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Being Hindu In Bangladesh: The Untold Story
For those who carry the scars of Partition, more than seven decades after arbitrary lines scarred the subcontinent, home is still on the other side of the Padma river. They pine for those who were left behind as a great mass of humanity moved from the east to the west of Bengal to settle in Hindu-majority India. Where are they today in the land that was then east Bengal, which became East Pakistan in 1947, and then Bangladesh in 1971? According to an estimate from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, there were 17 million Hindus in Bangladesh in 2015, though the population is steadily dwindling.
Hindus in Bangladesh in the late 2000s were almost evenly distributed in all regions of the country, with large concentrations in Gopalganj, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Jessore, Chittagong and parts of Chittagong's Hill Tracts. Since the rise of Islamist political formations in the country during the 1990s, many Hindus have been threatened or attacked, and substantial numbers are leaving the country for India still.
Despite their dwindling numbers, Hindus wield considerable influence because of their geographical concentration in certain regions of the country. They form a majority of the electorate in at least two parliamentary constituencies and account for more than 25% in at least another thirty. For this reason, they are often the deciding factor in parliamentary elections where victory margins can be extremely narrow. It is also alleged that this is a prime reason for many Hindus being prevented from voting in elections, either through intimidating voters, or through exclusion in voter list revisions.
In Being Hindu in Bangladesh , journalist Deep Halder and academic Avishek Biswas explore the ground realities behind the statistics. Through extensive research in Bangladesh and using archival material and records, they attempt to sift out the truth behind the numbers. Their aim is to find out the lived experience of those who stayed on in the country, and ask important questions about the nature of identity, its connection with religion, and ultimately, the very idea of 'home'.
Hindus in Bangladesh in the late 2000s were almost evenly distributed in all regions of the country, with large concentrations in Gopalganj, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Jessore, Chittagong and parts of Chittagong's Hill Tracts. Since the rise of Islamist political formations in the country during the 1990s, many Hindus have been threatened or attacked, and substantial numbers are leaving the country for India still.
Despite their dwindling numbers, Hindus wield considerable influence because of their geographical concentration in certain regions of the country. They form a majority of the electorate in at least two parliamentary constituencies and account for more than 25% in at least another thirty. For this reason, they are often the deciding factor in parliamentary elections where victory margins can be extremely narrow. It is also alleged that this is a prime reason for many Hindus being prevented from voting in elections, either through intimidating voters, or through exclusion in voter list revisions.
In Being Hindu in Bangladesh , journalist Deep Halder and academic Avishek Biswas explore the ground realities behind the statistics. Through extensive research in Bangladesh and using archival material and records, they attempt to sift out the truth behind the numbers. Their aim is to find out the lived experience of those who stayed on in the country, and ask important questions about the nature of identity, its connection with religion, and ultimately, the very idea of 'home'.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2023
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August 13, 2024
By the time I finished reading this book there is an on going genocide on Hindus of Bangladesh #saveBangladeshiHindus
What started as a war for liberation from the clutches of Islamic terror state west Pakistan which imposed a war not only Urdu on the majority Bengali speakers and but also on the basis of Islam. Though East Pakistan was carved out of Hindu Bharat in 1947 as a country for Islam. Sane voices such as the Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rehman one of the founding fathers of the modern day Bangladesh and few others started their own movement for an inclusive secular state earlier called as Bengali Nationalism was later took shape as “Bangladeshi Nationalism”.
By the year 1971 the war took a different turn Pakistan masterminded a genocide on mainly Bengali Hindus 200k-300K women were violated around 3 Million were killed. Often considered as the worst ethnic cleansing that took place after the Holocaust .
Now to the current scenario the book follows the aftermath of the 2021 Anti-Hindu violence that started on a suspicion of Quran placed under Hanuman’s Idol. As usual Muslim mobs took to streets in a killing spree against the Hindus destroying Temples , breaking idols and setting up fire on their properties. Under the watchful eye of the current Runway PM sheik Hasina. Author with his friend travels through the Vangadesha meeting up the victims of violence on all accounts starting from the infamous Noakhali or the great Calcutta killings on 1946-till 2023.
Author Deep Halder has done a great job in bringing to light of the crimes committed against the Minority Innocent Hindu Populace.
On an average, as of 2016, 632 people from the minority community leave the country each day. This number maybe very high as of now.
Reading this book gives you a clear picture on the atrocities committed by the Islamic asuric army of then West Pakistan and the current Islamic extremism in the current regime.
There is one conversation between a Pakistani jihad Major and a Assistant editor of a Karachi newspaper Anthony Mascarenhas that brings to light how the mindset of the army was.
Editor asks Why target Just Hindus?
“Must I remind you”[Major] Rathore severely,
“how they have tried to destroy Pakistan?
Now under the cover of the fighting we have an excellent opportunity to finish them off”
I recommend everyone who have sympathies only for a certain set of people elsewhere around the world but try to whitewash the Hindu genocide in our own backyard.
Hope to read more about this part of History in future.
What started as a war for liberation from the clutches of Islamic terror state west Pakistan which imposed a war not only Urdu on the majority Bengali speakers and but also on the basis of Islam. Though East Pakistan was carved out of Hindu Bharat in 1947 as a country for Islam. Sane voices such as the Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rehman one of the founding fathers of the modern day Bangladesh and few others started their own movement for an inclusive secular state earlier called as Bengali Nationalism was later took shape as “Bangladeshi Nationalism”.
