Bangladesh!! A country once described as “a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water” by the Chinese traveler and poet Huen Tsang. Mother Earth has been generous to this country with an abundance of natural resources, widespread greenery, beautiful coastlines, and an extensive range of flora and fauna. Bangladesh is that unique country that fought a long war and gained victory for the sake of its mother language, Bengali. And because of this beautiful nation, February 21 is globally identified as the ‘International Mother Language Day’. In this episode, which also went live on February 21, in honor of Mother Language Day (known as ‘Bhasha Dibosh’ in Bengali), I, a proud Bengali from one part of Bengal (West Bengal, India), paid homage to another part of Bengal (Bangladesh). While borders divide the two Bengals, language and culture have kept them united forever. Bangladesh also happens to be the country of my roots. This is where both my parents and most of my ancestral family originally come from. So in this episode, I have picked a very old and rare folktale to pay tribute to my roots and the unique demographic diversity of Bangladesh.
Emerald Lake Story from Pakistan
The world media has created a certain perception of Pakistan through exaggeration and agenda-setting. But beyond all of that, lies another Pakistan. A country rich in cultural and traditional diversity, literature, music, and folklore. This country is a melting pot of Indian, Persian, Afghan, Central Asian, South Asian, and Western Asian influences. The history of this land goes back to the Bronze Age in Indus Valley Civilization. With people from diverse backgrounds, languages, and dialects, Pakistan is much more than what we perceive. Let’s try to know Pakistan a little better through this episode of Ohh Folk!