In a world where the written word is getting overshadowed by images, actors, orators, agent provocateurs and their collective rhetorics- Notes from The Underground is my tribute to the written word. The written word that had stories and logic within it. The written word that wasn't blurted out. The written word that concealed within its … Continue reading The Underground Series: Editor’s Notes
Our guest writer today, Farishta Shahel. Dhaka, Bangladesh. September 2020. I used to be a very confident kid in school- Now that I've brought up the topic of "the school", I'm sure we all have a pretty common set of memories rushing back to us. That so-called best friend picking on you for your looks … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 7: on Being labeled as “Average”
Our guest writer today, Saraf Rahman. Dhaka, Bangladesh. October 2020. "মেয়েটার চেহারার কাট কি সুন্দর খালি রং টা একটু ময়লা/চাপা! এই শোনো, প্রত্যেকদিন কাঁচা হলুদ মাখবা আর দুধ খাবা, দেখবা রং পরিষ্কার হয়ে যাবে!" "তোমার বাবা কি খাওয়ায় না? এত শুকনা মেয়ে কি ভালো লাগে?"ছোটবেলা থেকে এই কথাগুলো আমার কিছু হোক বা না হোক, প্রতিদিন … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 6: “গায়ের রং টা একটু ময়লা!”
Our guest writer today, Debjani Modak. Dhaka, Bangladesh. August 2020. I never made New Year’s resolutions before.A ‘New Year’ had never been something of that significance to me. I saw my Facebook homepage getting flooded with good wishes, photos of celebrations and long lists of promises my friends made to themselves for the upcoming year. … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 9: All of the stardust
Our guest writer today, Mostafa Haque. New York, United States of America. August 2020. I’ve been an adult for around 9 years now – and eight of those I’ve spent on foreign soil. Going abroad always came with the questions of when and where, rather than if. This had more to do with privilege and … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 8: The Frozen Bengali vs Trump Country
Our guest writer today, Dr. Rodela Khan. Dhaka, Bangladesh. June 2020. I Wake up to the ominous sound of my alarm & press snooze. I stare at the ceiling and count the days to Friday, only to realize next Friday is a workday too. My heart flutters, not the good kind, and I become aware … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 5: the Invisible
Our guest writer today, Auroni Semonti Khan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. June 2020. The night when you can hear footsteps. Or is it the water dripping from the age old ACs that seem to work better than the modern ones. Noisy, but bursts of air. The kind that Marilyn Monroe gave birth to and still manages to … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 4: La vie en rose
Our guest writer today, Dr. Samiul Huda, Rajbari, Bangladesh. April 2020. দৌলতদিয়া নিষিদ্ধপল্লী, গোয়ালন্দ। সকালে আধ বেলা Flu & Fever Clinic এ ডিউটি শেষ না করতেই ডাক পড়ল, করোনা সন্দেহজনক রোগী, স্যাম্পলিং করতে যাওয়া লাগবে। প্রথম দুই স্যাম্পল নিলাম দৌলতদিয়া ফেরী ঘাটের ২জন কর্মীর থেকে। পরের স্যাম্পল নিতে যেতে হবে দৌলতদিয়া যৌনপল্লীতে। রোগীর গতকাল থেকে … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 3: নভোচারী
Our guest writer today, Dr. Pritom Das, Dhaka, Bangladesh. June 2020. In the last few days, I've gotten many text messages from people I know, asking where to go to test themselves, what symptoms they are experiencing, how worried they are, where to manage plasma, where ICU seats are available. This has been a heartbreaking … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 2: the frontlines
Our guest writer today, Aaqib Farhan Hossain, Dhaka, Bangladesh. June 2020. I hate the mental health awareness communities in Bangladesh. They complain about mental health not being taken seriously while their own concept of mental health is limited to "anxiety" and "depression." Mental health is so much more than just "depression". And these "listeners" have … Continue reading The Underground, ep. 1: Social Media Mental Health Activists
Notes from the Underground 