Voices from the Margins: Book Talk on Tambuli Akhyan

Objective:
The objective of the book talk was to create a platform for critical literary engagement and scholarly discussion, centering around Tambuli Akhyan (তাম্বুলি আখ্যান), a significant work by Prof. Biswajit Roy. The event aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among students, teachers, writers, and readers while deepening the understanding of contemporary Bengali literature and its social relevance.

Program Details:
The session began at 2:00 PM on 10th May 2025, jointly hosted by the Bengali Department and Vidyasagar College. The event featured:

• Speaker: Prof. Biswajit Roy, author of Tambuli Akhyan, who provided an overview of the book’s context, inspiration, and the socio-political narratives embedded within it.
• Book Overview: Tambuli Akhyan explores the lives of Bengal’s rural betel leaf (tambul) cultivators. Combining fictional storytelling with ethnographic observation, it sheds light on the marginalization, cultural identity, and lived struggles of this community.
• Critical Analysis: Dr. Rushati Sen, renowned author and literary critic, presented a critical reading of the book from a reader’s perspective. She highlighted the narrative’s layered structure, its poetic style, and the relevance of its themes in the current socio-cultural context.
• Chairperson: The session was chaired by Dr. Sohini Ghosh, who guided the discussion and moderated the interaction between the speakers and audience.
• Audience: Approximately 40 participants attended the session, including students and faculty members from various colleges, as well as journalists and publishers.

Outcome:
The session resulted in a rich literary dialogue and sparked critical reflection on contemporary issues in regional literature. It helped students and attendees understand how literature can be a lens to view marginal communities and untold stories. The interaction with the author and critic enhanced participants’ appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches to literary analysis. The event successfully met its objective of encouraging critical thought and engagement with socially conscious literature.