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{{short description|Literature written in the Bengali language}}
{{Bengali literature}}
{{Contains special characters|Bengali}}
{{Bengalis}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
'''Bengali literature''' ({{langx|bn|বাংলা সাহিত্য|Bangla Shahittô}}) denotes the body of writings in the [[Bengali language]] and which covers [[Old Bengali]], [[Bengali language#Medieval|Middle Bengali]] and Modern Bengali with the changes through the passage of time and dynastic patronization or non-patronization.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Azad |first=Humayun |title=Koto Nodi Sorobor Ba Bangla Vashar Jibonee (The History of Bangla Language) |publisher=Agami Prokashoni |year=2016 |isbn=9789840414215 |edition=2nd |location=Dhaka, Bangladesh |language=Bangla}}</ref> Bengali has developed over the course of roughly 1,400 years. If the emergence of the Bengali literature supposes to date back to roughly 650 AD, the development of Bengali literature claims to be 1600 years old. The earliest extant work in Bengali literature is the ''[[Charyapada]]'', a collection of [[Buddhist]] mystic songs in [[Old Bengali]] dating back to the 8th century. The timeline of Bengali literature is divided into three periods: ancient (650–1200), medieval (1200–1800) and modern (after 1800). Medieval Bengali literature consists of various poetic genres, including Hindu religious scriptures (e.g. [[Mangalkavya]]), Islamic epics (e.g. works of [[Syed Sultan]] and [[Abdul Hakim (poet)|Abdul Hakim]]), [[Vaishnava]] texts (e.g. biographies of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]]), translations of [[Arabic]], [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Sanskrit]] texts, and secular texts by Muslim poets (e.g. works of [[Alaol]]). Novels were introduced in the mid-19th century. [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel laureate]] [[Rabindranath Tagore]] is the best known figure of Bengali literature to the world. [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]], notable for his activism and anti-British literature, was described as the Rebel Poet and is now recognised as the [[National poet]] of [[Bangladesh]].

==Ancient==
The first works in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] appeared between 8th and 12th centuries C.E.<ref name="sukumarseneng24">{{cite book |last1=Sen |first1=Sukumar |title= History of Bengali |edition=3rd |year= 1979 |orig-year=1960 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |location= New Delhi |isbn= 81-7201-107-5|page=24 }}</ref> It is generally known as the ''[[Charyapada]]'' and are 47 mystic hymns composed by various [[Buddhist]] monks, namely; [[Luipa]]da, [[Kanha (poet)|Kanhapada]], [[Kukkuripa]]da, Chatilpada, Bhusukupada, Kamlipada, Dhendhanpada, Shantipada and Shabarapada amongst others. The manuscript was discovered on a palm leaf in the [[Nepal]] Royal Court Library in 1907 by the [[Bengalis|Bengali]] linguist [[Haraprasad Shastri]]. Due to the language of these manuscripts only being partially understood, they were classified by Shastri with the name ''Shôndha Bhasha'' (সন্ধ্যা ভাষা), meaning ''dusk language''.

==Medieval (1200–1800)==
{{Main|Middle Bengali literature}}

===Early medieval/Transitional (1200–1350)===
This period is considered to be the time in which many common proverbs and rhymes first emerged. The [[Bengali alphabet]] became a lot like what it currently is. [[Ramai Pandit]] and Halayudh Misra were notable writers of this period.<ref name="bpedia">{{cite Banglapedia|article=Bangla Literature|author=Mohammad Daniul Haq & Aminur Rahman}}</ref>

===Nath Literature===
{{Main|Nath Literature}}
[[Nath Literature]] is a distinctive branch of medieval Bengali literature, rooted in the teachings and spiritual practices of the Nath yogis. Originating from the 10th century, it combines elements of Buddhist, Shaiva, and folk traditions, and centers on themes like yoga, devotion to the guru, and mystical discipline. Notable works include ‘Goraksha Bijoy’ and songs about Maynamati and Gopichandra, which blend supernatural stories with lessons on renunciation, self-control, and spiritual achievement. Passed down through both oral and written traditions, Nath Literature has played a key role in shaping Bengal’s religious culture, rural society, and folk heritage, and remains influential in Bengali folk songs even today.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nath Literature - Banglapedia |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Nath_Literature |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=[[Banglapedia]]}}</ref>

===Pre-Chaitanya (1350–1500)===
[[File:Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, Narayanganj, Bangladesh.jpg|thumb|The tomb of [[Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah]], under whose patronage were writers such as [[Shah Muhammad Sagir]] and [[Krittibas Ojha]].]]

