Bengal Partition Refugees at Sealdah Railway Station, 1950–60

This article focuses on the Sealdah railway station in Calcutta, West Bengal, as a site of refugee ‘settlement’ in the aftermath of British India’s partition. From 1946 to the late 1960s, the platforms of Sealdah remained crowded with Bengali Hindu refugees from East Pakistan. Some refugees stayed a few days, but many stayed for months, even years. Relying on newspaper reports, autobiographical accounts and official archives, this article elaborates how a busy railway station uniquely shaped the experiences of partition refugees. Despite severe infrastructural limitations, the railway platforms of Sealdah provided these refugee residents with certain opportunities. Many preferred to stay at Sealdah instead of moving to any government facility. However, even for the most long-term residents of Sealdah, it remained a temporary home, from where they were either shifted to government camps or themselves found accommodation in and around Calcutta. The article argues that by allowing the refugees to squat on a busy railway platform for months and years, the state recognised a unique right of these refugees, their right to wait, involving at least some agency in the process of resettling.

And Joy Shall Overtake Us As A Flood

Are our choices in life, and throughout all time, predetermined, or is there the ability to make different, and better, choices with additional information? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the main character is an older man who has been disfigured and has, generally, had a horrible life. He is brought into a government facility because they have discovered that he met his older self when he was younger, thus establishing that he must now be sent back in time to take part in the action he has already experienced as his younger self. The government agency explains that time travel does not create a multi-verse, but rather a single chain of events through infinity that has all already happened. So, you cannot go back in time to save Lincoln, because Lincoln was never saved. The main character lies to the agency and decides, while back in time, he will try to warn his childhood self away from the errors of his life. While talking to his childhood self the narrator makes realizations about the younger version of himself and the differences between memory and truth. He also attempts to warn his younger self, but as the government agency made clear, he is unable to do this because, had he been able to do it, he would have experienced it being done when he was younger. This story, like all After Dinner Conversation stories, has suggested discussion questions at the end.

Translation of Data into Action: Exploring Data Documentation process and further Scope for Improvement in Bangladesh

Aims: This study done to explore the data documentation process of fistula in the facilities and scope to improve. Methods: In-depth reviews of patents data recoding forms of six selected facilities were performed. Of them, three were government and remaining were private facilities. The study also explored the process of data documentation, reporting in the DHIS-2. Results: All centers are keeping records of fistula patients; five of them use structured forms. One government facility uses hospital register book to record the data. There was inconsistency in all six different forms. Therefore, uniform data is not captured. Rehabilitation data is missing in the data records. Government facilities report information on number of cases operated in the DHIS-2. While, private facilities are not under this reporting system. Thus, there are gaps identified in the documentation process and reporting system. Conclusions: Better data helps for better planning and intervene. Bangladesh is documenting gential fistula patient’s data. However, its demands for improvement. A comphesive and uniform database can help to eliminate fistula in Bangladesh as set target in the 2nd national strategy.