A History of Bangladesh

by Willem van Schendel

Bangladesh did not exist as an independent state until 1971. Willem van Schendel's state-of-the-art history navigates the extraordinary twists and turns that created modern Bangladesh through ecological disaster, colonialism, partition, a war of independence and cultural renewal. In this revised and updated edition, Van Schendel offers a fascinating and highly readable account of life in Bangladesh over the last two millennia. Based on the latest academic research and covering the numerous historical developments of the 2010s, he provides an eloquent introduction to a fascinating country and its resilient and inventive people. A perfect survey for travellers, expats, students and scholars alike.

Genres: History, Bangladesh, Nonfiction, India, Economics, Asia, Politics

458 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Willem van Schendel works in the fields of anthropology and history of Asia. He was Professor of Comparative History at Erasmus University Rotterdam, from 1990 to 1996, and then became Professor of Modern Asian History at the University of Amsterdam. Simultaneously he was appointed at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam. His research interests include borderlands, more-than-human history, labour history, indigo production, indigeneity, and photography. His publications deal with South and Southeast Asia, with a special focus on Bangladesh and the Eastern Himalayas.

Reviews

[Jennings Peeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The history of South Asia involves more than just Pakistan and India. This very accessible history of Bangladesh revealed to me a world about which I was very ignorant. My appetite whetted, I am eager to learn more.
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[Awendt06 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this while I was on a long trip to Bangladesh and it helped me understand some of the historical context for what was happening around me in Dhaka and the villages. A great read to get a broad slice of Bangladesh history and a great starting point for those seeking to learn more about this vibrant and complex country.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willem van Schendel, apnake onek dhonnobad! This book is a holistic and concise presentation of the important factors shaping Bangladesh today, which one will encounter if one goes there: every paragraph, almost every sentence really, gives me the means to more deeply understand the background behind the stories, articles, posters, and films I read and saw, and of course the conversations I had, during my two years' time there, without going to specialized sources. My only complaint is that it wasn't around long enough for me to find before I went to Bangladesh for the first time in 2009.

[Adwitiya (অদ্বিতীয়া) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 / 5.0

Willem Schendel's 'A History of Bangladesh' is used as the primary textbooks in many introductory university level Bangladesh Studies courses. But it’s a great read for the general reader too. Originally published in 2009, it intends to map out the entire historical existence of the delta up until recent times. The book covers information upto 2007. 15 years have passed since then but the observations made in this book about the historical trends pervasive in current Bangladeshi society still rings true. I liked how the author managed to examine from many different lenses the process of the ever growing Bangladeshi nationalism as a separate subcontinental identity in the fairly short volume of the text.


~ 7 October 2022

[Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very convincing case for further study of Bangladesh, this book is a spot-on summary of the various threads of current scholarship on this fascinating country. Solidly researched and impeccably argued, by only critique would be that the book is organized too neatly and things seem more cut-and-dry than they really are. A great building block.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty basic, but it sets out to be an introductory history so basic is good. It's breadth is useful in getting ones head around Bangladesh, and the proceeding iterations of Bengal, which is quite a task as the Delta's history is complex and diverse.

[Paul Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bangladesh is a young and slightly mad state founded upon a broad collection of intertwined and frequently unfortunate histories. It's a country you can't help but admire, if it will only stand still long enough for you to get to grips with it.

There's no reason why a Dutchman shouldn't have a bash at making sense of it all, and Van Schendel speaks with authority - if he doesn't know his stuff, I don't know who does. Colonialism, the East India Company, partition, war with Pakistan, floods, famine - it's all here, along with a geographic history of the region and a linear account of contemporary Bangladeshi tribulations. Perhaps it gets a bit Lonely Planet at times, but Van Schendel understands that his job is to hack through a seething mass of source material and present a coherent work at the end of it, and he does this well.

If you're planning to visit this fascinating country, you can't go far wrong with this book. In fact, you can't go far wrong even if you're not planning to visit it, although it will make you wish that you were.

[Masrur · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent birds-eye view of the history of Bangladesh. The author touches on every pertinent issue. The book is very well structured, well illustrated, and provides wonderful tangents in the form of short "boxes". One of the key things I've taken away is that there is no homogenous narrative of the "subcontinent". Key themes of language and religion also emerge throughout the book.

Naturally, there is a lack of detail and prolonged narrative. But that is to be expected. The footnotes and strong bibliography gives the reader plenty to go to if he wants a more in depth discussion.

I would strongly recommend to anybody who has a passing interest in Bangladesh. I've learnt so much.

[Rifat Maruf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a lot about the history of my own country that I weren't aware of (given the fact that I went through English Curriculum Schooling rather than Bangladesh's National Curriculum).
Thanks to Mr.Schendel for summarizing the history of Bengal delta so efficiently and effectively

[Johann_tor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very prim and tight, this conspectus of the history of the Bengal delta is magnificently confident and feels very useful.

[Vrouw To · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative but not heavy, perfect for a first glimpse and to get an idea of your more particular interests and where to look for more information on those subjects. Great visual material, too.

[Robert Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happen to be travelling through Bangladesh now and this book was a great primer on the history of the country, culture and people. It's perfect introduction for a layman.

