
fahmed@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Famin Ahmed) writes...
>....... (stuff deleted) ......
>present in our fairy tales (it's where the witches live), but can you tell
>me (or can anyone tell me) of any instances of canonized bengali literature
>that harbour this belief?
>hasta,
>Famin

 Bhibuti Bhusan Bandhopadhyay: Arannyak - just what you want !!! (I bet my
 wager on that.)

 Thanks for reading, and, for being so kind.

 - deb chatterjee
(a good samaritan)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed)
Subject: Re: Our attitude towards homosexuality
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 18:11:26 GMT


In article <1992Jul30.140620.17886@udel.edu>, kazi@hercules.cis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi) writes:
> In article <1992Jul30.015105.29830@cs.yale.edu> ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed) writes:

> >Indeed there may be.  And that is why I was careful to state that you
> >are, of course, free to define your own set of morals.  What I was
> >questioning was the logical basis to defining such a set, i.e. does it
> >make sense to apply different standards to homosexuality than to
> >adultery?  If the answer is "yes," my question is "why?"
> 
> In any proof system, what logically follows is dependent on the
> initial set of axioms and the rules of deduction. Unfortunately, we
> are deducing our premises from a non-matching set of initial axioms.
> Consequently, what appears to you as the application of different
> standards is, to me, a consistent application. 

Well, in that case, I guess my question is why you consider certain
things as axioms, and how you choose such axioms.

> In my belief system, I would proscribe adultery since it is a violation of
> the marriage covenant, with its concomitant understanding of loyalty to one's
> spouse. It is an act of betrayal. While homosexuality, with mutual consent,
> doesn't come under acts which might engender my proscription.
> 
> You may not agree, and that is your prerogative; but drawing again an analogy
> from logic, my belief sysetm is 'sound' and 'complete'. At least, to
> me. :)

Well, I do see a problem here.  Suppose that A and B form a
heterosexual married couple, and A decides to commit adultery.  Now,
in your belief system, this violates the understanding behind a
marriage, and hence, B is being hurt in the process, thus making
things immoral.  But at the same time you would argue that
homosexuality is sexual tendency which should not be considered
immoral and nobody should feel uncomfortable about it.  Now the
problem is, why should B be hurt?  Extending the sexual attitude story
a little further, could it not be argued that the need for multiple
sexual partners is simply another sexual tendency?  And if so, why
should we hold it against person A?  Indeed, why should B be hurt by
what is merely a characteristic of A, some might even argue that it is
a genetic attribute in much the same way that homosexuality is often
labelled as genetic.  This can be extended ad absurdum.  That is why
it seems to me that the only clearly defensible positions on this are
either the one which frowns upon homosexual acts, adultery,
premarital sex, etc. or the one which openly advocates all of these.
I subscribe to the Islamic standpoint, the one which considers all of
these sinful.


-- Shakil
From: fahmed@dhaka.Eng.Sun.COM (Farhad Ahmed)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Tukki-Takki on B'desh....
Date: 21 Jul 1992 07:17:59 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.  Mt. View, Ca.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: fahmed@dhaka.Eng.Sun.COM (Farhad Ahmed)
NNTP-Posting-Host: dhaka

On June 21, Police attacked on the journalists. Following a protest
meetin' by the Gono-Adalat organisation near Press Club Police made
brutal attacks on the reporters on the streets and inside the Press club,
injurin' about 50 of them. Govt. formed a commission, headed by Supreme
Court Justice Mr. Kazi Safiuddin. 

Journalist Unions and opposition parties accused the govt. for the
brutal acts by the police. They demanded the removal of police
commissioner Mr. Raquibul Huda. Mr. Huda was chief of Chittagong
Metropolitan Police  when police fired on the protesters on Jan 24,1988
and killed several. Ershad saved him then but later BNP promoted him to
his present position. Begum Kahleda Zia demanded the removal of
Mr. Huda followin' the incident in Chittagong in '88.

Despite protests from all around the country govt. removed Mr. Kamal
Lohani from Director of Bangla Academy. It is believed that someone with
BNP-party minded would replace Mr. Lohani.   

Former deputy speaker and minister Mr. Sultan A. Chowdhury died at the
age of 65. May Allah bless his soul.

