Celebrating a mammoth volume on South Asian writers
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Nahid Kaiser Toma
THE publication of Dictionary of Literary Biography (volume three hundred and twenty three) titled ‘South Asian writers in English’ edited by Professor Dr. Fakrul Alam was celebrated at OMNI Books, Dhanmondi, Dhaka on July 28 in the afternoon.
This colossal enterprise is a Bruccoli Clark Layman one which includes entries of forty-eight twentieth and twenty-first century novelists, short-story writers, poets, dramatists, and non-fiction writers from India, Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Each entry in the mammoth volume is written by an authority in the field and illustrated with photographs documenting the life and career of the subject. The historical background of South Asian writing in English and the various literary trends exemplified in such writing are discussed in the editor's introduction to the volume.
The event was gracefully presided over by Dr. Neaz Zaman, a professor of English, Dhaka University and an eminent writer, editor, translator and publisher. At first, Mr. Ali Ahmed gently welcomes all on behalf of Omni Books. For the convenience of the audience, a slide show was arranged by Mr. Morshed which included the cover-page, introduction, contents, lists of the contributors and some highlights of the contributions.
The editor briefly discussed the slides calling the volume 'A book in a series of enduring value'. There are three entries from Bangladesh. Kaiser Huq, a great poet and professor of English in Dhaka University wrote on Monica Ali and Nissim Ezekiel and Tom Moraces. Neaz Zaman wrote on Bapsi Sidhwa, a renowned Pakistani novelist and professor Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam wrote on Kaiser Huq. Fakrul Alam wrote on Nirad C. Chaudhury, R.K.Narayan and Tagore. Ali Arifur Rahman, a professor of English in Rajshahi University wrote on Khushwant Singh.
The editor, Dr. Alam, called the volume 'a marvel of technology' as for last four and half years he has been working through emails. Finally when he sees the book, he himself is surprised at its marvel. But he does not forget to thank cordially Babul Prasand of English Department, Dhaka University who has taken all the trouble of composing and more to make it a success. Dr. Rubana regrets for the omission of Syed Walliullah, P Lal, G. Das Pandey and Saorjini Naidu from the volume. In response, the editor explained that it was out of necessity that he had to do it.
Syed Manzoorul Islam discussed the splendour of Kaiser Huq as a poet. Tandha Chakravarti, a renowned writer, translator, editor and one of the contributors to the volume explained her experience of communicating Anita Desai and Bharati Mukherjee. Kaiser Huq also admired the editor's tremendous effort and perseverance. Finally, Neaz Zaman thanked all and warmly offered 'cha-taa'.
The function ended with informal and open discussion among all the participants. It must be mentioned that the book was published in 2006 but the celebration of its appearance was held just recently.
Nahid Kaiser Toma teaches English literature at Daffodil University, Dhaka
THE publication of Dictionary of Literary Biography (volume three hundred and twenty three) titled ‘South Asian writers in English’ edited by Professor Dr. Fakrul Alam was celebrated at OMNI Books, Dhanmondi, Dhaka on July 28 in the afternoon.
This colossal enterprise is a Bruccoli Clark Layman one which includes entries of forty-eight twentieth and twenty-first century novelists, short-story writers, poets, dramatists, and non-fiction writers from India, Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Each entry in the mammoth volume is written by an authority in the field and illustrated with photographs documenting the life and career of the subject. The historical background of South Asian writing in English and the various literary trends exemplified in such writing are discussed in the editor's introduction to the volume.
The event was gracefully presided over by Dr. Neaz Zaman, a professor of English, Dhaka University and an eminent writer, editor, translator and publisher. At first, Mr. Ali Ahmed gently welcomes all on behalf of Omni Books. For the convenience of the audience, a slide show was arranged by Mr. Morshed which included the cover-page, introduction, contents, lists of the contributors and some highlights of the contributions.
The editor briefly discussed the slides calling the volume 'A book in a series of enduring value'. There are three entries from Bangladesh. Kaiser Huq, a great poet and professor of English in Dhaka University wrote on Monica Ali and Nissim Ezekiel and Tom Moraces. Neaz Zaman wrote on Bapsi Sidhwa, a renowned Pakistani novelist and professor Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam wrote on Kaiser Huq. Fakrul Alam wrote on Nirad C. Chaudhury, R.K.Narayan and Tagore. Ali Arifur Rahman, a professor of English in Rajshahi University wrote on Khushwant Singh.
The editor, Dr. Alam, called the volume 'a marvel of technology' as for last four and half years he has been working through emails. Finally when he sees the book, he himself is surprised at its marvel. But he does not forget to thank cordially Babul Prasand of English Department, Dhaka University who has taken all the trouble of composing and more to make it a success. Dr. Rubana regrets for the omission of Syed Walliullah, P Lal, G. Das Pandey and Saorjini Naidu from the volume. In response, the editor explained that it was out of necessity that he had to do it.
Syed Manzoorul Islam discussed the splendour of Kaiser Huq as a poet. Tandha Chakravarti, a renowned writer, translator, editor and one of the contributors to the volume explained her experience of communicating Anita Desai and Bharati Mukherjee. Kaiser Huq also admired the editor's tremendous effort and perseverance. Finally, Neaz Zaman thanked all and warmly offered 'cha-taa'.
The function ended with informal and open discussion among all the participants. It must be mentioned that the book was published in 2006 but the celebration of its appearance was held just recently.
Nahid Kaiser Toma teaches English literature at Daffodil University, Dhaka