Sarmistha Dutta Gupta
Translated fiction: An anthology of short stories by Bengali Muslim writers
An excerpt from 'The Merchant of Sagar Island' by Abdul Jabbar in 'Stayed Back, Stayed On: Short Stories by Bengali Muslim Writers', edited by Epsita Halder.
Abdul Jabbar
,
Sarmistha Dutta Gupta
&
Shambhobi Ghosh
· 7 minutes ago
What were Rabindranath Tagore's views on the proposal of a memorial at the Jallianwala Bagh?
An excerpt from 'The Jallianwala Bagh Journals', by Sarmistha Dutta Gupta.
Sarmistha Dutta Gupta
· Apr 22, 2024 · 08:30 am
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21-07-2025
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How Bengali Harlem's lost history challenges America's immigration certainties
As immigration enforcement intensifies across the United States, Alaudin Ullah finds himself immersed in a history most Americans have never heard about. The New York-based comedian-turned-actor and playwright has spent over 25 years documenting the forgotten story of his father and thousands of other Bengali Muslim seamen who jumped ship at American ports in the late 19th and early 20th century. Facing exclusion laws similar to today's deportation drives under President Donald Trump, these sailors embedded themselves in New York's Black and Latino communities in Harlem, opened some of America's first South Asian restaurants and rubbed shoulders with participants in radical political movements that would reshape the US. What Ullah discovered challenged everything he thought he knew and formed a new conception of South Asian immigration to the United States: it placed Bengali Muslims from present-day Bangladesh and India's West Bengal as the central protagonists in the narrative. An unknown chapter Ullah knew none of this history when he was growing up in an East Harlem housing project in the 1980s. Like many rebellious second-generation immigrants, he spent years rejecting his Bengali identity and distancing himself from the world of his father Habib Ullah. But in 1998, a decade after his father's death, Ullah began sharing fragmented stories of his father's arrival in New York with the academic and filmmaker Vivek Bald. Bald, whose own family had arrived after the 1965 Immigration Act opened doors for educated South Asian professionals to move to the United States, realised they were uncovering an older and unknown chapter of South Asian immigration. If Habib had arrived in the 1920s, he would have entered America when immigration from most of Asia was banned in the country and when the United States Supreme Court ruled that Asians were 'not free, not white'. Yet thousands of men like Habib found ways around the ban. When his ship docked in Boston, Habib stayed behind and eventually made his way to New York, where he found a job as a dishwasher in upscale hotels like The Commodore (a former name for the Hyatt Grand Central). 'He worked in the kitchens of these hotels alongside Black and Puerto Rican workers,' explained Alaudin Ullah. Habib Ullah's story and the history of other Bengali Muslim men like him is the focus of the documentary In Search of Bengali Harlem, completed in 2022 by Vivek Bald which features Ullah as the narrator. Play Habib Ullah married a woman named Victoria Echevarria, an immigrant from Puerto Rico. After Victoria's untimely death, Habib raised their son, Habib Jr, but sent their daughter to live with her mother's relatives and friends. In the 1960s, Habib returned to his village, Noakhali in present-day Bangladesh, for the first time in 40 years. It was no longer under British colonial rule. Partition had made Noakhali a part of East Pakistan. Habib married a young Bengali woman named Mohima. The two moved to Harlem and had two sons. The younger of the two, Alaudin Ullah was in his early teens when his father died. 'I had known little of him and blamed him for abandoning my half-sister,' said Ullah. 'And I didn't get a lot of answers about our past from my mother.' Mohima was isolated in the public housing complex they lived in, and struggled to raise her sons, said Ullah. Unlike neighbourhoods like Jackson Heights in New York today, where it is possible to live surrounded by people from your home country, Mohima was living in ethnically diverse Harlem where her family was among the only Bengalis in a Black and Puerto Rican neighborhood. In the early 20th century, Harlem became a hub for African American communities arriving from the American South, as well as immigrants from the Black, Hispanic and Asian diasporas. Bengali seafarers such Habib Ullah moved from the Lower East Side, where they initially worked, to Harlem, where undocumented immigrants like him could blend in and stay undetected by authorities. By the 1950s and '60s, many of those families had moved to other parts of New York or even farther away. The stories of these vibrant communities have faded in New York today. Perhaps, that process was accelerated by a 1965 change in US immigration law that drove a new wave of South Asians, particularly highly educated people, to the United States. These immigrations were often perceived as 'model minorities' who overshadowed undocumented working-class immigrants from the subcontinent. Stories like Habib Ullah's were largely unheard of when Bald and Ullah began their research. They dug up newspaper clippings, ship records and cross-checked marriage certificates to discover waves of Bengali immigration going back to the 1880s. By the 1940s, Habib Ullah and Victoria Echevarria ran the Bengal Garden restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, a precursor to the South Asian restaurants that would later dominate New York's Sixth Street. One thread running through the documentary is Ullah's search for a dimly remembered family photograph. It was said to show Ibrahim Choudry, a Bengali immigrant, standing with Malcolm X, the African-American leader who was prominent in the civil rights movement, surrounded by African American and South Asian Muslims. The photograph has acquired near-mythical status – a missing link that could cement the presence of Bengali migrants firmly in Black American history. Ullah is still hoping to find that photograph one day. 'What we do know is that Malcolm X and other contemporaries like Felipe Luciano from the Young Lords [a radical 1960s group led by Puerto Rican youth] would often eat at South Asian restaurants run by my father and his contemporaries,' said Ullah. These Bengali-owned establishments served some of the only halal food available in the city, drawing African American converts to Islam. Choudry and his contemporaries, including Ullah's father Habib Ullah, maintained an interest in subcontinental nationalism, forming social-cum-political clubs such as the Pakistan League of America. The League's membership – predominantly former seamen, along with their African American and Puerto Rican wives and children – embodied a very different model of community building from the other South Asian immigrant organisations that were to follow. In recent decades, New York's South Asian community has been transformed by newer waves of immigration settling in several parts of the city. It is easier for married couples to immigrate together, reducing the need to find partners in the US. 'Today's South Asian community has the luxury of numbers that my father's generation didn't have,' Ullah noted. 'But with that has come a kind of insularity. I think we've lost something important about what it means to be part of broader justice movements.'
