REVISITING BENGALI LITERARY HISTORIOGRAPHY: GAPS, BIASES, AND THE QUEST FOR INCLUSIVITY

Abstract:
Literature has often been perceived as a reflective lens through which society can examine itself, particularly within the context of a nation’s formative years. It plays a crucial role in shaping and sustaining national awareness. Since the mid-nineteenth century, numerous Bengali scholars have felt compelled to document the intricate evolution of literature from both the pre-colonial and colonial eras, recognizing its significance in fostering collective cultural and racial consciousness. This study critically examines the contributions of four major historians—Sushil Kumar De, Sukumar Sen, Asit Kumar Bandopadhyay, and Bhudeb Chaudhuri—who have played pivotal roles in constructing a structured history of Bengali literature. Their works, interconnected through mutual references, collectively form a fortified archive of literary historiography. However, these historians, influenced by the prevailing ideologies of their times, have inevitably left gaps and omissions in their narratives. This research aims to interrogate these silences, particularly concerning the exclusion of marginalized voices, the role of women, and the selective construction of Bengali identity. By analyzing their historical methodologies and ideological frameworks, this paper seeks to explore the possibility of a more inclusive, organic literary historiography that accommodates a broader spectrum of perspectives.
Keywords : Bengali literary historiography, national consciousness, colonial influence, identity formation, historiographic gaps
Introduction :
Literature has long been recognized as a mirror of the society from which it emerges. This is especially true in the case of nations undergoing cultural and political transformations. Literature provides an essential foundation for the growth of national consciousness, offering an intellectual space for the negotiation of identity, memory, and history. From the mid-nineteenth century onward, Bengali scholars have engaged in the project of literary historiography, seeking to document the trajectory of Bengali literature from its pre-colonial roots to the colonial and post-colonial periods. Their works, driven by both academic inquiry and nationalist impulses, have contributed to shaping a structured understanding of Bengali literary tradition.