Muslim writers were exploring different themes through narratives and epics such as religion, culture, cosmology, love and history; often taking inspiration from or translating Arabic and Persian literary works such as the [[Thousand and One Nights]] and the [[Shahnameh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/sacs/files/2012/07/Document-6-Billah-A.-M.-M.-A-The-Development-of-Bengali-Literature-during-Muslim-Rule.pdf |title=The development of Bengali literature during Muslim rule |access-date=2017-09-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809050525/https://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/sacs/files/2012/07/Document-6-Billah-A.-M.-M.-A-The-Development-of-Bengali-Literature-during-Muslim-Rule.pdf |archive-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> The literary romantic tradition saw poems by [[Shah Muhammad Sagir]] on [[Yusuf and Zulaikha]], as well as works of [[Zainuddin (poet)|Zainuddin]] and Sabirid Khan. The ''[[Dobhashi]]'' culture introduced [[Arabic]] and Persian vocabulary into Bengali texts to illustrate Muslim stories. [[Epic poetry]] included ''Nabibangsha'' by [[Syed Sultan]] and ''Rasul Bijoy'' by Shah Barid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Sufi_Literature|title=Sufi Literature |website=Banglapedia |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911195841/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Sufi_Literature|archive-date=11 September 2016}}</ref>[[File:Rajshahi College Library Inside 02.JPG|thumb|left|''Charyapada'' manuscript preserved in the library of [[Rajshahi College]].]][[Chandidas]] was the celebrated Hindu lyrical poet of this period, famed for translating [[Jayadeva]]'s work from Sanskrit to Bengali and for producing thousands of poems dedicated to the love between [[Radha Krishna|Radha and Krishna]] such as the [[Shreekrishna Kirtana]]. Majority of Hindu writers in this period drew inspiration from a popular [[Maithili language]] Vaishnavite poet known as [[Vidyapati]]. [[Maladhar Basu]]'s ''Sri Krishna Vijaya'', which is chiefly a translation of the 10th and 11th cantos of the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', is the earliest Bengali narrative poem that can be assigned to a definite date.<ref name = sukumarseneng>{{cite book |last1=Sen |first1=Sukumar |title= History of Bengali |edition=3rd |year= 1979 |orig-year=1960 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |location= New Delhi |isbn= 81-7201-107-5|pages=65–66 }}</ref> Composed between 1473 and 1480 C.E., it is also the oldest Bengali narrative poem of the [[Krishna]] legend.<ref name=bp>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Wakil |year=2012 |chapter=Maladhar Basu |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Maladhar_Basu |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref><ref name = sukumarseneng/> The ''[[Ramayana]]'', under the title of ''Sri Rama Panchali'', was translated by [[Krittibas Ojha]].<ref name=s1>Sen, Sukumar (1991, reprint 2007). ''Bangala Sahityer Itihas'', Vol.I, {{in lang|bn}}, Kolkata: Ananda Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7066-966-9}}, pp.105–10</ref>