[Rahat Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

iunno how much i should trust a historian who uses the adjective "bengalian" multiple times. otherwise a good primer on the history my parents never bothered to teach me.

[Tamanna Taher]

I never enjoy reading heavy historical books. But when the book started I got hooked. I have read the history of this Bengal delta in my school textbooks. I live in the perplex situation of modern times. We've read about all the political shifts from our childhood.
But some good things that urged me for this book was
-It covered almost everything that could be touched. From the Vanga king to the modern Bangladesh, Rosogolla to Nagar Baul;everything that has touched this land have been touched in the book.
-It doesn’t give you the intricate details of any scenario. A lot has been going on here in terms of politics,economy, cultural shifts but nevertheless it all has been carefully described so that one maybe interested to study further.
-The most unbiased book,while it talks about the difficulties or the faltering sectors, it also gives the perspective to the development & growth of this Land.

[Fatima Sarder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've long been searching for a book like this -a history of Bangladesh; of Bengal and its people- not just a history of Bangladesh's tumultuous politics. This book covers it all, from the invasion of the Mughals (which contributed much to the subcontinent's cultural landscape) to the eventual formation of Bangladesh as its population fought for freedom from Pakistan; incidentally, Bangladesh is the first country to form on the basis of language.

And sadly, that hard earned right to speak Bangla has now been shunted aside for English (of the colonising overlords) and various shades of slang.

The writing showcases a deep understanding of both the Bengali languages and its myriad of cultures. It is a concise book and yet manages to tell a cohesive and compacted tale.

[Mark Healey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed reading this book and learning about the history of Bangladesh.

My partner is from Sylhet and moved to the UK when he was 8 years old.

I felt it is important to learn about his homeland, the Bengali people, their history, cultures and beliefs.

This book was an important first step. An introduction to how the Bengal delta came into being, the elements that have moulded it, how agriculture and trade has shaped it.

The history of human conflicts and how they influence the politics of the region today.

[Nakibur Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-written and well-researched book. It provides a bird's eye view of delta's ancient and recent past history. Often drawing references from the past events, the writer sought to explain the present aspirations and conflicts among delta's various groups-whether it is political or communal. Interestingly, one will encounter amusing anecdotes, legends and facts about the land and its people while going through the pages. Once the book is completed, one is bound feel closer to the people whose lives are being constantly defined by ecological and political turbulence. Whether you are a Bengali or a foreigner, reading this book will be a pleasant experience while learning to appreciate an ancient culture and its evolution through time and turmoils.

[Don Greenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author throws out a bit of woke progressive academic jargon up front (issues are "interrogated" rather than analyzed) but by and large this is a pretty good and pretty readable overview up to the late 2010s. A bit repetitive at times. Note that I am motivated as I regularly do work in Bangladesh. Without that powerful motivation, I'm not so sure how gripping this would be. I did start skimming towards the end.

[Tanzima Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A History of Bangladesh by Willem van Schendel was a key reference text in one of our academic courses. As an introductory work, it provides a comprehensive foundation for exploring Bangladeshi history. The book is an excellent starting point for readers new to the genre, offering valuable insights into the country’s complex historical narrative

[August Simonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

En konsis og lettlest fagbok som gir en god oversikt over Bangladesh' historie på under 300 sider. Denne boken er det perfekte stedet å begynne om du ønsker å bli kjent med det folkerike landet innerst i Bengalbukta.

[Tasnim Rifat · Rating 1 out of 5]

ভালো না। -_-

[Tahira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, easy and exciting way to get to know one's own ethnical history :) /

[Moureen Islam]

good

[Ish]

stories of resilience, kinship, and pride in identity while living through ecologically challenging conditions. bangladeshis are amazing

[Tahsin Ahmed Ayon · Rating 4 out of 5]

just glad the i finally got to finish a book after some considerable years.

a very easy, accessible, introductory book on Bangladesh.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

While working in Bangladesh for 6 weeks, this book gave my a great insight into the local history and culture. Reading it opened a new world of conversations in Bangladesh for me, especially with older Bangladeshis who can share so much about their own experiences in this unique country.

[Jacob Mardell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My job is essentially travelling and researching different countries' engagement with china - I only really have time for one history book, so I like a real introductory history that gives me a feel for a place and provides necessary context in as general a way as possible, in as fewer words as possible. This book did what I wanted it to do really well, hence the four stars. The text boxes feel a bit school bookish at first, but they do the job of making this book about Bangladesh in as general way as possible, rather than being a simple run through the timeline. Compared to other histories I've read, there's an emphasis on key takeaways and implications of events, rather than dates and names, which I like. It's entertaining, well written, and I found it a lot easier to pick up than most histories. Like I said, I know nothing about Bangladesh (well, a little now), but the author strikes me as someone who has a meaningful, textured understanding of the country.

[Zahidul Choyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the extensive description of the origin of Bengal and it's people. Although the whole book was from a bird eye view and touched a lots of topics. Of course it isn't possible to be politically correct in a book of such capacity.

I liked his writing style which is very simple, easy for a non-english spoken reader.r

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The history of South Asia involves more than just Pakistan and India. This very accessible history of Bangladesh revealed to me a world about which I was very ignorant. My appetite whetted, I am eager to learn more.
•

[Lipon Sarker · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good .....