Courses on Bangladeshi literature introduced by West Bengal university

Six full-length courses on Bangladeshi writers have been introduced by the department of Bengali Literature at the University of North Bengal in Siliguri, West Bengal, India. 

Though some Indian universities include a handful of Bangladeshi writers including Al Mahmud, Shamsur Rahman, Hasan Azizul Huq and Selina Hossain in their syllabi, it has not been significant in terms of scope and emphasis. This is for the first time Bangladeshi literature has found a significant place in Bengali literary studies in India. Through this initiative the longstanding disparity between the literature of West Bengal and Bangladesh in the curriculum of Indian academia, in terms of volume and importance, has been addressed to a large extent. 

According to university sources, the courses are “History of Bengali Literature in Bangladesh”, “Poetry”, “Story”, “Novel”, “Play”, “Memoir, Liberation War and Autobiography”. Books selected in these courses include: 

Poetry

Shamsur Rahman’s Bondi Shibir Theke

Nirmalendu Goon’s Hulia 

Shamim Reza’s Jokhon Rattir Naima Ashe Suborno Nagare 

Fiction

Akhtaruzzaman Elias’s Chilekothar Sepai

Selina Hossain’s Juddho 

Shahidul Zaheer’s Jibon o Rajnoitik Bastobota 

Drama 

Syed Shamsul Haq’s Nuruldeener Sara Jibon 

Selim Al Deen’s Nimojjon 

Sayeed Ahmed’s Kalbela

Short fiction

Shawkat Ali’s Unmul Bashona

Hasan Azizul Huq’s Atmaja o Ekti Kobori Gaachh

Prashanta Mridha’s Judhistheerer Shongi

Memoir, Liberation War and Autobiography

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Oshomapto Attojiboni

Jahanara Imam’s Ekattorer Dinguli

Maidul Hasan’s Muldhara 71