"How do you create a better image of a nation?" -- my newly introduced friend from Sierra Leone, who holds a high position in the government department of her country responsible for attracting foreign investment, asked me over lunch at a local hotel in Abu Dhabi. Mahawa (I only use her first name here), who was educated in the US, is highly articulate. She told me how countries like Ghana are trying to emulate the Singapore model. Our conversation transitioned to discussions about the images of nations.
Images often rely on stereotypes held by people, which are in turn created by the media in our highly interconnected, globalized world. Intelligent Americans (not a contradiction in terms), in the past, used to ask me, "isn't Bangladesh a country prone to monsoon floods?" Yes, during the 1980s, Bangladesh was often associated with floods and natural disasters. However, this perception has changed. Nowadays, I frequently hear about the remarkable economic development in Bangladesh, the significant contributions of NGOs such as BRAC or Grameen Bank (although Grameen is not technically an NGO; it is a social business), or the longevity of its ruling prime minister.
A popular image of Americans held by many in Bangladesh is that they lack understanding of geography or history. This is a stereotype or a false image. Consider this: The world's best universities are located in the US, and the majority of research output in various fields of science is also produced there. We all carry our own share of stereotypes, prejudices, and selection biases that contribute to these images. The good news is that these false images can change with the appropriate information and education.
A relation of mine, a deeply committed Muslim young man, confided in me that while he was enrolled in a doctoral program at a mid-western university in the US, he was moved when his lab-mate, a young Jewish American scientist, sincerely apologized to him for some of the remarks made by then President Trump about Muslims. This experience changed my relation's perception of "Jewish-dominated Americans."
The real issue, I mentioned to Mahawa, is the danger of a single story -- an idea eloquently presented by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adichie shared her own experience that when she went to study in the US, her roommate asked her about her favourite singer. When she answered "Mariah Carey," her new friend was surprised. The American young woman had a one-dimensional view of Nigeria as a poor African country plagued by military coup d'états, and so on. She didn't expect Chimamanda to have an interest in American popular singers.
Many of us are influenced by single stories fueled by prejudice. I once shared Chimamanda's YouTube video, featuring her lovely image, on my Facebook page. Only a few clicked the "like" button. Many of my Facebook friends had their own single stories, where an African woman couldn't be a storyteller, let alone a perceptive one. I strongly recommend that the Bangladeshi curriculum include Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, alongside Chimamanda's works. This would truly constitute an education. I view education as a means of dispelling ignorance, false beliefs, and prejudices, thus opening one's mind.
When people think of Africa, the first thing that comes to mind is often safaris and observing wild animals. However, Africa is much more than just its wildlife. Similarly, in the past, the image of India was often associated with elephants, snake-charmers, and sadhus. Nowadays, that image has been replaced by Bollywood and tech-savvy professionals.
Many years ago, I was once invited to an American family's Thanksgiving dinner where they were playing Trivial Pursuit, a popular board game of the 1980s. There was a question: "Which US president received a Pulitzer Prize?" When I volunteered to answer, the host -- a kind-hearted man -- suggested that this question might not be suitable for me as a non-American. He had the best intentions of avoiding potential embarrassment in front of other guests. However, I insisted and answered, "JF Kennedy, for his work Profiles in Courage. We had a Bengali translation of this book in our Bagerhat home," I added. This simple incident probably altered the single story that my American friend held about foreign students.
Bangladeshi culture, especially Bengali middle culture, is renowned for its appreciation of literature, both as creators and consumers. International visitors who attended the literary festivals in Dhaka now, hopefully, possess a more diverse understanding of Bangladesh compared to the often skewed images depicted in international media. One young woman of Bangladeshi (Bengali) origin was captivated by the art festival in Dhaka, particularly noting the interest of common Bangladeshis in the art exhibitions.
Art wasn't exclusive to affluent art enthusiasts; even young street children attended because admission was free. The classical music festivals, although sadly discontinued, not only showcased India's top-tier classical musicians -- world-class performers -- but also attracted Dhaka's elite and middle-class residents, regardless of their political affiliations, to a shared arena. It was a celebration of civil society.
Such festivals play a pivotal role in dismantling single stories about Bangladesh.
Habibul Haque Khondker is a sociology professor at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi who previously taught at the National University of Singapore.
