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FIFTH EDITION OF APEEJAY BANGLA SAHITYA UTSOB COMMENCES AT JORASANKO THAKUR BARI

FIFTH EDITION OF APEEJAY BANGLA SAHITYA UTSOB COMMENCES AT JORASANKO THAKUR BARI






Kolkata, 22nd November 2019:   
The fifth edition of Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob was inaugurated yesterday at Jorasankho Thakurbari, the birthplace of Gurudev Tagore in the distinguished presence of eminent writers Shankha Ghosh; Professor Syed Manjurul Islam and editor, publisher Majharul Islam from Bangladesh and Pracheta Gupta along with Prof. Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University; Tridib Kumar Chattopadhyay, MD Patra Bharati Group of Publications and Swagat Sengupta, Director Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob and CEO Apeejay Oxford Bookstores. ABSU is presented in association with Patra Bharati Group and supported by Rabindra Bharati University. 

The inauguration was preceded by a one-of-a-kind literary discussion with different Facebook Page Groups who work towards promoting new-age Bangla literature in the society; and a panel discussion tracing the evolution of Bangla Magazines to Webzines-titled Little Magazine Theke Webzine- Cholar Pothe Chine Nin- with Tapash Bhowmick (Korok), Prasun Bhowmick (Bijalpa), Debjyoti Bhattacharya (Joydhak), Dipankar Choudhury (Parobash) and moderated by Jayanta Dey.  The inauguration was soon followed by interesting panel discussions on innovative and new areas of Bangla literature ranging from historical fiction to comedy. The panel – Jara Pori, Jara Porai, Dui Dol-e Somane Somane Korchi Borai! (Publishers V/s Readers) had Sudhanshu Dey, Majharaul Islam, Chumki Chattopadhyay, Rupa Majumdar and for the first time brought publishers and readers face-to-face to discuss the issues in publishing.  Eta Oitihasik Sotti, Bhalo Sahityo Itihashe Bhorti! (Writing the Past: Historical Literature in Bengali) brought forth the intricacies of historical writing with Debotosh Das, Krishnendu Mukhopadhyay, Abul Kashem and Himadrikishore Dasgupta followed by the launch of Kashem’s new book.  The first day sessions ended with laughter and hilarity with the panel Mojae Meje Gechi, Tai Hashite Bachi (Who’s laughing? Comedy in Bengali Literature) which brought together stalwarts of Bangla comic writing, Sanjib Chattopadhyay, Subhashish Mukhopadhyay, Saikat Mukhopadhyay, Mirchi Somak and Pracheta Gupta.  The evening wrapped up with the famous Light and Sound Show, a speciality of the Jorasankho Thakurbari, tracing the history and contributions of Rabindranath Tagore.


 ABSU 2019 speakers include authors Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Sanjib Chattopadhyay, Shankha Ghosh, Samaresh Majumdar, Majharul Islam, Subodh Sarkar, Saikat Mukhopadhyay, Anish Deb, Debatosh Das, Himadrikishore Dasgupta, Pracheto Gupta and Srijato Bandopadhyay ;  Historians, professors and researchers Debasis Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit Gupta, Chinmoy Guha, Alokprasad Chattopadhyay; publishers Sudhanshu De, RupaMajumdar, Majharul Islam, Esha Chatterjee; celebrated theatre personalities Sohini Sengupta, Chandan Sen, Sohag Sen and Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee; popular musicians Surojit Chattopadhyay and Parama Dasgupta; and Actors Rudranil Ghosh, Subhasish Mukhopadhyay and Saheb Chattopadhyay.


