Bengali novels occupy a major part of Bengali literature. Though the first

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

novel was ''Karuna O Phulmonir Bibaran'' (1852), the Bengali novel actually started its journey with '' Durgeshnandini'' written by

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (also Chattopadhayay) CIE (26 or 27 June 1838 – 8 April 1894) was an Indian novelist, poet, Essayist and journalist.Staff writer"Bankim Chandra: The First Prominent Bengali Novelist" ''The Daily Star'', 30 June 2011 ...

in 1865. According to Ananda Sanker and Lila Ray, 'when the novel was introduced in Bengali in the middle of the 19th century, the form itself was new, the prose in which it was written was new, the secular tone was new in a country hitherto wholly dominated by religion, and the society in which and for which it was written was new' (p. 168). But some great novelists like

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (also Chattopadhayay) CIE (26 or 27 June 1838 – 8 April 1894) was an Indian novelist, poet, Essayist and journalist. Staff writer"Bankim Chandra: The First Prominent Bengali Novelist" ''The Daily Star'', 30 June 201 ...

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...

Manik Bandopadhyay Manik Bandyopadhyay lias Banerjee(; 19 May 1908 – 3 December 1956) is an Indian Litterateur regarded as one of the major figures of 20th century Bengali literature. During a lifespan of 48 years and 28 years of literary career, battling with ...

Tarashankar Bandopadhyay Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay (23 July 1898 – 14 September 1971) was an Indian novelist who wrote in the Bengali language. He wrote 65 novels, 53-story-books, 12 plays, 4 essay-books, 4 autobiographies, 2 travel stories and composed several songs. ...

, and

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, alternatively spelt as Sarat Chandra Chatterjee ( bn, শরৎচন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায়; 15 September 1876 or ৩১ শে ভাদ্র ১২৮৩ বঙ্গাব্দ � ...

developed the newly introduced genre in such a way that 'new' changed into 'matured' through their works. Almost all these literary activities went on in full swing in

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city i ...

, on the other hand, could not participate in the early stage, but literature created by and of the people of

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

area later on flourished with notable success.

Bangladeshi novels

Novels of Bangladesh fall almost fifty years behind the Bengali novels. (First Bengali novel ''Alaler Ghore Dulal'' was published in 1858 and ''Anowara'' was published in 1914.) In its history of about one hundred years, novels of Bangladesh got a good number of novels where creative emancipation of the writers has been established.

Themes of Bangladeshi novels

In the early stage, glorification of the religious beliefs and lives was the theme of most of the novels. Later on, picturization of real Bengali life became a common topic. By the end of the fifties, the novelists gradually turned to human mind and its analysis. A great change of the theme came after 1971. Novels about the

Liberation War of Bangladesh The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali n ...

began to come forth. Even till now it has not ceased to be an interesting topic. The content and form of the novels saw various changes in the last fifty years. Starting from ordinary narration, now it has reached to magic realistic presentation through

stream of consciousness In literary criticism, stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or method that attempts "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind" of a narrator. The term was coined by Daniel Oliver in 1840 in ''First L ...

realism Realism, Realistic, or Realists may refer to: In the arts *Realism (arts), the general attempt to depict subjects truthfully in different forms of the arts Arts movements related to realism include: *Classical Realism *Literary realism, a move ...

, surrealism etc.

History of Bangladeshi novels

To many, '' Anowara'' was the most significant one among the earlier novels written in Bangladesh. This novel was written by Mohammad Najibar Rahman in 1914. But the milestone in the modern novels of Bangladesh is Syed Waliullah's ''Lalsalu'' (published in 1948). The history of Bangladeshi novels can be categorized in 3 major parts. * Pre-partition (1947) era * East-Pakistan era * Bangladesh era

Pre-Partition era

Before 1947, events like Partition of Bengal in 1905, Foundation of

Muslim League Muslim League may refer to: Political parties Subcontinent ; British India *All-India Muslim League, Mohammed Ali Jinah, led the demand for the partition of India resulting in the creation of Pakistan. **Punjab Muslim League, a branch of the organ ...

in 1906 and Unification of Bengali in 1911 inspired the Muslim community of Dhaka to establish a new identity in the horizon of literature. Mohammad Najibar Rahman, Kazi Imdadul Huq,

Kazi Abdul Wadud Kazi Abdul Wadud (26 April 1894 - 19 May 1970) was a Bengali people, Bengali essayist, prominent critic, dramatist and biographer. He was born into a lower-middle-class family, in larger Faridpur (present) Rajbari, Pangsha. His father's name was K ...