By the year 1971 the war took a different turn Pakistan masterminded a genocide on mainly Bengali Hindus 200k-300K women were violated around 3 Million were killed. Often considered as the worst ethnic cleansing that took place after the Holocaust .
Now to the current scenario the book follows the aftermath of the 2021 Anti-Hindu violence that started on a suspicion of Quran placed under Hanuman’s Idol. As usual Muslim mobs took to streets in a killing spree against the Hindus destroying Temples , breaking idols and setting up fire on their properties. Under the watchful eye of the current Runway PM sheik Hasina. Author with his friend travels through the Vangadesha meeting up the victims of violence on all accounts starting from the infamous Noakhali or the great Calcutta killings on 1946-till 2023.
Author Deep Halder has done a great job in bringing to light of the crimes committed against the Minority Innocent Hindu Populace.
On an average, as of 2016, 632 people from the minority community leave the country each day. This number maybe very high as of now.
Reading this book gives you a clear picture on the atrocities committed by the Islamic asuric army of then West Pakistan and the current Islamic extremism in the current regime.
There is one conversation between a Pakistani jihad Major and a Assistant editor of a Karachi newspaper Anthony Mascarenhas that brings to light how the mindset of the army was.
Editor asks Why target Just Hindus?
“Must I remind you”[Major] Rathore severely,
“how they have tried to destroy Pakistan?
Now under the cover of the fighting we have an excellent opportunity to finish them off”
I recommend everyone who have sympathies only for a certain set of people elsewhere around the world but try to whitewash the Hindu genocide in our own backyard.
Hope to read more about this part of History in future.
September 19, 2024
Thirty years from now, no Hindus will be left in Bangladesh should the current rate of exodus continue. ‘The rate of exodus over the past 49 years points in that direction,’ predicts Dr Abul Barkat, a Dhaka University professor.
Does this forecast surprise you? Or are you certain that Hindus did not become extinct even after 2000 years of invasions, thus it's all a myth? Read this book regardless of which group you fall into or do not fall into.
Being Hindu in Bangladesh – An Untold Story,” is indeed an untold story. It's a well-researched book on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The author traveled across Bangladesh to gather case studies and documented horrific incidents of violence against Hindus since 1946, and it still continues.
Does this forecast surprise you? Or are you certain that Hindus did not become extinct even after 2000 years of invasions, thus it's all a myth? Read this book regardless of which group you fall into or do not fall into.
Being Hindu in Bangladesh – An Untold Story,” is indeed an untold story. It's a well-researched book on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The author traveled across Bangladesh to gather case studies and documented horrific incidents of violence against Hindus since 1946, and it still continues.
January 26, 2024
A valuable book that is rather poorly edited. Tells a searing story of the horrific genocide of Hindus that was perpetrated by Pakistan in 1971, and that sadly continues in a slow drip over subsequent decades. (Among the grating errors is a reference to Zia ul-Haq at the end, when the man being written about is Ziaur Rahman).
July 14, 2024
I would like to write a bit about my ancestry.All four of my grandparents were born in Bangladesh(called East Bengal then) today,before the partition of India.My maternal grandmother had narrated the horror stories of those days in detail. So,I can understand why writing this sort of a book is necessary.
A book like this holds a mirror to the Bangladeshi government in particular and lots of Asian countries in general about the treatment of minority communities in the respective countries.
The story telling is great as the narrative is woven with back and forth story telling from current scenario to Direct Action Day im 1946 to 1971 and so on.In some parts,one can also feel a sickness in one's stomach when the chapter of atrocities by Pakistani army on common Bengalis unfolds.
The only flaw I found was the author relying sometimes on source like Opindia which whitewash Hindu characters and demonise Muslims.
It is bold book written on a controversial subject.A good read indeed!!
A book like this holds a mirror to the Bangladeshi government in particular and lots of Asian countries in general about the treatment of minority communities in the respective countries.
The story telling is great as the narrative is woven with back and forth story telling from current scenario to Direct Action Day im 1946 to 1971 and so on.In some parts,one can also feel a sickness in one's stomach when the chapter of atrocities by Pakistani army on common Bengalis unfolds.
The only flaw I found was the author relying sometimes on source like Opindia which whitewash Hindu characters and demonise Muslims.
It is bold book written on a controversial subject.A good read indeed!!
December 18, 2023
This is my second book of Deep Halder, and I was unsurprised by the meticulous detail with which he writes. It's a richly detailed exploration of how the intertwined lives of Bengalis, both Hindus and Muslims, have changed throughout history, from the creation of Bangladesh to the present day. It delves into how the initial idea of a secular country with Bangla as its unifying force was gradually undermined by fundamentalists, starting with the assassination of Bangabandhu and culminating in a state that now exhibits a disturbingly consistent pattern of anti-Hindu violence.
As an East Bengal-Bengali Hindu Indian with a family tree that once extended into East Pakistan, but was tragically severed during one of the worst anti-Semitic genocides post-WWII, I must say that this book is a challenging read. It confronted me with a barrage of "what if" questions, leaving me contemplating the alternate paths my history could have taken.
