Bankim Literature: The Sprouting of Western Literary Criticism in Bengal (Hardbound-2022)

The book conducts a thorough investigation into the seventy-three years (1865-1937) of Bankim criticism. It throws a flood of light on the evolution of Bankim criticism, the shape that Bankim criticism assumed before the Centenary Year, and especially how the different methods of criticism and schools took shape during the period. The scope of the book extends to critical estimates of Bankim’s prose works only keeping out of purview all the poetical criticisms since prose is universally considered as the most suitable medium of literary flavor. Also, non-literary appraisals have been left out of discussion in order to keep the volume of the book within reasonable limits, though, references have been made wherever necessary to those in order to highlight the evolutionary trend of Bankim criticism. The precursors and predecessors in the field of Bankim criticism have been viewed both against the background of their times, as well as from the modern standpoint for a correct assessment of Bankim criticism during the period under study.

The book has twelve chapters covering a wide discussion on Bankim criticism. The first chapter is introductory, elaborately discussing the growth and development of Bengali literary criticism with special reference to the evolution of Bankim criticism in historical perspective, keeping in view the formulation of theories and their application, and initiation and furtherance of various methods and schools of criticism. During the period of seventy-three years of Bankim criticism, various critics belonging to different walks of life have exercised their intellect to evaluate Bankim’s works from diverse standpoints. All the major literary critics have been brought under discussion in the aforesaid chapters while a list of minor critics has been included in Appendices.

The findings of the study will benefit the researchers on Bankim criticism.

Krishna Ranjan Paul, M.A., Ph.D., started his career as a lecturer at the Department of Bengali in Ramkrishna Nagar College, Guwahati, Assam, in the year 1973 and thereafter worked in different academic and administrative positions in the same college. He retired as the Principal of the college in the year 2011. He was also the member of Executive Council, Academic Council, and the court member of the Assam University. His articles of different tastes and subjects were published in various books and journals of North Eastern region as well as National arena. His own poetry work Sagarer Trishna (Thirst of Sea) is a noted deed of literature. After retiring from the post of Principal, he started a B.Ed. college in the year 2012 at Karimganj, Assam. Besides, he has been leading various organizations in his zone like Barak Upatayka Bongo Sahitya, Lions Club, Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum, etc. and successfully achieved an exposure in socio-cultural-literary and educational sectors.