Edinburgh audiences were given the chance to hear four literary voices rarely heard in the West, in August. 2007

Four Bengali writers who write in their native Bangla and in English gave readings from their latest works reflecting on the history of modern India and its continuing resonances.

Dr Nabaneeta Dev Sen is an award-winning poet, novelist, critic and children’s writer. She has published over 80 books and her travelogues such as Karuna tomar kon path diye and Truckbaahane Myakmahane have become classics in Bengali literature.

Bani Basu is one of Bengali literature’s most talented and creative women writers. Her novel Maitreya Jataka was hailed by critics as a classic and an important contribution to modern Bengali literature.

Nabarun Bhattacharya writes poetry and long and short narratives. Herbert, his first novel, won him several awards including the Narsinha Das Award and the Bankim Puraskar award. He currently edits the Bengali literary monthly magazine Bhasha bandhan which encourages new writing talent while bringing the flavour of regional and foreign literature to Bengalis in India and abroad.

As a writer of novels, essays, short stories and books for children Selina Hossain has been extremely successful in both her home of Bangladesh and internationally. For two decades she has been particularly interested in the advancement of women and has written widely on these issues.

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Sunday 19 August 2007
4pm – 5pm

Edinburgh Book Fringe

Monday 20 August 2007
1pm
The reading was free and was held at Word Power Books, 43-45 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh

National Library of Scotland

Tuesday 21 August 2007
7pm
The event was held at George IV Bridge Building, for future events or further information please call 0131 623 3845 or email events@nls.uk

Selina Hossain was joined by academic and writer Bashabi Fraser at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Sunday 19 August 2007 at 7pm where they reflected on the history of modern India and its continuing resonances.

These events resulted from the 2006 Bookcase where representatives of Edinburgh: UNESCO City of Literature met with literature professionals from Kolkata, who are also seeking to attain the UNESCO City of Literature designation.