, Sheikh Idrish Ali, Akbaruddin, Abul Fazal, Humayun Kabir, etc. were among the novelists who tried to enrich the novels of the then

East Pakistan East Pakistan was a Pakistani province established in 1955 by the One Unit Policy, renaming the province as such from East Bengal, which, in modern times, is split between India and Bangladesh. Its land borders were with India and Myanmar, wi ...

, present Bangladesh. Mohammad Najibar Rahman's ''Anowara'' was the first notable novel and it moved the whole Bengali Muslim community after publication. According to Rafiqullah Khan, 'The novel could not create any novelty from artistic point of view, but it carried great importance for its picturization of socio-economic and political culture and ideals of the uprising populace' (p. 25, Translation). The main themes of most of the novels in this era were Muslim society, beliefs, and orthodoxy. Examples of novels incorporating these themes are Najibar Rahman's ''Premer Somadhi'' (published in 1919) and ''Goriber Meye'' (1923), Sheikh Idris Ali's ''Premer Pothe'' (1926). In this time, for the first time the life of the Bengali farmers took an artistic delineation through Kazi Abdul Wadud's ''Nodibakshe'' (1919). Then Kazi Imdadul Huq sprinkled a new wave. His famous novel ''Abdullah'' was published in periodicals in 1920 and it came into book form in 1933. According to Biswajit Ghosh, this novel was a 'bourgeois and humanitarian revolt against devotion to Peers, religious dogmas, purdah-system and disparity between Ashraf and Atraf'. Later, 'Kazi Abdul Wadud and Humayun Kabir extended this attitude'. Another novelist, Abul Fazal, exposed human psychological analyses in his novel ''Chouchir'' (1927). He afterwards continued with his own style and wrote ''Prodip O Patongo'' (1940) and ''Shahoshika'' (1946). It is well accepted that this type of psychological approach was a first attempt in novels of Bangladesh, though not for the first time in Bengali novels. A progressive novelist Humayun Kabir wrote an English novel, ''Rivers and Women'', which was published in 1945. The Bengali form was published in 1952 by the name of ''Nodi O Nari''.

East Pakistan era

The independence of India and Pakistan from British rule bore more importance for the people of then

Bengal Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...

. Since then the Bengali speaking community were divided into two parts – the East and the West Bengal. It turns into the smashing of the millennium-old culture and unity of Bengali nation. Moreover, the existence of language became a great question just after the creation of Pakistan. The West-Pakistan ruling government tried to impose

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Bengali literature. In this tumultuous era, Syed Waliullah's ''Lalsalu (Tree without roots)'' (1948) was published. It was the foremost successful novel, both from art and reality points of view. Later Syed Waliullah translated it in English by the name ''Tree Without Roots''. Mahbub-ul Alam wrote ''Mofijon'', also published in 1948. In the first years of the Pakistan regime the authors mostly took village life as their

theme Theme or themes may refer to: * Theme (arts), the unifying subject or idea of the type of visual work * Theme (Byzantine district), an administrative district in the Byzantine Empire governed by a Strategos * Theme (computing), a custom graphical ...

, but they gradually diversified their interests. Newly born urban society began to establish itself as worthy to be literary contents. Along with them political developments also took place in fiction. Among the first novelists of Pakistan period, Abul Fazal, Akbar Hossain, Shaukat Osman,

Abu Rushd Syed Abu Rushd Matinuddin (known by his pen name Abu Rushd, 25 December 1919 – 23 February 2010) was a Bangladeshi writer. Early life and career Rushd started his career as an English lecturer in Hooghly Mohsin College. He moved to England in ...

, Kazi Afsaruddin, Daulatunnessa Khatun, Syed Waliullah, Sarder Jayenuddin, Abu Ishaque, and

Shamsuddin Abul Kalam Shamsuddin Abul Kalam ( bn, শামসুদ্দিন আবুল কালাম; 19261997), was an actor and an author of Bengali literature in Bangladesh. He was born in Barisal. He is the maternal uncle of A.M. Harun-ar-Rashid. Life A ...

were the most prominent ones. Then came a whole generation of extraordinary novelists. Chowdhury Shamsur Rahman,

Satyen Sen Satyen Sen ( bn, সত্যেন সেন), (28 March 1907 - 5 January 1981) was a historian of Bengali literature from Bangladesh. Early life Satyen was born in Tangibari, Munshigonj. His father was Darinimohan Sen. He passed the entranc ...