As an East Bengal-Bengali Hindu Indian with a family tree that once extended into East Pakistan, but was tragically severed during one of the worst anti-Semitic genocides post-WWII, I must say that this book is a challenging read. It confronted me with a barrage of "what if" questions, leaving me contemplating the alternate paths my history could have taken.
December 26, 2024
Deep Halder’s Being Hindu in Bangladesh is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by the Hindu community in Bangladesh, a country often depicted through a Muslim-majority lens. Halder's firsthand experience, combined with his investigative reporting, offers an invaluable look at the struggles of Hindus in a society where they are often marginalized.
The book delves into the history of religious identity, cultural preservation and the dynamics of religious minority status in Bangladesh. Halder doesn't just present facts—he humanizes the stories of individuals, their hopes, fears and dreams, making this not just a socio-political commentary but also a deeply personal narrative. His insights into the societal and political forces that shape the lives of Hindus in Bangladesh are both enlightening and sobering.
The author's writing is engaging and accessible, making complex socio-political issues understandable without sacrificing depth. He crafts an intimate portrait of the Hindu community's resilience, resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to their faith and culture in the face of adversity over the period of more than half century. Halder’s own identity as a Hindu adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative, as he explores his own relationship with his heritage. His family once belonged to the then East Pakistan aka East Bengal which made him a victim himself through descendancy or say that he had been made a victim in an ascendancy due to brutalities across the border with time and this added the genetic endurance in his research & then in words while drafting this documented experiences from the land where Hindus were persecuted from indefinite time.
In addition to the collection of personal stories, Being Hindu in Bangladesh offers a historical context that is essential for understanding the present-day struggles of religious minorities in the region. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of Hindu religion, its political diminishing and very self identity, especially in South Asia. This book sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of Bangladesh’s diverse society and raises important questions about religious tolerance, coexistence and human rights. It is an essential read for anyone who's interested in understanding the challenges faced by Hindus in this part of the world. It is not only a powerful and moving narrative but also a call for greater empathy and understanding across religious divides.
This is an extraordinary and deeply emotional work that explores the hardships and struggles faced by Hindus in Bangladesh, both historically and in contemporary society. This investigative collation of facts about the Hindu community is sensitive, thorough and undeniably compelling. His narrative takes us through decades of systemic discrimination, violence and marginalization against world's oldest and most humble religion, Hinduism, shedding light on the trauma faced by many due to both state and societal hostility.
A significant portion of the book delves into the brutal history of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, when millions of Hindus were subjected to horrific assaults by the Pakistani army and Bengali Muslim collaborators. Halder meticulously recounts the atrocities inflicted upon Hindu men, women and even children during this period of brutal violence. He describes in gut-wrenching detail the murders, rapes and abductions of over 5 Lacs that took place, reflecting on how these experiences continue to haunt the collective memory of the whole Hindu community in Bangladesh, an aspiring secular nation as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
During the war, the prejudiced Pakistani military, in collaboration with local Bengali Muslims, particularly targeted Hindus because of they thought that Hindus were keeping their perceived allegiance to India. Hindus were systematically slaughtered, and their villages were raided and destroyed. The Pakistani army saw the Hindu population as sympathizers of the Indian government and as a result, they subjected Hindu men to torture, while Hindu women were subjected to horrific sexual violence. Even teenage girls and female children of merely 3-5 years were not spared from sexual subjugation, a heinous crime. Halder’s book recounts these acts of terror, which were intended not only to eliminate an ethnic group but also to break the spirit of the community by undermining their dignity and heritage from which their own ancestors were converted by brutalities of Mughal invaders few centuries back. Hindu women were often gang-raped by Pakistani soldiers and their Muslim collaborators from this same land who never wanted a free nation apart from Islamic radicalized Pakistan, a horrific pattern of violence that left lasting psychological scars on the survivors. These women faced double stigmatization – once as victims of sexual violence and again as members of a minority religion, often rejected by their own communities. Their Psychological condition after multiple and continuous rapes, as documented in this book, is such that they even forgot who they were and start roaming naked while seeing any muslim men coming closure to their ambient.
The atrocities were not limited to the wartime period. Halder also examines the ongoing violence against Hindus in post-independence Bangladesh, where the repercussions of the 1971 war have continued to shape inter-religious relations. In modern times, Hindus are still subjected to sporadic violence, land grabs, forced conversions, sexual assaults and mental harassments. This societal and political exclusion is exacerbated by the rising tide of extremism, which has led to communal tensions between Hindus and the Muslim majority. The book chronicles instances where Hindu men and women continue to be assaulted, raped and murdered due to their faith and worship practices, and how these acts of violence are often ignored and downplayed by authorities.
A critical aspect of Halder’s work is its focus on the psychological impact of this violence, particularly for the women who suffered the most. Survivors of sexual violence often face lifelong trauma, and many Hindu women who were raped during the war were socially ostracized, not only by the Muslim majority (obviously) but also by their own communities. This long-standing victimization has perpetuated cycles of fear and alienation, contributing to a sense of vulnerability within the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Halder emphasizes how these wounds, though historical, remain relevant today, and they have shaped the current experience of Hindus in Bangladesh. However, those wounds reopened often by the Bangladesh's majoritarian community and recent example is just few weeks back from me writing this review, when again the Hindus were persecuted and left with nothing but to leave for India for their survival.