Govt. has ordered to layoff about 2200 employees of BIWTC(Bangladesh
Inland Water Transportation Corp.). Dhaka & Chittagong WASA(Water Supply
Authority) had increased water rate by 15%.

Mr. Rizvi Ahmed 'n Mr. Illias Ali, became the president 'n general
secretary of JSD(Jatiyotabadi Chattra Dal), student wing of GOP,
respectively.

Due to internal conflicts Awami League moved the general council meetin'
from June 28 'n 29 to Sept. 18 'n 19. This is the fourth time in six mos,AW
postponed their council meetin'.


Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: budaraju@cae.wisc.edu (Srinivas Budaraju)
Subject: Re: Our attitude towards homosexuality
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:47:49 CDT

In article <1992Jul30.200939.10613@cs.yale.edu> ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed) writes:

>In article <1992Jul30.192722.10336@udel.edu>, kazi@hercules.cis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi) writes:
 
>>>Now the problem is, why should B be hurt?  
>> I hope I had made that clear. A is violating a trust that is inherent in
>> a marriage. 

>There is something I still don't understand about your perspective.
>You've clearly stated that you don't believe in adultery because it
>violates the trust in a marriage.  What I don't understand is why you
>don't feel the same standards apply to homosexuals.  Is it not true
>that the vast majority of practicing homosexuals are not married?

<stuff deleted>

>time.  I am not questioning your right to your beliefs and values or
>anything of that sort -- I am merely trying to understand how you would
>go about constructing a consistent set of beliefs and moral values.

Would it be ok in your books if marriage is allowed between homosexuals?
Is adultery the problem or is it the homosexual act that is the 
problem? If it is the latter then can you please explain the role
of sex? Is sex for procreation or recreation? If it is the former, then
does all sex between heterosexuals result in procreation? Do you then
prohibit recreational sex (even between married people)? And do you 
also oppose certain sexual practices among heterosexual married couples?

>-- Shakil

-Srinivas				budaraju@cae.wisc.edu
From: rhm4@po.CWRU.Edu (Rabbul H. Mirza)
Subject: Re: DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY??  (REPOST) 
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 19:37:20 GMT


Your offer seems interesting.Here's my name and address.

Name:Rabbul H. MIrza
School:Case Western Reserve UNiv.
Siza:4000 (Approx)UG,8000(approx)Grad.Total About 12000- 13000.
Address:12000 Fairhill Rd#113,Cleveland,OH 44120.
PH:216-229-7413

Note:I won't be here from Aug 2nd to Aug 27th.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: n234bq@tamuts.tamu.edu (Mohammad Hossain)
Subject: "Tooki Taki"
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 20:08:25 GMT

Some recent facts about Bangladesh you may like to know:

Electricity:  Estimated demand -> 17000 Megawatts/day
	      Generated -> 16000 Megawatts/day
	      [Government is considering proposal for setting
              up power stations in private sector.]

Currency:     Since 1972, Taka was devalued 76 times and
              appreciated 19 times.

Foreign Debt: Current total foreign debt -> $12,129,760,000

Foreign 
Currency
Resurve:      1992 (current) -> $1,610,000,000
              1991           ->   $880,000,000
              1990           ->   $520,000,000

Annula Remittance
From Bangladeshis
Abroad:       -> $832,000,000 (of which $56,000,000 from UK)

TV Programs:  Government has given permission to produe dish antenna
              locally. Dish antennas allow to view the following 
              programs and channels currently

              5 Channels of Star TV (Hong Kong)
              1 Channel of CNN (Cable News Network)
              Programs from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

	    * A plan has been taken to telecast the CNN program from
              7 a.m. to 1 p.m. everyday except fridays on BTV. [No
              date for it is given though.]

Courtesy "Parliament of Bangladesh" and its members' question and answer
session....!!!!

--   
M. Kabir Hossain
Texas A&M University
From: raza@ee.umr.edu (Md Ishfaqur Raza)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: What's wrong with you guys/ gals ????
Date: 22 Jul 92 17:10:33 GMT
Organization: University of Missouri - Rolla

In article <22JUL199212335723@vax2.concordia.ca> debchat@vax2.concordia.ca (DEB CHATTERJEE) writes:

 First of all I really would like to commend Jonab Deb on his letter and if 
this was a motion in the parliament of the SCB, I would like to take the
priviledge of seconding this motion.
 Furthermore, I would like to offer a few alterations to the proposed motion
if the proposer permits. It is my belief that then the motion would perfectly
be a bangla motion.
 If my shallow knowledge of literary bangla is reflected in the choice of 
words, then I would wholeheartedly appreciate correction .     