===Late medieval era (1500–1800)===
[[File:Fakir Lalon Shah.jpg|thumb|[[Lalon]] inspired and influenced many poets, social and religious thinkers including [[Rabindranath Tagore]],<ref name="Choudhury 1992, p. 59">{{cite book|last1=Caudhurī|first1=Ābadula Āhasāna|title=Lālana Śāha, 1774 – 1890|date=1992|publisher=Bāṃlā Ekāḍemī|location=Ḍhākā|isbn=978-9840725977|edition=1. punarmudraṇa.|oclc=246442470}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Urban|first1=Hugh B.|title=Songs of ecstasy tantric and devotional songs from colonial Bengal|date=2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-19-513901-3|page=18|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivG6mAEACAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Tagore|first1=Rabindranath|last2=K. Stewart|first2=Tony (Translation)|last3=Twichell|first3=Chase (Translation)|title=The lover of God|date=2003|publisher=Consortium Book Sales & Dist.|location=Port Townsend, Wash.|isbn=978-1556591969|page=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UrZjAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hossain|first1=Abu Ishahaq|title=Lalon Shah, the great poet|date=2009|publisher=Palal Prokashoni|location=Dhaka|isbn=978-9846030679|page=148|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=avyppwAACAAJ}}</ref> and [[Allen Ginsberg]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1 = Ginsberg|first1 = Allen|last2 = Foley|first2 = Jack|date = Winter–Spring 1998|title = Same Multiple Identity: An Interview with Allen Ginsberg|journal = Discourse|volume = 20|issue = 1/2, The Silent Beat|pages = 158–181|issn = 1522-5321|jstor=41389881}}</ref>]]

Bengali literature flourished in [[Arakan]] following [[Reconquest of Arakan|its reconquest]]. It was home to prominent writers patronised in the Arakan royal court such as [[Alaol]], who wrote [[Padmavati (poem)|Padmavati]], as well as [[Daulat Qazi]], [[Dawlat Wazir Bahram Khan]], Quraishi Magan Thakur who wrote Chandravati and Maradan who wrote Nasirnama. Qazi was the first poet under the court patronage. He started writing Satimayna O Lorchandrani, considered to be the first Bengali romance. Teamwork was common in the court, and Alaol finished off Qazi's romance as the latter had died before managing to complete it.<ref>Sen, Sukumar (1993). ''Islami Bangla Sahitya'' (in Bengali), Kolkata: Ananda Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7215-301-5}}, pp.23–33</ref> [[Heyat Mahmud]], a judge by profession, is considered to be the last poet of Middle Bengali literature.<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|article=Heyat Mamud|author=[[Wakil Ahmed]]}}</ref>

==Modern (1800–present)==
The modern period of Bengali literature can roughly be categorized into six phases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bangla Literature |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Bangla_Literature |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Banglapedia}}</ref>

# First phase: The era of prose (1800–1850). During this time, the [[Christian Missionaries|Christian missionaries]] and Sanskrit-educated Bengali scholars worked to induce modernism through prose.
# Second phase: The era of development (1850–1900). During this time, pioneers like [[Bankim Chandra Chatterjee|Bankim Chattapadhyay]] and [[Michael Madhusudan Dutt|Michael Madhusudan Datta]], wrote novels and poems that exhibit Western influence. These classics remain masterpieces through test of time.
# Third phase: The era of [[Rabindranath Tagore]] (1890–1930). This period was dominated by Tagore's work and other works, especially poems, were subsumed by his influence.
# Fourth phase: The post-Rabindranath Tagore phase (1930–1947). During this time, many writers made a conscious effort to move away from the Rabindrik influence. This continued roughly until the partition of India.
# Fifth phase: The post-partition phase (1947–1970). After the partition, Bangla literature started developing separately in West Bengal and East Pakistan/Bangladesh focusing mostly view corresponding with on political and religious identities of each Bengal.
# Sixth phase: Bangladesh/West Bengal era (1971–present). After creation of [[Bangladesh]] in 1971, literature in Bangladesh was invigorated by writers like [[Humayun Ahmed]], who built a new style of writing in simple language appealing to the masses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=How Humayun Ahmed became the Shakespeare of Bangladesh |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/517470/How-Humayun-Ahmed-became-the-Shakespeare-of-Bangladesh |access-date=2022-04-28 |work=Daily Sun |language=en}}</ref> Around the same time, West Bengali writers like [[Sunil Gangopadhyay]], [[Samaresh Majumdar]], and [[Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay]], wrote with a fresh view of West Bengal in the era of globalization. As popular writers from this era demises, the literature created by the millennial era is yet to be characterized.