Abujafar Shamsuddin Abu Jafar Shamsuddin (12 March 1911 – 24 August 1988) was a Bangladeshi writer. He was the recipient of Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1968 and Ekushey Padak in 1983. Early life and education Shamsuddin was born on 12 March 1911, to a Bengal ...

, Ahsan Habib,

Nilima Ibrahim Neelima Ibrahim (11 October 1921 – 18 June 2002) was a Bangladeshi educationist, littérateur and social worker. She is well known for her scholarship on Bengali literature but even more so for her depiction of raped and tortured women in the ...

, Abdur Razzak, Khondkar Md. Eliash,

Rashid Karim Rashid Karim (14 August 1925 – 26 November 2011) was a Bangladeshi novelist. Early life and career Karim was born in Kolkata, West Bengal in 1925. He completed his BA from the Calcutta Islamia College (now Maulana Azad College), an affiliat ...

, Shahidulla Kaisar, Anwar Pasha, Abdar Rashid,

Alauddin Al-Azad Alauddin Al-Azad (6 May 1932 – 3 July 2009) was a modern Bangladeshi author, novelist, and poet. Early life and education Azad was born in Dhaka. He Passed Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary School Certificate in 1947 and 1949 ...

Abdul Gaffar Choudhury Abdul Gaffar Choudhury (12 December 1934 – 19 May 2022) was a Bangladeshi-born British writer, journalist, columnist, political analyst and poet. He wrote the lyrics to "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano", a widely celebrated song commemorating the ...

Zahir Raihan Mohammad Zahirullah (19 August 1935 – disappeared 30 January 1972), known as Zahir Raihan, was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is most notable for his documentary ''Stop Genocide'' (1971), made during the Bangladesh Liberatio ...

, Syed Shamsul Haq, Humayun Kadir, Shahid Akhand, Razia Khan, Shawkat Ali, Dilara Hashim, Indu Saha, and

Ahmed Sofa Ahmed Sofa ( bn, আহমদ ছফা, ; 30 June 194328 July 2001) was a Bangladeshi writer, thinker, novelist, poet, philosopher and public intellectual. Sofa is considered by many, including National Professor Abdur Razzaq (Professor), Abdur ...

were notable names. In this time, diversity of contents of the novel was noticeable. Village life was the core theme of a huge number of novels. Sometimes it centered the superstitious village mind or the oppression by the influential groups on the common people, some other times depressed womanhood took this place. Love between men and women in pastoral context were also a subject of many novels. ''Lalshalu'' by Syed Waliullah, ''Kashboner Konna'' by

, ''Surjo Dighol Bari'' by Abu Ishaque, ''Meghabaran Kesh'' by Ishaq Chakhari, ''Adiganta'' by Sardar Jayenunddin, ''Mohuar Desh'' by Tasadduk Hossain, ''Janani'' by Shaukat Osman, ''Jhar'' by Syed Sahadat Hossain, ''Karnafully'' by

, ''Sareng Bou'' and ''Sangsaptak'' by Shahidulla Kaisar, ''Aranya Mithun'' by Badruddin Ahmad, ''Modhumoti'' by Rabeya Khatun, ''Hazar Bachhar Dhore'' by

, ''Bobakahini'' by

Jasimuddin Jasimuddin ( bn, জসীম উদ্‌দীন; 1 January 1903 – 13 March 1976), popularly called Palli Kabi (), was a Bengali poet, lyricist, composer and writer widely celebrated for his modern ballad sagas in the pastoral mode. Althoug ...

, ''Pannamoti'' by Sardar Jayenuddin etc. incorporated these themes. Middle class society began to evolve in this time. Urban life, its problems and complexities, uprising middle-class people, their social context and love in their life started to be portrayed in a good number of novels. ''Jibon Pother Jatri'' by Abul Fazal, ''Pother Porosh'' (1957) by Daulatunnessa Khatun, ''Bhorer Bihongi'' (1958) by Satyen Sen, ''Surjer Niche'' (1958) by Atahar Ahmad, ''Pathasranta'' (1959) by Nilima Ibrahim, ''Shesh Bikeler Meye'' (1960) by

, ''Kanyakumari'' (1960) by Abdur Razzak, ''Uttam Purush'' (1961) by

, ''Ek Path Dui Bank'' (1962) by Nilima Ibrahim, ''Akash Jodi Nil Hoi'' (1962) and ''Ihai To Prem'' (1963) by Syed Sahadat Hossain, ''Prasanno Pashan'' (1963) by Rashid Karim, ''Pingal Aakash'' (1963) by

Shawkat Ali Shawkat Ali (April 20, 1918 – August 18, 1975) was a politician and a leader of the Bengali Language Movement. He was one of the founders of Awami Muslim League - which later became Awami League and is now the Bangladesh Awami League. He was ...

