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200 years of Chosen Bengali Literature is Available for Purchase

Bishwa Sahitya Kendra's monumental 74,000-page compilation showcases 200 years of Bangalee literary excellence, fostering a passion for reading.
on Oct 17, 2023

The massive effort of assembling and publishing the 74,000-page compilation has been completed by Bishwa Sahitya Kendra.

Bishwa Sahitya Kendra has taken the initiative to publish a massive compilation of selected writings of trailblazing Bangalee authors from diverse eras stretching over the past 200 years in its endeavor to enlighten people via boosting reading habits.

According to Kendra, which launched the plan yesterday during a ceremony at its offices in the capital, the 74,000-page compilation would be in 208 volumes and cover 16 different disciplines.

The compilation will be released in installments. There are currently 54 volumes accessible covering history, philosophy, women's concerns, science, and culture.

Bishwa Sahitya Kendra founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed explained why the previous 200 years were chosen for the compilation, saying it was the "finest" time in Bangalee history.

Numerous significant achievements may have been completed earlier, but they may not be equal to what Bangalees have accomplished in the last 200 years, he claims.

"There has been an extraordinary rise in Bangalee's 'intellect' in the past 200 years," he went on to say.

Prof Sayeed is the compilation's chief editor, and authors from relevant fields did subject-based editing.

History (18 volumes), philosophy (20 volumes), religion (20 volumes), arts (11 volumes), literature (35 volumes), science (eight volumes), environment (five volumes), film (10 volumes), music (13 volumes), politics (25 volumes), language (10 volumes), culture (four volumes), woman issue (four volumes), society (eight volumes), economics (eight volumes), and education (nine volumes) are among the subjects covered in the compilation.

The Kendra's director, Shameem Al Mamun, stated that the effort began in 2000 and that the texts were collected and selected between 2000 and 2008.

Keeping everything in order was a huge chore, he noted.

According to Prof Sayeed's editorial remark, the effort has been delayed for a variety of reasons.

According to a leaflet distributed to media at the ceremony, the entire collection will cost Tk 1.80 lakh at full price and Tk 1.26 lakh with a 30% reduction.

Anyone, however, may now pre-order the entire compilation for Tk 90,000. According to the article, such an offer will be available until March 2024.

A reader can also learn more about the compilation by visiting bcrs.bskbd.org.

Iftekharul Islam, a trustee of the Kendra, stated that they want different colleges and public libraries to gather the compilation so that the books can be distributed to readers.

Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, a former instructor at Dhaka University's Bangla department, spoke during the ceremony, saying that throughout the mediaeval time, this region of the world was dominated by people who were not Bangalees. However, Bangla was a thriving language at the time.