Stories told by grandmothers and other elders often circulate widely in informal conversations and gatherings. Yet, most of these narratives remain confined within those circles, never finding a permanent form in print.
The Reading Circle (TRC) has now taken an initiative to preserve such oral traditions in a published collection titled “Stories My Grandma (Never Told Me)”. The anthology features stories written by members of the circle and was officially unveiled on Saturday at a restaurant in Gulshan, Dhaka, during a ceremony attended by TRC members.
The book contains 12 short stories. It has been edited by Professor Razia Sultana Khan of English literature. The contributing authors include TRC founder Niaz Zaman, Nawar Fairuz, Tanvir Haque, Christine Nicola Marie Paul, Raza Ali, Mariam Ispahani, Souda Akhter, Amina Ahmed, Farhana Sehab Uddin, Lamia Sultana Kakon, Asifur Rahman, and editor Razia Sultana Khan herself.
The foreword is written by Sarker Hasan Al Zayed, while the cover has been designed by Anisuzzaman Sohail. The book is published by Nymphaea Publications.
At the launch event, editor Razia Sultana Khan reflected on the cultural significance of oral storytelling traditions. “Across our culture, grandmothers and elderly women have been among the most important custodians of such stories.
These oral traditions were shared in women’s spaces through conversation, memory, and lived experience. They were never formally documented. Instead, they were woven into advice, lullabies, and everyday anecdotes,” she said.
She further added that the idea for the anthology originated from discussions within The Reading Circle. “During our meetings, we would often share stories we had heard from our grandmothers, mothers, or other elders.
Gradually, these conversations sparked the idea of bringing them together into a curated collection—a concept first imagined several years ago.
However, the initiative slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier last year, I decided to revive it. I felt that exploring the hidden narratives within families—especially from the perspective of younger generations—would be deeply engaging,” she noted.