>
> Dadara o' didira !
>
>   Apnara ki sobai ghumochchen ?????? Keu-ki kichchui niropekhkho lekha
> likhtey chan na ???? Contemporary Bangla Shahittya/ Films/ Drama nieye
                       shomokaleen                  chayachobi/natok 

> to onek English/ Bengali discussion hotey parey ! Eta to marpit noi !
         ingrejji/ Bangla(niyee) alochona 

> Neutral thekey ki discussion kora-ta mohapap ????? Naholey to saradin tel,
  niropekhkha       alochona  

> chal, dal nieye alochona kortey hoi !!!!! At least SCB'r kichchu distinct
                                           ontoto                 bishesh 

> characteristics thak !!! Ki jey koren apnara !!!
  boishi'shtha

>
> - ottyonto bitoshrodhdho,
>
>   deb chatterjee
> (a good samaritan)

khoda Hafez,

Md Ishfaqur Raza
BUET-UMR
From: kabir@kabir.Eng.Sun.COM (Ihtisham Kabir)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Humayun Ahmed's literature
Date: 28 Jul 1992 16:35:42 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: kabir@kabir.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: kabir
From: rahin@scs.leeds.ac.uk (M A Rahin)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Bangladesh in Olympics
Date: 28 Jul 92 11:28:37 GMT
Organization: The University of Leeds, School of Computer Studies


Some asked about Bangladeshi participants in the 25th Olympiad. They are :
	Shahana			Shooting
	Mokhlesur Rahman	Swimming
	Golam Ambia		Sprint
	Shahanuddin Chy		Sprint
	Mehedi Hasan		Sprint
	Shah Jalal		Sprint.

- Rahin
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
From: zrkhan@athena.mit.edu (Zeeshan R Khan)
Subject: Re: What's wrong with you guys/ gals ????
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 02:54:58 GMT


SCB -te bangla shahitto alochonai shamprotik-kalerjonopriyo lekhokder
upore sherokom kinto alochono hoini. Goto koy bochorer Bangla Academy-r boi melai
Humayun Ahmed akchetiya babsha korechen, tobe shahitto mohole tar mullayon holo
tar lekhar shahittik mullo nitantoi kom. SCB-pathokder der ki mot? Kodin age 
Bichitrai Syed Samsul Haque abong Humayun Ahmed -er ekta besh bhalo tulanodhormi 
protibedon chilo. Amar motamot halo, kotha shahitto hishebe Humayun Ahmed -er 
lekhar mullayon howa uchit. E hishebe Sharat Chandrer lekhar shathe tar lekhar 
tulana Kora jete pare.



Apologies to all the netters, not reading Bangla. I was just trying to draw a 
parallel between Sharat Chandra and Humayun Ahmed. Both reflect their contemporary
Bengali society: Sharat Chandra the then mainly Hindu village society and
Humayun Ahmed the modern Bangladeshi middle class. But though Sharat Chandra is 
long established in the Bengali mind as a kotha-shahittik, I think people are
still reluctant to accept Humayun Ahmed as such. Then again, Humayun Ahmed's 
writings cover a much wider field. His contribution towards Bangla 
science-fiction is definitely a boon to the literature. And his dramas have 
definitely helped to get rid of some of the BTV boredom, at least on some nights 
of the week :)


BTW, could someone update me about the current status of Bangla Sci-fi in West
Bengal. I was once a fan of Adrish Bardhan. Is he still writing?

Discussions of Bangla 'literature'(or rather what the Bengali people read) in SCB 
would be too dry if no one mentions Sheba prokashoni or Masud Rana. ;)
Most readers would be reluctant to accept Sheba publications as 'literature' but
according to a survey I saw a few years back, Masud Rana was the most popular
book/novel series in Bangladesh. This has to bear some meaning. Is this books
being used as a mode of entertainment, or just the young ambitious Bangladeshi's 
quest for vicarious thrill? 
I would have preferred such thrill/suspense to be provided by an original writer, 
though.