6 books to enjoy the spirit of Pahela Baishakh

Pahela Baishakh, in all its mighty glory, has come bearing peace, prosperity, and pursuit. It is a day to showcase our heritage, manifest our culture, and embrace the warmth of being the proverbial "machh e bhaat e Bangali". These books, among many others, can help readers feel the spirit of the Bangali new year in all its vibrant colours. 

Kheror Khata 
Leela Majumdar
Ananda Publishers, 2014

An exquisite collection of anecdotal vignettes, Kheror Khata by Leela Majumdar is a satirical memoir that profoundly examines Bangalis throughout the span of a lasting century. There are fond paragraphs on her lineage, a perfectly bitter-sweet presentation of love and an absurd tale highlighting tigers. Most of all, these slice-of-life essays are insightful scriptures of the Bangali lifestyle, its culture and customs. 

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Songs of our soil: In praise of Mymensingh’s Bangla folk ballads

Prothom Alo
Sunil Gangopadhyay
Ananda Publishers, 1996 

A classic staple to dive into the study of Bangali fortunes, this work of historical fiction by Sunil Gangopadhyay features the recital of the olden days with the rejuvenation of the new. It is an ode to the majestic Bengal Renaissance period, taking favours from the lives of characters such as Rabindranath Tagore, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Dr Mahendralal Sarkar, Aurobindo Ghose, and so on. There is also a nationalist notion permeating the book, and it keeps readers guessing between recounts of facts and fiction. 

Moslar Juddho 
Satyen Sen
Muktodhara Publishers, 1980 

Another historical retelling, this time showing an otherwise neglected portion of the history of Bengal, is Moslar Juddho. Moshla (spice) was at the center of many conflicts during the 15th to 17th century. Since the native Bengal was rich in its production of spices and herbs, the European militia waged war against the subcontinent and halted its industrial progress. Readers who are simultaneously interested in analysing food and culture would highly appreciate this book. 

Panechar Banur Nokshi Katha 
Hasnat Abdul Hye
Anyaprokash, 2010

Panechar Banur Nokshi Katha is a lifetime portrayal of contemporary Bangladesh, incorporating picturesque depictions of rural living and national politics. The central character of the story, Panechar Banu, acts as a catalyst as the author makes variant discourses on classism, feminism, and Bangali culture. 

Badshah Namdar
Humayun Ahmed 
Anyaprokash, 2011

Almost all Bangla literature readers are acquainted with Humayun Ahmed's popular fiction and the Himu chronicles. Badshah Namdar is his jovial dip into Bangali cultural writing, unfolding historical evidence from the period of King Humayun during the momentous Mughal empire. The book also includes hunger-inducing detailing of the then-popular food delicacies, which have ambled their way into our contemporary cuisine. 

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Himu taught me it was okay to not be normal

Suraiya 
Shibobroto Bormon 
Batighar, 2022 

One is a story of love, another of a game of chess. Six men with identical faces and identical names—it is an eerie tragedy of an un-golden duck. These are some premises of the short stories collected in this analogy by Shibobroto Bormon. It is difficult to categorise his work under a specific genre, however, the unconventional amalgamation of strange narratives is a remarkable stroke into the world of contemporary Bangla fiction. 

Nur-E-Jannat Alif is a Gender Studies major and part-time writer, who dreams of authoring a book someday. Find her at @literatureinsolitude on Instagram or send her your book/movie/television recommendations at nurejannatalif@gmail.com.