=== First and second phase (1800–1900) ===
The first Bangla books to be printed were those written by Christian missionaries. [[Dom Antonio]]'s ''Brahmin-Roman-Catholic'' Sambad, for example, was the first Bangla book to be printed towards the end of the 17th century. Bangla writing was further developed as Bengali scholars wrote textbooks for [[Fort William College Calcutta|Fort William College]]. Although these works had little literary values, prose-writing was greatly developed with the practice of these didactic works. [[Ram Mohan Roy|Raja Rammohan Roy]] contributed to Bengali collection of religious and educational books. As more journals and newspapers were published by missionaries and [[Brahmo Samaj|Brahmo Shamaj]], the culture of writing to communicate novel ideals made rapid growth.

[[Michael Madhusudan Datta]]'s first epic ''Tilottama Sambhab Kabya'' published in 1860 was the first Bengali poem written in [[blank verse]]. [[Bankim Chandra Chatterjee]] was considered one of the leading Bengali novelists and essayists of the 19th century. He also wrote ''[[Vande Mataram]]'', the national song of India, which appears in his novel ''[[Anandamath]]'' (1882).<ref name="sukumarsenengbankim" /> In the 1880s, Chatterjee critically analysed Hindu scriptures such as the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' as well as the problems of [[Krishnaism]] from a historical perspective in his ''Dharmatattva'' and ''Krishna Charitra''.<ref name="sukumarsenengbankim" />

[[Romesh Chunder Dutt]] and [[Mir Mosharraf Hossain]] are notable for their works of fiction. [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] and [[Dwijendralal Ray]] were prominent playwrights of the time, whereas [[Akkhoykumar Boral|Akshay Kumar Boral]] and [[Ramendra Sundar Tribedi]] are famous for their influential essays. [[Rassundari Devi]] authored the first full-fledged [[Autobiographical novel|autobiography]] in modern Bengali literature in 1876.<ref>{{cite web|author=Deepa Bandopadhyay|script-title=bn:নারীর লেখা নারীর কথা|url=http://www.kaliokalam.com/2012/12/01/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE/|website=Kali O Kalam |language=bn |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519090732/http://www.kaliokalam.com/2012/12/01/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE/|archive-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>

The pre-Tagore era also saw an undercurrent of popular literature which was focused on daily life in contemporary Bengal. The prose style, as well as the humour in these works, were often crass, blunt and accessible. A masterpiece in this regard was "Hutom Pechar Naksha" (The Sketch of the Owl) written by [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], and satirically depicts "Babu" culture in 19th century Kolkata. Other notable works in this regard are "Alaler Ghorer Dulal" (The Spoilt Brat) by [[Peary Chand Mitra]], "[[Ramtanu Lahiri]] o tatkalin Banga shamaj" (Ramtanu Lahiri & contemporary Bengali society) by [[Sivanath Shastri|Shibnath Shastri]] and "Naba Babu Bilas" & "Naba Bibi Bilas" by Bhabanicharan Bandopadhyay. These books arguably portrayed contemporary Bengali dialect and popular society effectively, and also incorporated now-extinct music genres such as Khisti, Kheur and Kabiyal gaan by stalwarts like [[Roopchand Pakshi|Rupchand Pakhi]] and Bhola Moyra. Books like these have become rarer since the emergence of Tagore culture, and the burgeoning preference for literary elegance and refinement in Bengali society.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarai.net/publications/readers/02-the-cities-of-everyday-life/13calcutta.pdf |title=Mechanicalcutta: Industrialisation, new media in the 19th century |access-date=16 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705092243/http://www.sarai.net/publications/readers/02-the-cities-of-everyday-life/13calcutta.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2010}}</ref>
<gallery widths="120" heights="120" perrow="7">
File:Bankim Chattapadhyay.jpg|[[Bankim Chandra Chatterjee]]'s first novel ''[[Durgeshnandini]]'' was considered a benchmark in the history of Bengali literature.<ref name = sukumarsenengbankim>{{cite book |last=Sen|first=Sukumar|title= History of Bengali |edition=3rd|year=1979|orig-year=1960|publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]]|location= New Delhi |isbn= 81-7201-107-5|pages=211–12}}</ref>
File:Shaheed Minar.JPG|[[Shaheed Minar, Dhaka]] as displayed on the annual anniversary of [[Bengali language movement]].
File:Bhasha Smritistambha Arnab Dutta 2011.jpg|[[Bhasha Smritistambha]], [[Kolkata]].
File:Kaykobad 1932.jpg|[[Kaykobad]] was a popular narrative poet.
File:হাসন রাজা (ঊর্ধাংশ).jpg|[[Hason Raja]]'s poetry continues to be prominent in rural Bengal.
</gallery>[[Bankim Chandra Chatterjee]]'s [[Vande Mataram]] played a vital role in the [[Indian independence movement]] and he is widely respected in India. His novels are popular to a lesser extent in Bangladesh.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} [[Bankim Puraskar|Bankim Memorial Award]] is the highest literary award which is given by the [[Government of West Bengal]], India.

