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Editorial

The Boishakh of Renewal

The Bengali New Year, so endearingly articulated in the vernacular as Pahela Boishakh, calls for the Bengali communities living across the world to celebrate their common cultural roots. It is as much a celebration of life as it is a way to come to terms with our collective memory. In the changing patterns of history, when global cultures and national identity can easily coexist, we at Colors feels it is the time to rewire ourselves.
Boishakh brings newness through destruction. Rabindranth Tagore did cast one of his songs on the theme of how Boishakhi jhar blows away what is old and trite. The song’s original motive was to make the educated class aware of the natural processes – how entrenched rural life is in the rhythm of nature. Much of its essential value seems to have withered in the face of its overuse in the last few decades. Though the tune still stays with us and has the capacity to stir public imagination. In line with this idea of renewal we at Colors feels compelled to pay attention to the innovative ways of dining and dressing to mark the occasion besides glorifying the efforts by some to revive the authentic and the original ways to celebrate the Bengali lifestyle and its memorable past.
Foods and clothing together make the collective cultural gesture possible. This issue of Colors showcases an array of innovative attires for the occasion including those that put a contemporary soul to the traditional configuration of various wearables. The brands known for their new lines are all here – not only to dazzle the eye but also to appease the mind. As for foods and desserts, the Bengali tradition seems bolder in retrospect. Take for example how Bengal contributed to the emergence of sweetmeats – an array of delicacies that are also served as desserts. The Sweets of Bengal, the newly inaugurated enterprise dedicated to the revival of some of the traditional recipes, comes to our aid by mapping how different regions have given us distinctly different sweets.
This issue also homes in on some of the familiar terrains of fashion and trends. On questions of relationship it carries two interesting features – one on the protocols to be followed by lovers who are geographically separated for a long haul, and the other about how to keep the relationship going after the married couples are way past their prime.
One important news to be enthused about Bangladesh is its recent graduation from an LDC country to a DC country.
We live in a globalized world where information is the key. Today, the fate of the nation is squarely dependent on how far it has progressed in communication and related technology. Internet being a means to remain connected it is important to rely on the emergent new digital technologies. Not to mention as a young and advancing nation we need to be part of the proliferating knowledge economy. Colors, with its editorial team, faces the man of the hour – Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood, the chairman of BTRC – to find out how he has managed the telecommunication sector like a pro that he is and what the 1st satellite of the country Bangabandhu 1 means for the future of the country.
Recently Google astutely redesigned its logo to celebrate Bangladesh’s Independence Day. It will do the same on the Bengali New Year. This is a sign of how gradually the world cultures are being integrated in the virtual realm. Colors hopes to carry forth similar ideas of global awareness in real time, in the real world, but, without sacrificing the pride that is our cultural heritage.

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