, ''Akasher Rong'' (1964) by Zobeda Khanam, ''Panna Holo Sobuz'' (1964) by Shahid Akhand, ''Nirjan Megh'' (1965) by Humayun Kadir, ''Ghar Mon Janala'' (1965) by Dilara Hashim, ''Aronyo Nilima'' (1965) by Ahsan Habib, ''Antahshila'' (1967) by Kazi Md. Idris, ''Digonter Swapno'' (1967) by Razia Majid, ''Mon Ek Shet Kopoti'' (1967), ''Shaheb Bazar'' (1967) and ''Ananto Aneysha'' (1967) by Rabeya Khatun, ''Bipani Mon'' (1968) by Mir Abul Hossain, ''Sourav'' (1968) by Anis Chowdhury, ''Anishchita Ragini'' (1969) by

, ''Borof Gola Nodi'' (1969) by

, ''Rajabagh Shahimar Bagh'' (1969) by Rabeya Khatun etc. are significant novels of this stream. But the background of another major event was being prepared in this time. The country began to experience turmoil. The political situation of the country became more and more prominent in the novels also. In novels like ''Nongor'' by

and ''Mon Na Moti'' by Anis Siddique, ''Jibon Khuda'' by Abul Monsoor Ahmed exposed the context of

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...

Movement. Communal picture out of this movement and the restoration of Hindu-Muslim harmony also became core content in a number of novels including ''Ranga Probhat'' by Abul Fazal, ''Khuda O Asha'' by

, ''Neer Sandhani'' and ''Nishuti Rater Gatha'' by Anwar Pasha etc. Then came the historic event of the Bengali Language Movement. The keen eyes of the novelists were nowhere but on this tremendous incident. Jahir Raihan's ''Aarek Falgoon'' was the most significant effort on language movement. Other political incidents like the class conflict, socialism, and movement in the cultivators was depicted in the novels like ''Dui Mohol'' (later on renamed as ''Alamnagorer Upokotha'') by

, '' Surjo Tumi Sathi'' by

Ahmad Sofa Ahmad ( ar, أحمد, ʾAḥmad) is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other spellings of the name include Ahmed and Ahmet. Etymology The word derives from the root (ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from the ve ...

etc. Shaukat Osman wrote wonderful symbolic political novels '' Kritodasher Hashi'' and Raja Upakhyan. Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's ''Chandradwiper Upakhyan'' and ''Nam Na Jana Bhore'' portrayed the uprising farmer society and its conflicts. There were some historical novels also.

's ''Bhaowal Gorer Upakhayan'' about the

Faraizi Movement The Faraizi movement ( bn, ফরায়েজি আন্দোলন, fôrayeji andolon) was a movement led by Haji Shariatullah in Eastern Bengal to give up un-Islamic practices and act upon their duties as Muslims ( ''farāʾiḍ''). F ...

, Sardar Jayenuddin's ''Nil Rong Rokto'' about the Indigo revolt, Satyen Sen's ''Kumarajiva'' about the spread of

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...

, and ''Oporajeyo'' about the Sepoy Revolt etc. are a few examples among them. Some novelists favoured psychological complexities. With his unique presentation and language of his own, Syed Waliullah wrote ''Chander Amabashya'' and ''Kando Nodi Kando'' keeping psychological analysis in the centre. Another trend of novels having emphasis on the sexual behaviours and deviations of the characters began to mark its own place during the sixties. Razia Khan's ''Bot-tolar Uponyas'', and ''Anukolpo'' was among the first novels of this trend.

's ''Teish Nambor Toilochitro'', ''Shiter Sheshrat Boshonter Prothomdin'' and Syed Shamsul Haq's ''Ek Mohilar Chhobi'', ''Anupama Din'', ''Simana Chhariye'' etc. are mentionables in this regard. Afterwards came the most memorable days of Bangali nation. After ten-month long war Bangalis became independent nation. After the massacre of three million people and huge violation and harassment of womenfolk and loss of property

emerged as a secular and democratic nation on 16 December 1971, and Bangladeshi novel enters into a new era.

