ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book delves into varied aspects of the history of Bengal and the North-East, situated within a time frame of more than hundred years. It highlights the richness and varied nature of Indian history and tradition. The book begins its journey in India's colonial past and walks into the present. It deals with ideas, sociology, literary texts, politics, gender, industries, culture, health, tribal issues, science and technology. The book seeks to explore the history of institutionalization of traditional sporting akharas of colonial Bengal from its marginality as a counterpart of European sporting clubs. It examines why such emphasis was put on medical advice and women were advised to acquire skills in new medical knowledge as also indigenous therapies. The book concludes that while development of public health system as well as medical science in Britain was 'organic', it was not so in India.