=== Third and fourth phases (1900–1947) ===
[[File:Rabindranath Tagore unknown location.jpg|thumb|[[Rabindranath Tagore]], Asia's first [[Nobel Prize|Nobel]] laureate.]]
[[File:Kazi Nazrul Islam with the Kendriya Muslim Sahitya Sangsad.jpg|thumb|[[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] seated with Bengali Muslim littérateurs in [[Sylhet]]. Nazrul's contributions included the profuse enrichment of the Bengali [[Ghazal|gôzôl]].]]
[[Rabindranath Tagore]] and [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] are the most well-known prolific writers of Bengal in the 20th century. Tagore is celebrated as the writer of both India's national anthem, [[Jana Gana Mana]] and Bangladesh's [[Amar Shonar Bangla]] as well as being a source of inspiration for the [[Sri Lanka Matha]]. Tagore’s short stories are celebrated for their profound exploration of human emotions and social issues. Through characters like Phatik in "The Homecoming" and the themes of class in "The Babus of Nayanjore," Tagore masterfully depicts the complexities of Indian society and the human experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dattatraya Das |url=https://www.brainwareuniversity.ac.in/celebrating-tagore/author/dattatraya/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Celebrating Tagore - The Man, The Poet and The Musician |language=en-US}}</ref> Similarly Nazrul is celebrated as the [[national poet]] of Bangladesh.<ref name="University of Hawaii Press">{{cite book |last1=de Silva |first1=K. M. |author-link1=K. M. de Silva |last2=Wriggins |first2=Howard |author-link2=William Howard Wriggins |title=J. R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: a Political Biography – Volume One: The First Fifty Years |date=1988 |publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]] |isbn=0-8248-1183-6 |page=368 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6orPBJCSPhIC}}</ref><ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news |title=Man of the series: Nobel laureate Tagore |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/off-the-field/Man-of-the-series-Nobel-laureate-Tagore/articleshow/7854172.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=[[Times News Network]] |date=3 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="IBN Live">{{cite news |title=How Tagore inspired Sri Lanka's national anthem |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/how-tagore-inspired-sri-lankas-national-anthem/255713-40-103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510201526/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/how-tagore-inspired-sri-lankas-national-anthem/255713-40-103.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 May 2012 |work=[[IBN Live]] |date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

[[Sarat Chandra Chatterjee]] wrote novels, novellas, and stories. He also wrote essays, which were anthologized in ''Narir Mulya (1923)'' and ''Svadesh O Sahitya (1932)''. ''Shrikanta, Charitrahin, Devdas, Grihadaha, Dena-Paona'' and ''Pather Dabi'' are among his most popular works.

===Short story writers===
Bengali literature is also famous for short stories. Some famous short story writers are [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Manik Bandopadhyay]], [[Tarashankar Bandopadhyay]], [[Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay]], [[Rajshekhar Basu]] (Parasuram), [[Syed Mujtaba Ali]], [[Premendra Mitra]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-04|title=Mosquito and Other Stories by Premendra Mitra|url=https://www.purplepencilproject.com/mosquito-and-other-stories-premendra-mitra/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Purple Pencil Project|language=en-US}}</ref> Bengal is also known for its detective stories and novels written by [[Satyajit Ray]], [[Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay]] and others.

