Travelling is the best remedy for prejudice because once you experience another culture outside the comfort of your home, perspectives shift.
I knew very little about Dhaka, the Bengali capital before my trip and nothing would have prepared me for what was one of my most colorful travel experiences.
I arrived at HazratShahjalal International Airport at about 6am and I was immediately surprised by how busy everything was. The customs procedure took a mere 20 minutes and before long I was heading to my cab and that was when it hit me: A thick heat wave.
At first you hold your breath with the hope that it will stop but it doesn’t. Suddenly you feel hot, you struggle to get rid of all your warm clothing. Part of the reason why it was very hot is because April is a predominantly dry season during that time of year.
Dhaka (pronounced ‘Taka”) is one of the most populated cities in the world with 17 million people and yes, this comes with a sizable amount of traffic jam. It is almost normal to take an hour traveling a distance that you otherwise make in 18 minutes.
I was lucky that there was less traffic which made our way from the Airport easier. For others the same trip took a whooping 3 hours. Once you look out of the window, you will learn a number of things, among them a chorus of honks and the other is reason why Dhaka is the cycle rickshaw capital of the world!
My trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh was my first trip to Asia. As a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper Community, I often get the privilege of travelling for an annual conference known as ‘SHAPE’. This conference is organised by the community on every subcontinent.
Last year, I attended a similar one for Africa that took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This time I was attending one for the South Asian Subcontinent that brought together more than 150 young people from over 30 different countries.
Saying that I learnt a lot would be an understatement of my experience. Perhaps the most befitting description would be the emphasis on how little I knew of other cultures. My single story of who Asians were paled in comparison to what I experienced.
For starters, Asian countries are famous for being naturally patriarchal and this is also reflected in their leadership structures. Well, In Bangladesh, the country is run by a two -party system where two major political parties and astonishingly, both parties have been led by women since 1991.
Several leadership positions are held by women. The Bengali Government has shown progressiveness with regards to promoting gender equality. Another similarity between Bangladesh and Rwanda is that in 1970, whilst a colony of Pakistan, over 3 million Bengali people were killed in a genocide orchestrated by the Pakistani government which was then in leadership.
Nonetheless, the Bengali people fought valiantly and attained their independence making Bangladesh an independent state in 1971. This served as an eye opener for me to which a vowed to keep an open mind.
The architecture
The National Assembly building otherwise known as the Parliament is an impressive sight masterminded by renowned architect Louis Khan. The building stands as a symbol for democracy and pride for the Bengali people. Perhaps what is more impressive than its modernist features is the deeply embedded aspect of the people.
For instance its geometrical shapes are a concept adopted from the traditional Bengali culture that is meant to create a combination of old and new cultural identities. Part of the design too is an artificial lake that surrounds the building to serve as a natural cooling system.
Food, music and lots of dancing
Most international conferences have cultural nights. In some cases, you carry your cultural attire, In this we were instead given what to wear. The ladies were dressed in Pink and blue Saris while the Gentlemen were in all white Kurtas. And unlike many other cultures, the Bengali cuisine has stood the test of time by not succumbing to western influence.
The Bengali cuisine is rather impressive because it appears along the entire spectrum of tastes right from spicy to sweet of which the main items consist of rice, curries and sweet desserts.
The Bengali wedding experience wouldn’t be complete without music and loads of dancing. The music is mainly upbeat and I quickly learnt that the only trick to dancing is being able to jump for lengthy periods of time. And if you are not the kind to jump, Beautiful folk music accompanied by ektara will do just fine.
It’s a happy New Year - In April
The last day of the conference was conveniently the PahelaBaishakh or Bengali New year. This is a festival celebrated by all the Bengali people with great enthusiasm as it marks the end of the harvest season. The festival also carries a commercial aspect too since it marks the beginning of another financial year.
Other than that, the entire day is filled with a colourful celebration. We witnessed a carnival that comprised of several floats created by the University of Dhaka and celebrated alongside the Bengali people. There was no better way to end a trip.
Henry Miller once said "One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things” I most certainly see things different now.
editorial@newtimes.co.rw