Bangladesh era

Most of the writers who were contributing in the pre-liberation period were also very creative in this period.

wrote novels based on middle-class society and their societal and psychological analysis.

, Razia Khan and Dilara Hashim, Mahmudul Haque,

, Syed Shamsul Haq is among other notable names. Syed Shamsul Haq, commonly known as Syed Huq, wrote a good number of novels along with a huge number of books of other genres. He is always very experimental in both technique and form. ''Khelaram Khele Ja'' placed him in great controversy for his open delineation of human sexual behaviour. In his novels like ''Duratto'', ''Mahashunye Poran Master'', ''Ek Juboker Chhayapoth'' etc. Liberation war, its consequences, hopeless human existence and analysis of human mind and society take sharp pen-picture. Another powerful writer

wrote ''Prodoshe Praakritojon'', which is a real representation of the twelfth century Bengali during King Lakhkhan Sen. His trilogy ''Dakshinayaner Din'', ''Kulaya Kalasrot'' and ''Purbaratri Purbadin'' deserve much compliment. Mahmudul Haque wrote ''Anur Pathshala'' before liberation war in 1967. He wrote ''Nirapod Tondra'', ''Khelaghar'' (written 1978, published 1988), ''Kalo Borof'' (written in 1977, published in 1992), and ''Matir Jahaj'' (written in 1977, published in 1996). Ahmad Sofa, wrote novels with different tone. In ''Onkar'' (1975) he portrayed the suppressed Bangali mind of the pre-liberation period in a very artistic and symbolic way. In ''Gaavi Brityanto'' he presents the contemporary picture in a meticulous allegory. ''Ardhek Nari Ardhek Ishwari'', a novel of

romantic love Romance or romantic love is a feeling of love for, or a strong attraction towards another person, and the courtship behaviors undertaken by an individual to express those overall feelings and resultant emotions. The ''Wiley Blackwell Ency ...

, is widely considered as his masterpiece. His ''Pushpa Brikhkha Ebong Bihongo Puran'' is a narration of true human affinity to nature. After the liberation war, freedom fight became a unique subject. The first of this discipline is Anwar Pasha's '' Rifle Roti Awrat'' that he wrote during the war. Shaukat Osman's ''Jahannam Hoite Bidai'', ''Nekre Aranyo'', ''Dui Soinik'', Rashid Haider's ''Khanchai'', ''Andho Kothamala'', Shawkat Ali's ''Jatraa'',

Selina Hossain Selina Hossain (born 14 June 1947) is a Bangladeshi novelist and the current president of Bangla Academy since February 2022. Her major works include ''Hangor Nodi Grenade'' (1976) and ''Poka Makorer Ghor Boshoti'' (1996). She earned all major nat ...

's Hangor Nodi Granade, Mahmudul Huq's ''Jiban Aamar Bone'', Syed Shamsul Haq's ''Nil Dangshon'', ''Nishiddho Loban'', Harun Habib's ''Priyo Joddha Priyotoma'',

Humayun Ahmed Humayun Ahmed (; 13 November 1948 – 19 July 2012) was a Bangladeshi novelist, dramatist, screenwriter, filmmaker, songwriter, scholar, and professor. His breakthrough was his debut novel '' Nondito Noroke'' published in 1972. He wrote over 20 ...

's ''

Jochona O Jononir Golpo ''Jochna O Jononir Golpo'' ( bn, জোছনা ও জননীর গল্প, ) is a novel by Humayun Ahmed. The novel was published in February, 2004.

'' etc. are examples of novels which directly deal freedom fight as their subject. Besides this, novels like ''Amar Jato Glani'' by Rashid Karim, ''Ferari Surjo'' by

Rabeya Khatun Rabeya Khatun (27 December 1935 – 3 January 2021) was a Bangladeshi novelist. She wrote over 50 novels and more than 400 short stories. Her works also include essays, research, religious history and travelogues. She was awarded Bangla Academy Li ...

