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Book Review

History of Bengali Literature by Rabbani Choudhury. Publisher : Mustafa Salim, Utso Prokashon, 127, Aziz Super Market, Shahbag, Dhaka. Publication: November, 2010. Cover design : Niloy Hasan. Printer : New Rajdhani Printers, Dhaka. Size: DD 1/16. Page : 120 Price: Tk. 200 $8 £5. Distinguished litterateur Rabbani Chowdhury has more than 70 books published till the present. Many of these books are researched-based. A poet, rhymer, researcher, journalist and editor Rabbani Choudhury has books of rhymes, poetry, story, novel and research. Books on his career evaluating and appreciating his literary contributions have also been published. Regular publication of his books, mainly for the Bengali readers is a matter of surprise for many, as he is settled in Britain. He has been in this endeavour for decades. He is dedicated to our glorious history, heritage and Bengali literature. His commitment as a writer is patriotic, very much loyal to the birth-soil. Rabbani Choudhury's recent publication 'History of Bengali Literature' is for the Bengali as well as the English readers. This book presents definition of literature, ancient literary works, prose, essays, novels, drama, oral literature, folk literature of Bengladesh, Sylhet Gitika, folk tales, folk drama, rhymes and proverbs. Then comes origin of Bengali literature, geographical location of Bangladesh with brief history, economy, literacy, culture, Bengali language and literature. The writer discusses Charyapada, Krittibashi Ramayan, Srikrishna Kirtan, Chaitanyamangal and Satimayna Lorchondrani, while he comes down from Kahanpa to Chandidas, Syed Sultan, Alaol, Mrittunjoy Vidyalankar, Ram Mohan Roy, Joy Dev, Bankim Chandra Chattapadhyay, Lalon Shah, Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Pyari Chand Mitra and Michael Modhusudan Dutta including other prominent writers. Rabbani Chowdhury focuses on poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore a bit elaborately and evaluates Kazi Nazrul Islam, our national poet. Discussion and evaluation follows on novelists, shorts story writers, poets and their contribution upto the contemporary period. Songs : bauls and traditional singers have been presented in relevance. Novelists Sarat Chandra Chattopaddhyay, Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopanddhyay, Manik Bandopaddhyay, Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, Md. Nazibor Rahman Shahityaratna, Syed Waliullah, Alauddin Al Azad, Shawkat Osman, Shahidulla Kaisar, Zahir Raihan, Humayun Ahmad including many others ; short story wrtiers Rabindranath Tagore, Probhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Abul Mansur Ahmad, Syed Mujtaba Ali, Ibrahim Khan, Ashraf Siddiqi, Shahed Ali, Abdul Mannan Syed, Shawkat Ali, Akhtaruzzaman Elias, Imdadul Haque Milan, Maynul Ahsan Saber including others ; poets Alaol, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jibanananda Das, Sukanta Bhattacharya, Jasim Uddin, Farrukh Ahmad, Ahsan Habib, Shamsur Rahman, Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Syed Ali Ahsan, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Al Mahmud, Muhammad Mahfuzullah, Asad Chowdhury, Dilwar, Shahid Kadri, Rafik Azad and others' literary contribution focussed. The writer has presented the names of notable writers and their books with years. The book ends with the list of writers age- wise as Ancient age, middle age, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century. 92 important references in the the book tell us of the writers' huge and deep source to ensure the authenticity of his book. The book has been dedicated to poet Shamsur Rahman. The cover design by Niloy Hasan is attractive. The writer in his 'Preface' said, "It is extremely hard work to compile a book about 'History of Bengali Literature' whereas our sources are limited. Our poets, writers, rarely write any English books. My initial thinking is to serve an introductory book about Bengali Literature which will at least create a chance for other to start working on broader knowledge." We congratulate writer's thought and expectation to convey our literary history and heritage to our readers as well as the readers of other languages. Let us hope that this expatriate writer in Britain, will have many readers of his book in Bangladesh as in Britain including English language circle. We are also in expectation of inspired and dedicated researcher-writers coming out to uphold our history and heritage in literature in the international arena which the writer has expected in his 'preface' in the words: "for others to start working on broader knowledge". We highly appreciate Utso Prokashten, the publisher for this very useful book. -Reviewed by Abdul Muqit Chowdhury