Through folklore and fantasy: An ode to Bangla mythological characters
Let me tell you a tale of a big Banyan tree, by a river that flows through the heart of a village near the borders of Bangladesh, and merges into the Ganges. The tale features a little girl sitting under that tree, immersed in the books she brought from Dhaka to Chuadanga. Little did she know that Banyan tree held a reputation to be home to a creature known as the "Brommo Doitti". When she grew up, her grandmother and father narrated the tale of how the doitto had cursed the schoolmaster who cut the tree that was there before, and for generations, his successors died in the river, leaving no one to carry the family line. Finally, as an apology, the family planted another tree and prayed for peace to appease their ill fate.
Such was my introduction to the mythologies rooted in the soil of Bengal. As someone who is deeply in love with the relatively pale pages of Western mythologies—the saga of how Greek and Roman Gods ruled the earth and the Norse myths of Gods, giants, and cosmic balance, centered on Yggdrasil, the World Tree, connecting nine realms—the mythological treasures of Bengal attracted me just as much, probably more. So if you, too, are someone in love with mythology or is a lover of Bangla literature, there is much nostalgia awaiting you in the pages of Otiprakrito. The book features the mythological creatures that already exist in Bangla mythology and have been believed, loved, and feared throughout literature.
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Otiprakrito is akin to a graphic novel that is written by Anindita Chowdhury and Afra Nawmi, with a team of illustrators and artists who reimagined and brought to life—through their artwork—traditional characters from Bangla mythology. A group of researchers also aided in creating the foundation for these stories and together, they crafted a book that can work as an encyclopedia of Bengal's mythological creatures.
Reading through Otiprakrito is like opening the pages of a book where myths and legends don't just whisper from the pages—they leap out of them. Each character is vividly painted. The moment you meet Ghum Parani Mashi-Pishi, snoozing delicately in a fairy-tale saree, or stumble into the tragic hilarity of the Hattimatimtim, tucked away in their eccentric mansion, you know you're not in the realm of the ordinary. This is a universe where the fairy-tale demons and witches frighten and delight. Every image, a brainchild of different artists, carries their signature flair while staying bound to the book's overarching theme.
But at its heart, this book isn't a deep dive into just the supernatural—it is more of a visual feast, an attempt to acquaint readers with creatures of the myth, forgotten gods and goddesses, and fantastical beings. It's as if the book wants to say, "Here, let me introduce you to the wonders of your dreams".
Not all myths, though, are equally telling. Some creatures remain shrouded in mystery, their chapters brief and fleeting. However, the black and white and sepia illustrations offer these chapters a chance to shine and their forms are instantly recognisable.
"Don't judge a book by its cover," they say—but here, the cover is visually appealing and shines on its own. A fairytale frame guards the 'au' (the first letter of the Bangla alphabet), while 10 mythical animals from folklore stand sentinel. It represents what lies within: the book's essence, captured in a burst of noble colors. Additionally, the font in the book offers a nod to the nostalgic charm of old typewriters—the black lettering floats on yellowed pages.
For a curious reader, the real joy lies in character analysis. Find your favorite ghost or a mythical creature you've never met, it's all here waiting to be discovered. The book invites you to revel in the world of legends, to dream as you once did as a child.
In its essence, Otiprakrito asks you to revisit your childhood and reminds you that our myths and legends are timeless and a part of our collective identity. It reminds us that like the myths from different cultures across the globe, the rivers of Bengal also whisper its ancient secrets to the world. In those whimsical depths, shadows dance—figures too delicate yet fierce to belong to the mortal realm. The air of Otiprakrito hums with stories older than time, of serpents with gems guarding treasures, of Ponkhiraj Ghora soaring above the clouds, and Rakshasas whose laughter can shatter the strongest of hearts.
If I am asked who this book is for: It is for the dreamers, believers, the ones who once feared the darkness under their beds, yet longed to uncover mysteries.
Tahseen Nower Prachi is a writer whose head is a koi pond of micro tales too scattered to come down to her keyboard. For more of her little pieces follow The Minute Chronicles on Facebook.
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