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