Photographs are often documentation of history; they keep the glorious past alive lucidly, and this is when they become treasures. Such is the case of the 2006 calendar by Citigroup. The calendar features some painstakingly restored rare photographic portraits of 12 eminent personalities of this land of the late 19th and early 20th century. They are: Nawab Bahadur Khwaja Abdul Ghani, Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah Bahadur, Nawab Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur, Nawab Bahadur Abdul Latif, Nawab Abdur Rahman, AKM Abdus Subhan, Nawab Syed Mohammed Azad, Wajid Ali Khan Panni, Nawab Syed Shamsul Huda, Nawab Bahadur Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury, Mohamed Ali Nawab Chowdhury and Kazi Alauddin Ahmed.

However, nobility and the regal past are not the focus; the emphasis also lies in the celebration of the art of photography in its entire splendor. Besides the aesthetic delight, the photographs also offer essential historical and sociological insights. Waqar A Khan of Bangladesh Heritage Institute has provided the text and photographs.

The calendar of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd has the theme of mass upsurges and freedom movements that have become momentous in our national history.

Eminent artists, including Rafiqun Nabi, Nisar Ahmed, Shishir Bhattacharjee, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Jamal Ahmed, Qayyum Chowdhury and other have depicted the 'Battle of Palashi', 'Uprising of the Saints and Sages', 'Nuraldin's Rebellion', 'Farayeji Movement', 'Indigo Revolt', 'Surja Sen's Armed Rebellion', 'Nankar Movement', 'Tonk Movement', 'Tebhaga Movement', 'Language Movement of 1952', 'Mass Movement of 1969' and 'Liberation War of 1971' through their riveting paintings.

The paintings accompanying the text by Dr Muntasir Mamun are sure to enlighten the youngsters. They will also remind us of the all out struggles of this nation through the ages against tyranny, injustice and aggression.

The calendar of British American Tobacco Bangladesh highlights common people living amidst us who have become beacons of inspiration to many for their larger than life endeavours. Sukanto Banik is a Masters degree holder in Political Science who has taken up his ancestors' profession of kansaru (artisans working with brass and bronze). Many of his awestruck clients are from Europe and US.

Abu Taher is the Principal of Noakhali Shaptogaon Adorsho School who has been in the teaching profession for 32 years. Taher has been honoured as the best teacher in both district and divisional levels and his school has been awarded as the best educational institution nationwide in 2003. This devoted teacher still attends classes taken by other teachers to learn about new ideas and different perspectives.

Shameema Akhter, a 23-year old acid survivor has not given up on life. She formed 'Oikko Nari Kalyan Shangstha', an organisation for battered and abused women. The 43 members of this organisation are not only making decent living through tailoring and other creative activities; in the process they have also regained their self-respect. These are just a few of the extraordinary people featured in the calendar.

The photographs have been provided by Aly Zaker, Shankar Shaojal, Shafiqul Alam, Kakoli Pradhan, Tanveer, Masuma Piya, Munira Morshed Munni. Channel-i, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have provided information.

These aesthetic and informative calendars highlight our history, historic figures and everyday people who have chalked up remarkable achievements and become sources of inspiration to many others.