Through the author’s lens, we see how these violent episodes in history (not so long before) have been swept under the rug, often ignored by mainstream narratives and erased from the collective memory of Bangladesh’s independence movement. Halder’s courage in revisiting these dark chapters of history and highlighting the suffering of Hindu minorities is both timely and important and appreciatingly bravado.
In addition to focusing on violence and oppression, Being Hindu in Bangladesh gives voice to the resilience and perseverance of Hindus who, despite facing decades of persecution, continue to practice their faith and maintain their cultural identity in Bangladesh. The community’s ability to survive and adapt in such a hostile environment is a testament to their strength, and Halder offers these stories of survival as a counter-narrative to the grim history of violence. He underscores the importance of recognizing these stories, not as acts of defiance, but as an integral to the ongoing fight for justice and recognition.
Halder’s book is a powerful work that combines historical research with personal narratives, making it an essential read for anyone wishing to understand the complexities of religious identity and conflict. He provides an unflinching account of the horrors experienced by Hindu men and women during the 1971 war and the violence that continues to plague their community. More than just a chronicle of suffering, the book is a call to reflect on the wider implications of religious intolerance, human rights abuses and the role of history in shaping the present. Taslima Nasrin's Lajja is just another glimpse into the radical-fundamentalist society that has been created and later evolved more conservatively into a core thought process of Islam in Bangladesh and evenly in Pakistan much before here, as preached by their fake leaders who are more fake contractors of crumbled orthodox mindsets than the scholars who they mostly claimed themselves as.
"Being Hindu in Bangladesh" is not only an exploration of the past but also a clarion call for justice, remembrance and healing for those who continue to suffer in silence.
The book delves into the history of religious identity, cultural preservation and the dynamics of religious minority status in Bangladesh. Halder doesn't just present facts—he humanizes the stories of individuals, their hopes, fears and dreams, making this not just a socio-political commentary but also a deeply personal narrative. His insights into the societal and political forces that shape the lives of Hindus in Bangladesh are both enlightening and sobering.
The author's writing is engaging and accessible, making complex socio-political issues understandable without sacrificing depth. He crafts an intimate portrait of the Hindu community's resilience, resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to their faith and culture in the face of adversity over the period of more than half century. Halder’s own identity as a Hindu adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative, as he explores his own relationship with his heritage. His family once belonged to the then East Pakistan aka East Bengal which made him a victim himself through descendancy or say that he had been made a victim in an ascendancy due to brutalities across the border with time and this added the genetic endurance in his research & then in words while drafting this documented experiences from the land where Hindus were persecuted from indefinite time.
In addition to the collection of personal stories, Being Hindu in Bangladesh offers a historical context that is essential for understanding the present-day struggles of religious minorities in the region. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of Hindu religion, its political diminishing and very self identity, especially in South Asia. This book sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of Bangladesh’s diverse society and raises important questions about religious tolerance, coexistence and human rights. It is an essential read for anyone who's interested in understanding the challenges faced by Hindus in this part of the world. It is not only a powerful and moving narrative but also a call for greater empathy and understanding across religious divides.
This is an extraordinary and deeply emotional work that explores the hardships and struggles faced by Hindus in Bangladesh, both historically and in contemporary society. This investigative collation of facts about the Hindu community is sensitive, thorough and undeniably compelling. His narrative takes us through decades of systemic discrimination, violence and marginalization against world's oldest and most humble religion, Hinduism, shedding light on the trauma faced by many due to both state and societal hostility.
A significant portion of the book delves into the brutal history of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, when millions of Hindus were subjected to horrific assaults by the Pakistani army and Bengali Muslim collaborators. Halder meticulously recounts the atrocities inflicted upon Hindu men, women and even children during this period of brutal violence. He describes in gut-wrenching detail the murders, rapes and abductions of over 5 Lacs that took place, reflecting on how these experiences continue to haunt the collective memory of the whole Hindu community in Bangladesh, an aspiring secular nation as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
During the war, the prejudiced Pakistani military, in collaboration with local Bengali Muslims, particularly targeted Hindus because of they thought that Hindus were keeping their perceived allegiance to India. Hindus were systematically slaughtered, and their villages were raided and destroyed. The Pakistani army saw the Hindu population as sympathizers of the Indian government and as a result, they subjected Hindu men to torture, while Hindu women were subjected to horrific sexual violence. Even teenage girls and female children of merely 3-5 years were not spared from sexual subjugation, a heinous crime. Halder’s book recounts these acts of terror, which were intended not only to eliminate an ethnic group but also to break the spirit of the community by undermining their dignity and heritage from which their own ancestors were converted by brutalities of Mughal invaders few centuries back. Hindu women were often gang-raped by Pakistani soldiers and their Muslim collaborators from this same land who never wanted a free nation apart from Islamic radicalized Pakistan, a horrific pattern of violence that left lasting psychological scars on the survivors. These women faced double stigmatization – once as victims of sexual violence and again as members of a minority religion, often rejected by their own communities. Their Psychological condition after multiple and continuous rapes, as documented in this book, is such that they even forgot who they were and start roaming naked while seeing any muslim men coming closure to their ambient.
