A two-day long international seminar titled “Pre-Modernity in Bengali Literature” concluded at the Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, India, last week.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh Professor Dr Anwarul Karim inaugurated the programme, while Professor Dr. Amitra Sudan Bhattacharya from Visva-Bharati Santiniketan was present as the chief guest.
Head of Bengali Department of Rabindra Bharati University, Professor Dr Munmun Gangopdhyaya, presided over the programme.
More than 300 professors, researchers and scholars from different universities of West Bengal attended the programme.
Professor Karim, in his inaugural speech congratulated the university for organising the seminar in the month of February as sign of respect to the Language warriors of Bangladesh and the international Mother Language Day.
He said, “Bangladesh and India may be two different countries with seperate identities, but the people who are known as Bangalees are one having a unique culture.”
He said, “The UNO observers the 21st February as the International Mother Language Day every year in high esteem.”
Professor Amitra Sudan Bhattacharyaya in his speech paid glowing tributes to the Bengali Department for organising the international seminar on Pre-Modernity in Bengali literature.
He said, “We must eye the past to pay respect to those who helped build Bengali language and literature. Our young scholars should utilize time to study Bengali literature of the old and the middle age.”
Professor Dr. Munmun Gangoadhyaya thanked everybody who came from home and abroad for making the program a success.