Kolkata, 23rd November, 2019:

Starts at 12 NOON with a discussion between prominent Facebook Literary Groups, followed by Totkhunik Tatkhunik presented in association with Kobita Club for those who love to write poetry; Pet Pure Khai, Tai Mon Bhore Chai (The Bookworm-Foodworm: Cuisine Quest in Bengali Literature) a session presented in association with Wow Momo for the food-loving Bengali’s; Boi Prokash o Addalochona (New on the Shelf: Book Launch and Discussion) presented in association with eka; Chotorai Bhobhishot, Tarai Dekhae Poth (Back to the Future! Where is Children’s Literature Headed?) a session dedicated to the memory of Late Nabaneeta Deb Sen acclaimed writer. Further illuminating discussions like Jekhane Somoy Thomke Daraye: Sahitye Somoyer Chino (Only Time Will Tell: Does Literature reflect its contemporary times?), Kolponar Goyenda Vs Baastober Goyenda (Fact and Fiction: detectives from books vs real-life detectives) , an engaging discussion among Nachiketa, Anish Deb, Bithi Chattopadhyay, Champak Bhattacharya (IPS), Rj Deep; Payer Tolae Sorshe, Bhromon Kori Jorse (Booked! Travel in Literature), a discussion among Meher Afroz Shaon, Surojit Chattopadhyay, Atri Bhattacharya, Satyam Roy Chowdhury will keep audience hooked throughout the day.

Coming up on Sunday 24th November:

Begins at 12 NOON with a discussion between prominent Facebook Literary Groups; followed by Shabdabaaji- a word game contest and O Nadi Re (The River Songs: A Musical Afternoon), a musical performance; Facebook Ki Boier Dhukpuk (Facebook Vs Novel); Bishesh Sahitya Premi Sommanona (Special Literature Lover’s Award) given to Tarun Shaw, Paritosh Bhattacharya and Liluah Whatsapp Library; and Ujjal 200! Bidyasagar o Akshaykumar Dutta (Beyond 200! Celebrating Vidyasagar and Akshaykumar Dutta). Further illuminating discussions like Natokei Sahitya, Eha ki Sottyo (Staging Books: Can contemporary theatrical writing considered literature?) a discussion among Sohini Sengupta, Sohag Sen, Chandan Sen and moderated by Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee; Bhoot Banglar Rohoshyo (Hip Hip Horror!) a discussion among Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Indrani Chakroborty, Joydeep Chakroborty, Syed Manjurul Islam and moderated by Binod Ghoshal; and Boi Chai, Boi-o Chai, Dujonei Ekthai? (Literature & Cinema: Friends or Foe?) A discussion among Rudranil Ghosh, Samaresh Majumdar, Swapnomoy Chakroborty and moderated by Alokprasad Chattopadhyay, will keep the audience engaged for the day as ABSU 2019 comes to a closure.





About Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU):

Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU), India’s first Bangla Literary Festival (ie Utsob in Bangla) created by the nearly 100 year old Oxford Bookstores in 2015, honours the rich literary tradition of the Bangla language. 

The objective of ABSU, a prized initiative of Oxford Bookstores, is to make Bangla literature increasingly visible and accessible, build an audience for Bangla books and create a culture of readership and familiarization with Bangla language among the youth. An interactive platform bringing together voices of contemporary Bangla Literature from the national and international stage, ABSU showcases all aspects of Bangla literature and literary expression and their impact on various art forms.

ABSU is committed to the journey of Bangla Literature which is both exciting and exhilarating and have brought eminent personalities to grace the Festival in the last three years. They include renowned authors like Shirshendu Mukherjee, Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Samaresh Majumdar, Sankha Ghosh, Pracheta Gupta, Ranjan Bandhopadhyay, Sanjib Chattopadhaya, Saikat Mukhopadhyay, Anindo Chattopadhaya, Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, Srijato, Binod Ghoshal, Himadrikishor Dasgupta, Anish Deb, Krishnendu Mukherjee and Subodh Sarkar; film Directors like Suman Mukhopadhyay, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and Arindam Sil; Bengali musicians Nachiketa, Surojit Chatterjee and Swagatalaksmi Dasgupta; Actors Sabyasachi Chakraborty and Barun Chandra. Utsob has also attracted prominent literary personalities from Bangladesh like Salina Hussain and Imdadul Haq Milon.

 

 


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