, ''Abelay Ashamoy'' by Amjad Hossain also portray the different facets of liberation war. Rashid Karim's ''Prem Ekti Lal Golap'', ''Ekaler Rupkotha'' or ''Sadharon Loker Kahini'' are presentation of the hopeless picture of Bangladesh after the war. 'Critics say that though after the liberation huge number of novels was written about our war, none of them could depict the historic incident in necessary epic form'. New faces appeared in the literary world after the liberation. Among them,

, Hasnat Abdul Hye, Rizia Rahman, Jubaida Gulshan Ara Hena, and Bashir al-Helal were the most prominent. Selina Hossain started with ''Jalochchhwas'' and till now she has authored more than twenty-one novels. Her ''Hangor Nodi Granade'' is a success written on Bangladesh Liberation War. She has written novels like ''Taanaporen'' on coastal life and natural disaster. ''Gayatree Sondhya'' (3 volumes: published in, 1994, 1995, 1996), ''Kalketu O Fullora'', ''Chandbene'' are some of her historical novels.

Abdur Rouf Choudhury Abdur Rouf Choudhury (1 March 1929 – 1996) was a Bengali writer. Early life Choudhury was born on 1 March 1929, in Mukimpur, Nabiganj, Habiganj District, Bangladesh (then part of Assam) where his father Azhar Choudhury, a land owner, and h ...

's novel ''Natun Diganta'' (three volumes: published in 1991, 1992, 1993 and complete collection in 2005 by Pathak Shamabesh) is a quality work of art by any standard and most successful writing on pre- Bangladesh Liberation War. Choudhury most vividly depicted the unity of Bengal and the articulation of Bengali nationalism in his novel ''Natun Diganta'' (''New Horizon'') (vols. 1–3). Reason and humanity – these are its two eternal pillars. The essence of Choudhury's thought is a complete faith in the efficiency of these two immeasurable forces. Its most striking characteristic is its insistent association of work, precept and practice. It appeals not to controversial tests, not to any appearance of sweet reasonableness but to trials in the rough and tumble of life, and it will accept no other judgment. Natun Diganta gives warning against: 1) dogma, mysticism, ceremonial, hypnotism, the binding of the mind and will by oaths, and other inventions of external authority in religion and politics, 2) participation in violence, individual or social, and organisation's dependence on violence, 3) exploitation, luxury and material property, 4) self-degradation and 5) devotion to self-sacrifice. Humayun Ahmed, perhaps the most popular novelist in Bengali after

, appeared with his novel ''Nondito Noroke'' and then ''Shonkhoneel Karagar''. Later he gradually turned to less serious things. Almost all of his novels are best sellers. Some of his titles are ''1971'', ''Daruchinir Deep'', ''Brihonnola'', ''Joyjoyonti'', ''Kobi'' etc. Humayun Ahmed's ''Tomader Jonno Valobasa'' is the first

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

novel in Bangladesh. A serious poet, essayist and literary researcher

Abdul Mannan Syed Abdul Mannan Syed (3 August 19435 September 2010) was a Bangladeshi poet, and critic. He is known for his considerable research works on Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jibanananda Das, Farrukh Ahmad, Syed Waliullah, Manik Bandyopadhyay, Bishnu De, Samar ...

published his first novel ''Pariprekshter Dasdashi'' in 1974. Later on he wrote ''Kolkata'', ''Poramatir Kaaj'','' O Te Ojogor'', ''Hei Songsar Hei Lota'', ''Khudha'', ''Prem'', ''Aagun'', ''Shyamoli Tomar Mukh'' etc. Hasnat Abdul Hye, arrived with his ''Suprobhat Bhalobasa''. By now he has written at least twenty novels. Along with his other novels he has introduced a different form of novels called biographical. ''Sultan'', ''Ekjon Aaroj Ali'' and ''Novera'' are example of this form. All of these novels are based on the biographical sketches of giant Bangali characters. Rizia Rahman's ''Uttar Purush'' came in black and white in 1977. She wrote some fifteen novels in the eighties. Her voluminous ''Bongo Theke Bangla'' is an epic composition about the past culture and

heritage Heritage may refer to: History and society * A heritage asset is a preexisting thing of value today ** Cultural heritage is created by humans ** Natural heritage is not * Heritage language Biology * Heredity, biological inheritance of physica ...

of Bangali nation. Her other major novels are ''Rokter Okhkhor'', ''Alikhito Upakhyan'', ''Ekal Chirokal'', ''Prem Aamar Prem'', ''Ekti Phuler Jonyo'', ''Harun Fereni'' etc. Bashir al-Helal's ''Kalo Elish'' was published in 1979. His other novels include ''Ghritokumari'', ''Shesh Panpatro'', ''Nurjahander Modhumas'' etc. In the eighties, Bangladeshi novel got some senior writers who wrote novels for the first time along with some promising young ones. Among the earlier writers Abubakar Siddique's ''Jalarakshas'' and ''Kharadaha'' appeared with much novelty. His important later novel is ''Ekatturer Hridoybhashma''. Makbula Manjoor started in the late years of the sixties, but most of her novels came out in the eighties and nineties. ''Kaler Mondira'' is one of her most notable work.