The atrocities were not limited to the wartime period. Halder also examines the ongoing violence against Hindus in post-independence Bangladesh, where the repercussions of the 1971 war have continued to shape inter-religious relations. In modern times, Hindus are still subjected to sporadic violence, land grabs, forced conversions, sexual assaults and mental harassments. This societal and political exclusion is exacerbated by the rising tide of extremism, which has led to communal tensions between Hindus and the Muslim majority. The book chronicles instances where Hindu men and women continue to be assaulted, raped and murdered due to their faith and worship practices, and how these acts of violence are often ignored and downplayed by authorities.
A critical aspect of Halder’s work is its focus on the psychological impact of this violence, particularly for the women who suffered the most. Survivors of sexual violence often face lifelong trauma, and many Hindu women who were raped during the war were socially ostracized, not only by the Muslim majority (obviously) but also by their own communities. This long-standing victimization has perpetuated cycles of fear and alienation, contributing to a sense of vulnerability within the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Halder emphasizes how these wounds, though historical, remain relevant today, and they have shaped the current experience of Hindus in Bangladesh. However, those wounds reopened often by the Bangladesh's majoritarian community and recent example is just few weeks back from me writing this review, when again the Hindus were persecuted and left with nothing but to leave for India for their survival.
Through the author’s lens, we see how these violent episodes in history (not so long before) have been swept under the rug, often ignored by mainstream narratives and erased from the collective memory of Bangladesh’s independence movement. Halder’s courage in revisiting these dark chapters of history and highlighting the suffering of Hindu minorities is both timely and important and appreciatingly bravado.
In addition to focusing on violence and oppression, Being Hindu in Bangladesh gives voice to the resilience and perseverance of Hindus who, despite facing decades of persecution, continue to practice their faith and maintain their cultural identity in Bangladesh. The community’s ability to survive and adapt in such a hostile environment is a testament to their strength, and Halder offers these stories of survival as a counter-narrative to the grim history of violence. He underscores the importance of recognizing these stories, not as acts of defiance, but as an integral to the ongoing fight for justice and recognition.
Halder’s book is a powerful work that combines historical research with personal narratives, making it an essential read for anyone wishing to understand the complexities of religious identity and conflict. He provides an unflinching account of the horrors experienced by Hindu men and women during the 1971 war and the violence that continues to plague their community. More than just a chronicle of suffering, the book is a call to reflect on the wider implications of religious intolerance, human rights abuses and the role of history in shaping the present. Taslima Nasrin's Lajja is just another glimpse into the radical-fundamentalist society that has been created and later evolved more conservatively into a core thought process of Islam in Bangladesh and evenly in Pakistan much before here, as preached by their fake leaders who are more fake contractors of crumbled orthodox mindsets than the scholars who they mostly claimed themselves as.
"Being Hindu in Bangladesh" is not only an exploration of the past but also a clarion call for justice, remembrance and healing for those who continue to suffer in silence.
December 3, 2023
'Being Hindu in Bangladesh' is a profoundly enlightening and intellectually stimulating book that delves into the nuances of the experiences and obstacles encountered by the Hindu community residing in Bangladesh. With a comprehensive examination, it skillfully raises crucial considerations surrounding religious identity, tolerance, and the protection of minority rights. Authors Deep Halder and Avishek Biswas exhibited exceptional competence by actively engaging with the local population and personally visiting different areas of Bangladesh, which ultimately resulted in the creation of a genuinely authentic depiction of the prevailing circumstances in the country.
November 29, 2023
The book tells a forbidden story. We talk of Pakistani Hindus and forget to mention the plight of the Bangladeshi brethren. The book could have been more detailed but is a good starting point for anyone who wishes to understand the subject. The language is simple but the content is solid.
February 17, 2024
This short book of less than 200 pages brings to light the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh since its independence from Pakistan. Co-Authors Deep Halder and Avishek Biswas are both from refugee families their ancestors were born in undivided Indian Bengal.
This book also gives us brief history of Bangladesh. The eastern part of Bengal became East Bengal first with partition of India in 1947 and later in 1955 it was re-named East Pakistan. As authors say, “the land snatched its bloody freedom from West Pakistan in 1971 and became Bangladesh.” In 1971, during its inception bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman dreamt of a country for both Hindus and Muslims and others with Bangla as the common language, Bengali culture as the glue between citizens of the different faith. During one of his speeches Bangabandhu famously said that, Bangla doesn’t belong to either Hindus or Muslims, it belongs to those who feel happiness seeing it prosper. Bangladesh was declared a secular state in 1971 things changed in following years and Islam was declared stated religion in 1988. After Mujib’s assassination country faced dictatorship and reign of fundamentalists.
According to the authors, Sheik Mujibur Rehman planted a seed of secular Bangladesh in heart of Bangladeshis. After his demise fundamentalists crushed that dream and targeted Hindu population as per data provided in the book Hindu population has gone down from 13.5 % in 1974 to 7.9% in 2022. Data says that thirty years from now no Hindu will be left in Bangladesh if the current rate of exodus continues. The main reasons behind this declining populations of Hindus are genocide by the fundamentalists and migration to save the life. Genocide-
History of Hindu genocides starts from 1946 when Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared direct action day and told congress that either they want divided India or destroyed India. Authors has written account of that fateful even of history when Islamic fundamentalists carried out a planned killing of Hindus. In one account authors write that On 17 February 1947, a local religious leader, Maulvi Khalilur Rahman told Gandhi that religious conversion was the only way to save the Hindus. And those who didn't change, their gods would fall to the sword, and they did. After that Hindus we’re repeatedly targeting in Mujib’s “el dorado”, during 1971 liberation war, 2001 when awami league lost election and 2021 Durga Puja incident millions of Hindus have been killed, women have been r@ped and forced into conversion in Bangladesh. It is a bigger issue than Rohingyas but not a single soul talks about it openly on big stages. Authors go in very detail behind all this in the book.
