Description

In a world influenced by globalisation, technological advancement, geo-political tensions, migration and rapid cultural change, what does it mean to belong? Civilisation in Exile: Bengali Belonging and the Crisis of Modern Identity is a powerful reflection on Bengali identity, diaspora, and the search for cultural roots in the current globalised world. Through a combination of philosophical essays, historical reflections and personal accounts, Dr Palto Datta explores the experiences of Bengalis who find themselves far from their Motherland, particularly those in Britain, where there are purported success, mobility and opportunity, but also profound cultural dislocation.
From the vibrant streets of East London to the all-embracing intellectual legacy of Rabindranath Tagore and Michael Madhusudan Dutt, the book explores how migration has transformed Bengali consciousness while raising profound questions about civilisation, memory, and belonging. It grapples with the conflict between the age-old and the contemporary, the loss of cultural heritage to the all-consuming marketplace, and the battle to retain one’s selfhood. Blending philosophy, history, and cultural critique, Civilisation in Exile offers an insightful and deeply human exploration of the Bengali diaspora. At the heart of the work lies a central argument: exile in the modern world is not merely geographical but increasingly psychological and civilisational.
Thought-provoking and richly reflective, this book invites readers to reconsider the meaning of culture, identity, and civilisation in an interconnected world.

About The Author

Dr. Palto Datta is a highly experienced academic and marketing expert with nearly three decades of teaching experience in the UK’s further and higher education sectors. He holds a PhD in Marketing from the University of Hertfordshire, an MSc in Marketing from the University of Glamorgan, and a BSc in Plasma Physics from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. He has further strengthened his academic profile through executive education at institutions including Samford University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Datta is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Advance HE, and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), and he is also a Certified Management and Business Educator. He currently serves as Scholarship Lead and Senior Lecturer at Regent College London. A published author of several books on marketing and entrepreneurship, Dr. Datta is also a novelist, columnist, and researcher, and regularly delivers keynote speeches at international conferences. His global perspective is enriched by his travels to more than 75 countries.