Rahat Khan Rahat Khan (19 December 1940 – 28 August 2020) was a Bangladeshi journalist and litterateur. He wrote more than 32 novels. He won Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973 and Ekushey Padak in 1996 by the Government of Bangladesh. Early life Kh ...

wrote novels about middle class city people, their joys and sorrows, love and separation. His significant works include ''Omol Dhabol Chakri'', ''Ek Priyodorshini'', ''Chhayadampoti'', ''Hai Shunyota'', ''Sangharsho'', ''Shahar'', ''Hai Anonter Pakhi'', ''Modhyomather Khelowar'' etc. Akhtaruzzaman Elias, one of the most artistic but least productive writers, wrote only two novels. He has started his journey with '' Chilekothar Sepai''. His most prestigious work '' Khoabnama'', which came out in 1996, is considered a milestone in the history of Bengali novels. Another senior novelist Abu Ishaque's second novel ''Padmar Palidwip'' was published in 1986, after thirty-one years of his debut novel ''Surjo Dighal Bari''. Appearance and disappearance of Chars (strip of sandy land), their effect on nearby humanity etc. have taken a keen narration in ''Padmar Palidwip''. Haripada Datta is also a worthy name. His two-volume novel ''Ojogor'' (Vol. I -1989, Vol. II-1991) chronicles the recent history very remarkably. His previous novels are ''Eshane Ognidaho'' and ''Ondhokupe Janmothsob''. In 2000 he wrote an epic volume titled ''Jonmo Jonmantor''. From the early years of the eighties, the arrival of some young novelists who, later on, obtained enough popularity, was heard. Monju Sarkar, Imdadul Haq Milan and Moinul Ahsan Saber are the few but most common names in this regard. Monju Sarkar's ''Tamosh'', ''Nagno Agontuk'', ''Protima Upakhyan'' and ''Abashbhumi'', Imdadul Haq Milan's ''Jabojjibon'' (written in 1976, published in 1900), ''Nodi Upakhyan'', ''Bhumiputro'', ''Poradhinota'', ''Rajakartontro'', Moinul Ahsan Saber's ''Adomer Jonye Opekhkha'', ''Pathor Somoy'', ''Char Torun Toruni'', ''Manush Jekhane Jai Na'', ''Dharabahik Kahin'', ''Opeksha'', ''Kobej Lethel'', ''Tumi Amake Niye Jabe'', ''Prem O Protishodh'', ''Songsher Japon'' got much recognition from the literati.

Shahidul Zahir Shahidul Zahir ( bn, শহীদুল জহির; born as Mohammad Shaheedul Haque, 11 September 1953 – 23 March 2008) was a Bangladeshi novelist, short story writer and government bureaucrat. He is known for his unique practice of magical ...

, wrote his first novel ''Jibon O Rajnoitic Bastobota'', published in 1988 while his second, till now the last, ''Shei Rate Purnima Chhilo'' came out in 1995. Magic realism, which is a recent trend of the

Latin American Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-eth ...

novels, takes place in Shahidul Zahir's narration. The last decade of twentieth century is comparatively fruitful for Bangladeshi novels. Al Mahmud's novelistic exposition, Bipradas Barua's Buddhist life,

Humayun Azad Humayun Azad (born Humayun Kabir; 28 April 1947 – 12 August 2004) was a Bangladeshi poet, novelist, short-story writer, critic, linguist, columnist and professor of Dhaka University. He wrote more than sixty titles. He was awarded the Bangl ...

's brave creations, Akimun Rahman's novels about womanhood,

Nasreen Jahan Nasreen Jahan (born 1966) is a Bangladeshi writer and literary editor. She came to notice with the publication of her novel ''The Woman Who Flew: Urukku'' in 1993. Life Jahan was born and brought up in Mymensingh. She joined the ''Chander Hat'' ...

