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'Udbheda: Details of Bangladesh Life & Adda' recounts the lived experiences of three diverse individuals-Sampurna, Afreen and Nusrat-as related in conversation with the author. Framed by the methodology and methods of narrative ethnography, 'Udbheda' describes the details that comment on or even challenge broad definitions and portrayals of Bangladesh and its people, particularly women and hijra. Beneath these narratives runs the author's subjective account as a researcher, writer, cisgender woman and foreign visitor to Bangladesh.
Evoking the everchanging scenes and moods of Dhaka, this multi-genre work combines prose, prose poetry and critical reflection to explore themes including gender, sexuality, class, family, education, work and postcolonial identity. This innovative approach to ethnographic writing embraces the cultural practice of adda-unbounded, often revelatory conversation-as both subject and method. 'Udbheda' employs a considered, intersectional approach, relating perspectives frequently marginalised in discipline- and industry-specific discourse on Bangladesh, adding depth to the exploration of culture and identity beyond binaries.
Balancing vivid storytelling with contemplative academic analysis, this book offers valuable insights for anthropologists, gender studies scholars and development practitioners. Hummel's self-reflexive stance and exploration of the 'illegitimate' side of ethnography, in the tradition of Ruth Behar's 'Translated Woman', make 'Udbheda' an exemplary text for teaching qualitative research methods. The accompanying exegesis provides a transparent account of the author's research process, engaging with crucial concepts in postcolonial theory, feminist ethnography and ethnographic representation.
Accessible to both academic and general readers interested in innovative approaches to cross-cultural research and writing, 'Udbheda: Details of Bangladesh Life & Adda' offers a layered interpretation of the testimonies of three remarkable people. It is a vital text for anyone seeking to look deeper at the complexities of gender, identity, culture and everyday life in contemporary Bangladesh.