Scroll.in
08-07-2025
- Scroll.in
Sarmistha Dutta Gupta
Stories written by Translated fiction: An anthology of short stories by Bengali Muslim writers An excerpt from 'The Merchant of Sagar Island' by Abdul Jabbar in 'Stayed Back, Stayed On: Short Stories by Bengali Muslim Writers', edited by Epsita Halder. Abdul Jabbar , Sarmistha Dutta Gupta & Shambhobi Ghosh · 7 minutes ago What were Rabindranath Tagore's views on the proposal of a memorial at the Jallianwala Bagh? An excerpt from 'The Jallianwala Bagh Journals', by Sarmistha Dutta Gupta. Sarmistha Dutta Gupta · Apr 22, 2024 · 08:30 am
Time of India
23-05-2025
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Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025: Date, school holiday, biography, contributions & best birthday wishes
Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025: Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025 will be celebrated on 26th May 2025, which falls on a Monday. It marks the birth anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam. He was a famous Bengali poet, musician, and freedom fighter. This day is a public holiday in Tripura. It is celebrated with joy in West Bengal, Tripura, and Bangladesh. When is Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025? Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti celebrates the birth of Kazi Nazrul Islam. He is famously known as the "Rebel Poet." He was born on 24th May 1899 in Churulia, British India (now in West Bengal). Nazrul was a well-known poet, musician, and freedom fighter. His work inspired people during the fight for independence from British rule. He wrote boldly against social injustice, religious hatred, and gender inequality. He is deeply respected in Bengali literature and culture. Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti School Holiday 2025 In 2025, Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti is a public holiday in Tripura. Schools in the region will stay closed on this day. The holiday gives students and people a chance to take part in cultural programs. Biography of Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam was born into a Bengali Muslim family. He showed interest in the arts from a young age while working with a rural theatre group. He later joined the British Indian Army during World War I. After the war, he became a journalist in Kolkata. There, his nationalist and revolutionary thoughts grew stronger. Nazrul was famous for his fiery poems and songs. He wrote nearly 4,000 songs, known as 'Nazrul Geeti.' These songs are still loved by Bengali-speaking people. Sadly, Nazrul suffered from Pick's disease, a rare brain disorder. His health slowly declined, and he became isolated. In 1972, he moved to Bangladesh. There, he was honoured as the national poet. He passed away in 1976. Famous Contributions of Kazi Nazrul Islam to Bengali Literature Nazrul's poetry was different from traditional Bengali writing. He wrote about freedom, love, equality, and justice. He composed thousands of songs. These songs still influence Bengali music and culture today. Nazrul stood against all kinds of oppression and hate. He supported peace between communities and spoke up for women's rights. His powerful words inspired the fight for freedom in both India and Bangladesh. How is Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti Celebrated? The day is celebrated with cultural programs, poetry recitations, and musical performances. Seminars are also held to highlight Nazrul's life and work. Schools, colleges, and cultural groups organise events. These events honour his role in literature and social change. Best Birthday Wishes for Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025 'Happy Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025! May the spirit of the Rebel Poet inspire us to fight for justice, equality, and freedom every day.' 'On this special day, let's remember the fearless voice of Kazi Nazrul Islam who taught us to stand against oppression. Happy Nazrul Jayanti!' 'Wishing you a meaningful Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti! May his poetry and songs continue to enlighten and empower generations.' 'Happy Birthday to the poet of revolution and love! Kazi Nazrul Islam's legacy will forever inspire us to rise above hatred and injustice.' 'Celebrate the birth anniversary of the great Kazi Nazrul Islam by embracing his message of unity and courage. Happy Nazrul Jayanti 2025!' 'May the fearless words of Kazi Nazrul Islam ignite the flame of hope and change in our hearts. Wishing you a joyful Nazrul Jayanti!' 'Remembering the poet who gave voice to the voiceless. Happy Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti! Let's keep his revolutionary spirit alive.' 'On Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti, let's honor the legacy of a true visionary who fought for freedom with pen and music. Happy Birthday!' 'Wishing everyone a blessed Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025! May his teachings inspire peace, harmony, and courage in our lives.' 'Happy Nazrul Jayanti! May the immortal words of Kazi Nazrul Islam continue to guide us towards justice and equality.' Why is Kazi Nazrul Islam Called the Rebel Poet? Kazi Nazrul Islam is known as the "Rebel Poet." His poetry was bold and fearless. He strongly opposed British rule and social injustice. His famous poem Bidrohi ("The Rebel") expresses his defiance against tyranny. It shows his strong spirit to fight for freedom and equality. Nazrul's writings also spoke out against religious hatred and caste discrimination. He stood for unity and justice. His activism went beyond poetry. He took part in protests and was even imprisoned for his views. This made him a true symbol of rebellion and human dignity. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