's novels of magic realism,

's historic work ''Kanchongram'' is few mark of this decade. Syed Shamsul Haq's masterpiece ''Bristi O Bidrohigon'', published in 1998, is a milestone on the past heritage and liberation war. Senior poet Al Mahmud's debut novel ''Dahuki'' came out in 1992 which was followed by ''Kobi O Kolahol'', ''Upamohadesh'', ''Kabiler Bone'', ''Purush Sundor'', ''Nishinda Nari'' etc. Bipradas Barua's major novels are ''Somudrochar O Bidrohira'', ''Muktijoddhara'', ''Shromon Goutam'' etc.

commenced his novelist career with '' Chhappanno Hajar Borgomail'' in 1994, which was a courageous slap on

martial law Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Marti ...

and dictatorship. In no time the novel brought its writer much name and popularity. His later novels include '' Sab Kichu Bhene Pare'', '' Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad'', '' Nijer Shonge Nijer Jiboner Modhu'', '' Ekti Khuner Svapna'' etc. Mohammad Nurul Huda, a renowned poet, had also two attempts in novel. Excepting ''Janmajati'' and ''Moinpahar'' he did not make any third attempt. Akimun Rahman is the first novelist ever in Bengali language in whose writing the untold and unknown secrets of womanhood are getting tongue. She has by now written four novels, ''Purusher Prithibite Ek Meye'', ''Roktopunje Genthe Jawya Machhi'', ''Pashe Shudhu Chhaya Chhilo'', and ''Jeebaner Roudre Udechhilo Kayekti Dhulikana''. Another notable novelist is

. Her first novel ''Urukku'' arrived with much appreciation. In her novels like ''Chondrer Prothom Kola'', ''Chondrolekhar Jaadubistar'', ''Sonali Mukhosh'', ''Ure Jai Nishipakhkhi'' etc., she manipulated the elements of magic realism. Anisul Hoque, a journalist by profession, has established himself as a renowned writer. His ''Andhokarer Ekshaw Bachhar'' presented him a very honourable place but ''Ma'' (''The Mother'') has given him international reputation. Imtiar Shamim is also a young but promising name for the novels of recent Bangladesh. In ''Dana Kata Himer Bhetor'' he presented an NGO-world. His ''Amra Hetechhi Jara'' encompassed a very touching story of the sorry saga of post-independence Bangladesh life. In the first decade of 21st century, literary critic and essayist Syed Manzoorul Islam wrote some experimental novels like ''Adhkhana Manush'', ''Tin Parber Jiban'' etc.; he also co-authored ''Jogajoger Gabheer Samasya Niye Kayekjan Eka Eka Lok'' which is one of few metafiction novels in Bengali. '' Agunpakhi'' by Hasan Azizul Huq received wide critical acclaim both in Bangladesh and India and two important literary award

Prothom Alo ''The Daily Prothom Alo'' ( bn, প্রথম আলো) is a daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language. It is the largest circulated newspaper in Bangladesh. According to National Media Survey 2018, conducte ...

book of the year prize in 2007 and

Ananda Purashkar The Ananda Puraskar () is an award for Bengali literature awarded annually by the ABP Group to writers using Bengali, usually from West Bengal, India. History The award can be traced to a comment by Annada Shankar Ray ruing the absence of liter ...

in 2008. Among other notable works, Shahaduz Zaman's novel ''Bishorgo Te Dukkho'' is a pioneer work of the genre of metafiction in Bengali, and his ''Crutch-er Colonel'' is a popular historical novel on the life of Colonel Taher.

Top novels of West Bengal, India

References

* ''Bangla Academy Charitabhidhan'', Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Second Enlarged Edition, 1997 * ''Rafiqullah Khan, Bangladesher Uponyas: Bishay O Shilparup'', Bangla Academy, Dhaka, 1997 * Syed Akram Hossain, 'Bangladesher Uponyas: Chetanaprabaha O Shilpajijnansha', Prosango Bangla Kathashahitya, Mawla Brothers, Dhaka, 1997 * Annada Sankar and Lila Ray, ''Bengali Literature'', Pashchimbanga Bangla Academy, Kolkata, 2000 * Biswajit Ghosh, ''Bangladesher Uponyas'', Sahitya Patrika, Vol. 28 No. 01, Dhaka University, Dhaka, 1984 * ''Bangladesher Uponyase Char Doshok'', Kalyan Mirbar, Kolkata, 1992 * ''Bangladesher Koekjon Ouponyashik'', Subrata Kumar Das, Dhaka, 2005 * ''Anya Dahan Bela'', Pradip Kumar Bhadury, Aruna Prokashoni, Kolkata, 2002 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bengali Novels Bangladeshi novels Bengali-language literature Bangladeshi literature