Writing Across Borders (Hardcover)

In November 2007, the Indo Bangla Cultural Initiative, in association with Independent University, Bangladesh, the High Commission of India, the Central Public Library, and Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh, organized a five-day India Bangladesh Festival of Books and Writers. The first three days of the festival, November 2-4, were organized at Independent University, Bangladesh, while the remaining two days, November 5-6, were organized at the Central Public Library.
In addition to discussions related to books and writers - ranging from translation, publishing, research, reviewing several Indian and Bangladeshi writers read from their creative writings. Venues for readings included the Central Public Library, Words 'n Pages, omni books, and Pathak Samabesh. Readings were in two languages: Bangla and English. The festival was dominated by writers who write in Bangla, followed by writers who write in English. However, we were fortunate to have a Marathi writer in Sulabha Gupte. Ms Gupte read an excerpt from her story in the original Marathi. Shabnam Nadiya, one of the translators of a number of stories in this anthology, read out her translation in Bangla - which she had done through Ms Gupte's own English version of the story, which is included in this volume.
A number of featured writers were unable to read from their work due to other commitments. However, they have been kind enough to allow their writings to be included in this anthology. Thus this anthology includes pieces read at the festival, in Bangla or in English, as well as other pieces contributed by the writers. A number of writers did not send us their pieces on time. Not wishing to leave them out, I have searched print and on-line sources to include some examples of their writing. I hope they will not object.
Some of the writers included in this volume write both fiction and poetry - with a couple who write in several genres. However, this