===Fifth phase: post-partition era (1947–1971)===
[[Rajshekhar Basu]] (1880–1960) was the best-known writer of satiric short story in Bengali literature.<ref name =parashuram>{{cite book |editor1-first=Sisir Kumar |editor1-last= Das |title= Samsad Bangla Sahityasangi|trans-title= Samsad Companion to Bengali Literature |edition=1st |year= 2003 |publisher= Sahitya Samsad |location= Kolkata |language=bn |isbn=81-7955-007-9 |page= 189}}</ref> He mocked the charlatanism and vileness of various classes of the Bengali society in his stories written under the pseudonym "Parashuram".<ref name =parashuram/> His major works include: ''Gaddalika'' (1924), ''Kajjwali'' (1927), ''Hanumaner Swapna'' (1937), ''Gamanush Jatir Katha'' (1945), ''Dhusturimaya Ityadi Galpa'' (1952), ''Krishnakali Ittadi Galpa'' (1953), ''Niltara Ittadi Galpa'' (1956), ''Anandibai Ittadi Galpa'' (1958) and ''Chamatkumari Ittadi Galpa'' (1959). He received the [[Rabindra Puraskar]], the highest literary award of [[West Bengal|Paschimbanga]] in 1955 for ''Krishnakali Ityadi Galpa''.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Adhya|first1=Hemanta Kumar |title= Rajshekhar Basu |edition= 1st|series= Bharatiya Sahityakar Pustakmala |year= 2001|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|location= Kolkata |language=bn |id= 41-45}}</ref> Rajsheskhar was also a noted lexicographer, translator and essayist. His ''Chalantika'' (1937) is one of the most popular concise Bengali dictionaries, while his Bengali-language translations of ''[[Meghaduta]]'' (1943), the ''[[Ramayana]]'' (1946), the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (1949) and the ''[[Bhagavat Gita]]'' (1961) are also acclaimed.<ref name =parashuram/> His major essays are included in ''Laghuguru'' (1939) and ''Bichinta'' (1955).<ref name =parashuram/> Other three well-known authors of that time were [[Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay]], [[Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay]] and [[Manik Bandyopadhyay]]; popularly known as ''Bandyopadhyay Troyee'' (Trio of ''Bandyopadhyay''s).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ritujanpub.com/2021/04/19/664/ | title=তিন বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের দ্যুতি | work=Ritujan Publication | date=19 April 2021 }}</ref> [[Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay]], who wrote under the pen name of ''Banaphul'', was another noted author of that period. He is most noted for his short [[Vignette (literature)|vignettes]], often just half-page long, but his body of work spanned sixty-five years and included "thousands of poems, 586 short stories (a handful of which have been translated to English),<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-13|title=Wildfire and Other Stories by Banaphool|url=https://www.purplepencilproject.com/wildfire-and-other-stories-by-banaphool-review/|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Purple Pencil Project|language=en-US}}</ref> 60 novels, 5 dramas, a number of one-act plays, an autobiography called ''Paschatpat'' (''Background''), and numerous essays."<ref>[http://www.indiaheritage.org/creative/creative_literature_bengali.htm Spectrum of Bengali literature (modern period)], ''Indiaheritage.org'', Retrieved 1 May 2007.</ref><ref>Ananta Ghosh, [http://www.bagc.net/newsletter2000-2.html Great writers], ''Bengali Association of Greater Chicago Newsletter'', Volume 25: Issue 2 : April 2000. Retrieved 1 May 2007.</ref> [[Saradindu Bandyopadhyay]], who was also a renowned [[historical fiction]] writer, created the detective [[Byomkesh Bakshi]]. Other noted authors of this period included [[Samaresh Basu]], [[Buddhadeb Bosu]], [[Premendra Mitra]], [[Shibram Chakraborty]], [[Narayan Gangopadhyay]], [[Subodh Ghosh]], and [[Narendranath Mitra]].