I finished this book with a heavy heart, reading every single page was a burden to my soul. How cruel is the world and how can selfish reasons ruin the beauty of it. The way happenings have been narrated in this book will make readers cry. It is our ill fortune that even after so many years of independence some of us are facing horrible things and we are doing nothing in the matter. My soft heart cries for the people who saw their won die, who lost their home and who will never meet people they have lost to the heinous face of humanity. Shame on politicians who don’t value human life over their ill-intentions, and shame on so called religious people(regardless of their religion) I’m sure their god definitely not proud of their acts.
This book also gives us brief history of Bangladesh. The eastern part of Bengal became East Bengal first with partition of India in 1947 and later in 1955 it was re-named East Pakistan. As authors say, “the land snatched its bloody freedom from West Pakistan in 1971 and became Bangladesh.” In 1971, during its inception bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman dreamt of a country for both Hindus and Muslims and others with Bangla as the common language, Bengali culture as the glue between citizens of the different faith. During one of his speeches Bangabandhu famously said that, Bangla doesn’t belong to either Hindus or Muslims, it belongs to those who feel happiness seeing it prosper. Bangladesh was declared a secular state in 1971 things changed in following years and Islam was declared stated religion in 1988. After Mujib’s assassination country faced dictatorship and reign of fundamentalists.
According to the authors, Sheik Mujibur Rehman planted a seed of secular Bangladesh in heart of Bangladeshis. After his demise fundamentalists crushed that dream and targeted Hindu population as per data provided in the book Hindu population has gone down from 13.5 % in 1974 to 7.9% in 2022. Data says that thirty years from now no Hindu will be left in Bangladesh if the current rate of exodus continues. The main reasons behind this declining populations of Hindus are genocide by the fundamentalists and migration to save the life. Genocide-
History of Hindu genocides starts from 1946 when Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared direct action day and told congress that either they want divided India or destroyed India. Authors has written account of that fateful even of history when Islamic fundamentalists carried out a planned killing of Hindus. In one account authors write that On 17 February 1947, a local religious leader, Maulvi Khalilur Rahman told Gandhi that religious conversion was the only way to save the Hindus. And those who didn't change, their gods would fall to the sword, and they did. After that Hindus we’re repeatedly targeting in Mujib’s “el dorado”, during 1971 liberation war, 2001 when awami league lost election and 2021 Durga Puja incident millions of Hindus have been killed, women have been r@ped and forced into conversion in Bangladesh. It is a bigger issue than Rohingyas but not a single soul talks about it openly on big stages. Authors go in very detail behind all this in the book.
I finished this book with a heavy heart, reading every single page was a burden to my soul. How cruel is the world and how can selfish reasons ruin the beauty of it. The way happenings have been narrated in this book will make readers cry. It is our ill fortune that even after so many years of independence some of us are facing horrible things and we are doing nothing in the matter. My soft heart cries for the people who saw their won die, who lost their home and who will never meet people they have lost to the heinous face of humanity. Shame on politicians who don’t value human life over their ill-intentions, and shame on so called religious people(regardless of their religion) I’m sure their god definitely not proud of their acts.
August 17, 2024
"Being Hindu in Bangladesh" by Avishek Biswas and Deep Halder:
"This poignant and powerful book sheds light on the atrocious conditions faced by Hindus in Bangladesh, a reality that is often overlooked by the international community. Through personal narratives, historical context, and meticulous research, Biswas and Halder expose the systemic persecution, violence, and marginalization of Hindus in Bangladesh.
As the authors note, "The Hindu minority in Bangladesh has been facing discrimination, violence, and forced conversions for decades, leading to a steady decline in their population." The book highlights the various forms of oppression, from land grabbing and temple desecration to forced marriages and conversions.
Recent incidents, such as the 2020 Durga Puja violence and the 2022 Comilla temple attacks, demonstrate the escalating nature of these atrocities. The authors argue that these incidents are not isolated events, but rather symptoms of a deeper malaise of intolerance and bigotry.
The book is a testament to the resilience and courage of Bangladesh's Hindu community, who continue to practice their faith despite overwhelming odds. As Biswas and Halder write, "The Hindus of Bangladesh are not just victims; they are also survivors, and their stories need to be told."
This book is a clarion call for action, urging the international community to acknowledge and address the plight of Bangladesh's Hindus. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about human rights, religious freedom, and social justice
"This poignant and powerful book sheds light on the atrocious conditions faced by Hindus in Bangladesh, a reality that is often overlooked by the international community. Through personal narratives, historical context, and meticulous research, Biswas and Halder expose the systemic persecution, violence, and marginalization of Hindus in Bangladesh.
As the authors note, "The Hindu minority in Bangladesh has been facing discrimination, violence, and forced conversions for decades, leading to a steady decline in their population." The book highlights the various forms of oppression, from land grabbing and temple desecration to forced marriages and conversions.