==== Prakalpana Movement ====
Prakalpana Movement, branded by Steve LeBlanc, the noted US critic, as 'a tiny literary revolution', 'nurtured' by Kolkata, has been fostering its new genres of Prakalpana fiction, Sarbangin poetry and Chetanavyasism for over four decades, spearheaded by Vattacharja Chandan, beginning in 1969. It is probably the only bilingual (Bengali -English) [[literary movement]] in India mothered by Bengali literature, that has spread its wings worldwide through the participation of well known international [[avant-garde]] writers and [[mail art]]ists such as [[Richard Kostelanetz]], [[John M. Bennett]], [[Sheila Murphy (poet)|Sheila Murphy]], [[Don Webb (writer)|Don Webb]], with notable Bengali poets, writers and artists like Vattacharja Chandan.<ref>''Songs of Kobisena'' by Steve Leblanc in ''Version 90'', PMS Cafe Press, Alston, MS, USA.</ref>

=== Sixth phase: two streams (1971–present) ===

==== Bangladesh stream ====
[[Humayun Ahmed]], created his own style of simplistic writing that became immensely popular. His characters like Himu, Misir Ali, Baker Bhai etc. continue to be household names loved by all. His teacher, [[Nurul Momen | Natyaguru Nurul Momen]], regarded as the Shakespeare of Bangladesh was the pioneer in simultaneously three fields of literature:- Playwrighting, Belle Lettres & Satire. Other prominent writers include [[Muhammed Zafar Iqbal]], [[Humayun Azad]], [[Ahmed Sofa]], [[Selina Hossain]], [[Taslima Nasrin|Taslima Nasreen]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramesh |first=Randeep |date=2008-02-11 |title=Leading Indians campaign for exiled writer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/feb/11/news.india?CMP=share_btn_url |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-16 |title=Why Taslima Nasreen wants to return to Bangladesh |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-28307267 |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> and many others.<ref name=":0" />

==== West Bengal stream ====
West Bengal Bengali literature was influenced by a flock of modernist thinkers who steered Bangla literature. [[Sunil Gangopadhyay]], a poet, novelist, and children's story writer, was one of the most prolific writers of his time. [[Satyajit Ray]] created his own detective [[Feluda]], who is accompanied by Tapesh Ranjan Mitra, regarded by his nickname 'Topshe' by Feluda and [[Lalmohan Ganguly]]. Ray also created the characters [[Professor Shonku]] and [[Tarini Khuro]], a revolutionary scientist and an adventurer and storyteller respectively. Additionally, others who left marks include [[Narayan Sanyal]], [[Buddhadeb Guha]], [[Mahasweta Devi|Mahashweta Devi]], [[Nirendranath Chakravarty|Nirendranath Chakraborty]], [[Samaresh Majumdar]], [[Samaresh Basu]], [[Suchitra Bhattacharya]], Purusottom Kumar Debnath, [[Nabaneeta Dev Sen]], [[Syed Mustafa Siraj]], Baren Gangopadhyay, [[Amiya Bhushan Majumdar|Amiya Bhushan Mazumdar]], [[Debesh Roy]], [[Atin Bandyopadhyay]], [[Shankha Ghosh]], [[Shakti Chattopadhyay]], [[Moti Nandi]], [[Kamal Kumar Majumdar]], [[Sankar (writer)|Shankar]], [[Malay Roy Choudhury]], Haripada Mondal, and [[Bani Basu]].

==See also==
* [[List of Bengali poets|List of Bengali Poets and Writers]]
* [[List of Bengali-language authors (chronological)]]
* [[List of Bengali-language authors (alphabetical)]]
* [[Dalit literature#Dalit literature in Bengali|Dalit Literature in Bengali]]
* [[Bengali novels]]
* [[Ghosts in Bengali culture]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bengali literature}}
* [https://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/bengali.html Library of Congress – Bengali Section]
* [http://www.bangla-literature.ueuo.com An English Magazine on Bengali Literature] by Sayeed Abubakar
* [https://www.18upchoti.com/forums/bengali-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE.6/ A Bengali Forum on Bengali Literature] by Abdul Momin
* [https://www.brainwareuniversity.ac.in/celebrating-tagore/author/dattatraya/ Celebrating Tagore]

{{Bengali language topics}}
{{Bengal Renaissance}}

{{West Bengal}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bengali Literature}}
[[Category:Bengali-language literature|*]]
[[Category:Literature by ethnicity|Bengali]]
[[Category:Culture of Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian literature by language]]

Bengali literature - Revision history

BGRDoreen32 at 14:49, 17 April 2026