Recent incidents, such as the 2020 Durga Puja violence and the 2022 Comilla temple attacks, demonstrate the escalating nature of these atrocities. The authors argue that these incidents are not isolated events, but rather symptoms of a deeper malaise of intolerance and bigotry.
The book is a testament to the resilience and courage of Bangladesh's Hindu community, who continue to practice their faith despite overwhelming odds. As Biswas and Halder write, "The Hindus of Bangladesh are not just victims; they are also survivors, and their stories need to be told."
This book is a clarion call for action, urging the international community to acknowledge and address the plight of Bangladesh's Hindus. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about human rights, religious freedom, and social justice
February 6, 2024
Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government made every effort to ensure the horrors of the
2021 Durga Puja violence did not come back to haunt
Hindu devotees in 2022.
Oh, is that so? Did these 'researchers' try to find who were the instigators behind these acts of communal violence? Did they examine why police and the rest of the administration hadn't responded to such crises? How do the extremists get these chances flying in the face of so-called 'secularist' belief of Awami League?
Also I can see an affable pose with Bangladesh president who 'who recounted the horrors of 2001 anti-Hindu violence after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
came to power'. Sure they were evil but no greater than the current unelected autocratic regime is playing with people's lives in general; at times enabling Islamists against Hindus and other religious minorities as well as other non-Islamists.
Does HarperCollins nowadays publish whatever is besought to do so?
August 9, 2024
Suffering of the innocent minority
Some stories never get told in public for want of a proper medium of communication. However, the suffering of the Hindu Minority in Bangladesh is not something we Bharatiya people can set aside. Every Bharatiya who has a heart should read this Untold Story by the author duo. Their ancestors having experienced the inhuman suffering executed by brainwashed animals in the name of religion this needs to be supported for spreading awareness and keeping humanity alive.
The recent events that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina were never imagined as she had recently won the elections in January 2024. But things happen when it is least expected and maybe that's life where we don't have control.
Even with all these dark clouds the hope lives on....
Some stories never get told in public for want of a proper medium of communication. However, the suffering of the Hindu Minority in Bangladesh is not something we Bharatiya people can set aside. Every Bharatiya who has a heart should read this Untold Story by the author duo. Their ancestors having experienced the inhuman suffering executed by brainwashed animals in the name of religion this needs to be supported for spreading awareness and keeping humanity alive.
The recent events that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina were never imagined as she had recently won the elections in January 2024. But things happen when it is least expected and maybe that's life where we don't have control.
Even with all these dark clouds the hope lives on....
February 11, 2024
A rather heartbreaking investigation into minorities in a country ravaged by contesting desires to be secular and non-secular. The story highlights the parallel fissures India may also face soon enough, so in that sense, perhaps it serves as a warning. Also, much-needed insight into a genocide that not enough people write about, and is insufficiently memorialised. Would have benefited from more length+better copy editing though.
December 4, 2023
Very well written document with highly captivating real life untold stories describing the actual horrors of hindus in Bangladesh. The book is indeed a great work of art filled with extensive research about different stories of the misdeeds including brutal representations of operation searchlight conducted by the then pakistani govt.
July 27, 2025
The book is neatly written with the historical facts and truly depicts the atrocities done on Hindus of East Pakistan by the Bengali Muslims. The hypocrisy of World Super Power and so called Humanitarian organisation is exposed to a great extent. Excellent book when someone wants to know more about history and geopolitics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2024
This book had the potential to be a great one. The preface seemed promising. But the rest of the book came out as mediocre. They should have researched more rigorously the topic and focused mainly on the recent incidents. Nevertheless, it is worth a read.
January 3, 2025
Eye opener of sorts. Could have been edited better.
October 29, 2024
Book : One of the many buys at Airport. I think this was from Kolkata Airport in March this year. I have read earlier book Blood Islan by Deep Haldr during Covid and loved his investigative style and writing. It's more like reporting, less feelings and opinions and more reporting as it is from Ground Zero.
All the books I have read. It has taken away a part of me and given me something in written. May be took a bit of Innocene and more of maturity or smartness or some call it shrewdness or materialism or worldly wise.
I have learnt more from the book on ways of the world then dealing with people. I have been mostly lucky on that front, mostly lucky.
This book reinforced my belief on the concept of secularism and that it's not a one way street. Giving glimpses of history formation of Bangladesh. It took me to hinterlands and exposed me to fractures of society. Frankly nor much different from what we see in Kashmir or parts of Assam, Bangladesh, Kerala, Maharashtra.
Tolerance needs to be dealt with Tolerancd but there has to he agility to deal with Intolerance with Intolerance.
Respect of other faith is not a one way street. Many cultures have washed and I doubt Bangladesh will survive in the wave Led by sword. A land of fakirs or Pirs, Land of Baul or Baba Lokenath, The land of MA Dhakeswari is not a familiar land as many would have known it 30 years or 50 years back. It's not land of Bangabandhu nor of Pir Sarwar anymore. India is right in protecting Sheikh Hasin and she is the last hope and this is the last chance for Bengal.
All the books I have read. It has taken away a part of me and given me something in written. May be took a bit of Innocene and more of maturity or smartness or some call it shrewdness or materialism or worldly wise.
I have learnt more from the book on ways of the world then dealing with people. I have been mostly lucky on that front, mostly lucky.
This book reinforced my belief on the concept of secularism and that it's not a one way street. Giving glimpses of history formation of Bangladesh. It took me to hinterlands and exposed me to fractures of society. Frankly nor much different from what we see in Kashmir or parts of Assam, Bangladesh, Kerala, Maharashtra.
Tolerance needs to be dealt with Tolerancd but there has to he agility to deal with Intolerance with Intolerance.
Respect of other faith is not a one way street. Many cultures have washed and I doubt Bangladesh will survive in the wave Led by sword. A land of fakirs or Pirs, Land of Baul or Baba Lokenath, The land of MA Dhakeswari is not a familiar land as many would have known it 30 years or 50 years back. It's not land of Bangabandhu nor of Pir Sarwar anymore. India is right in protecting Sheikh Hasin and she is the last hope and this is the last chance for Bengal.
August 12, 2024
This book shows the reality of Bangladeshi Hindus that were hidden from us Indians. It's a silent suffering for them. It is a well researched story of the untold plight of a people of minority religion. Through extensive study of archives, records & ground research in Bangladesh, Deep Halder and Avishek write about the lived experience of the Hindus there.
Bangladesh fought for freedom from imposed Urdu and a love for the Bengali language, which led to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. After 1971, Urdu schools were closed down. Urdu vanished from both primary and higher education. As an optional paper, Urdu had to be discontinued after 2002 as Urdu teachers and Urdu books were no longer available. But through the years, there has been a constant political pressure to regularize Urdu in Bangladesh, a country formed after rejecting Urdu! More emphasis is given to Urdu, Arabic and Persian. The book traverses between the past and the present of Bangadesh & lives of its Hindus. Effortlessly written but wrenches the heart.
It started with a constitutional amendment in 1975 that replaced the phrase 'Bengali Nationalism' with 'Bangladeshi nationalism'. This kind of slogan is there. “Amra sobai hobo Taliban, Bangla hobe Afghanistan”(“We will be the Taliban and Bangladesh will be Afghanistan”).
There are many exclusive narratives present the events of sufferings through the eyes of those who were a part of it and the effect it had-and still has-on their lives. One of the most comprehensive accounts of a tragic watershed of Hindus of Bangladesh.
The present book describes in detail the horrible incidents of the minorities- sometimes the details are too gory to be comfortable. In a way it is good to write about these incidents so that one can repeat the moral of the holocaust: "Never again".
Reminds me of some books, I read a long time ago. If you are interested, go for it.
1. Bangladesh: Treading the Taliban Trail by Jaideep Saikia.
2. The Minority Massacre in Bangladesh, Ignored by the World : Gut-wrenching details of merciless massacre, faith related persecution and ethnic cleansing of Bangladesh by Akshay Jog
3. Subjects, citizens, and refugees: Tragedy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, 1947-1998 by Saradindu Mukherji
4. The Genocide That Was Never Told by Vinayaka Bhatta Muroor
5. Bengal's Hindu Holocaust : The Partition of India & Its Aftermath by Sachi G. Dastidar
6. A Quiet Case of Ethnic Cleansing: The Murder of Bangladesh's Hindus by Richard L. Benkin
Bangladesh fought for freedom from imposed Urdu and a love for the Bengali language, which led to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. After 1971, Urdu schools were closed down. Urdu vanished from both primary and higher education. As an optional paper, Urdu had to be discontinued after 2002 as Urdu teachers and Urdu books were no longer available. But through the years, there has been a constant political pressure to regularize Urdu in Bangladesh, a country formed after rejecting Urdu! More emphasis is given to Urdu, Arabic and Persian. The book traverses between the past and the present of Bangadesh & lives of its Hindus. Effortlessly written but wrenches the heart.
It started with a constitutional amendment in 1975 that replaced the phrase 'Bengali Nationalism' with 'Bangladeshi nationalism'. This kind of slogan is there. “Amra sobai hobo Taliban, Bangla hobe Afghanistan”(“We will be the Taliban and Bangladesh will be Afghanistan”).
There are many exclusive narratives present the events of sufferings through the eyes of those who were a part of it and the effect it had-and still has-on their lives. One of the most comprehensive accounts of a tragic watershed of Hindus of Bangladesh.
The present book describes in detail the horrible incidents of the minorities- sometimes the details are too gory to be comfortable. In a way it is good to write about these incidents so that one can repeat the moral of the holocaust: "Never again".
Reminds me of some books, I read a long time ago. If you are interested, go for it.
1. Bangladesh: Treading the Taliban Trail by Jaideep Saikia.
2. The Minority Massacre in Bangladesh, Ignored by the World : Gut-wrenching details of merciless massacre, faith related persecution and ethnic cleansing of Bangladesh by Akshay Jog
3. Subjects, citizens, and refugees: Tragedy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, 1947-1998 by Saradindu Mukherji
4. The Genocide That Was Never Told by Vinayaka Bhatta Muroor
5. Bengal's Hindu Holocaust : The Partition of India & Its Aftermath by Sachi G. Dastidar
6. A Quiet Case of Ethnic Cleansing: The Murder of Bangladesh's Hindus by Richard L. Benkin
February 26, 2024
This is a quick read and explains the history of Bangladesh formation & current state in precise and easy to understand format. I found this book good and would recommend for people who want to start reading about Bangladesh situation as this will provide them with a basic idea about the same. The author made the complex topic easy to understand and informative.
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