Prabandha Astabingshati: Pashupati Sashmal (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Editor: Atanu Shashmal
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789385131653

About the Book

Prabandha Astabingshati: Pashupati Sashmal (Bengali Version) is a distinguished collection of twenty-eight essays that showcases the remarkable scholarship of Pashupati Sashmal, an eminent alumnus of the University of Calcutta and a legendary professor of the Department of Bengali at Visva-Bharati University. Edited by Atanu Shashmal, the volume brings together a selection of the scholar's most insightful writings, reflecting his exceptional range of interests and his enduring contribution to Bengali literary and cultural studies.

The essays cover an impressive spectrum of subjects, including music, poetry, poetics, drama, novels, short stories, grammar, orthography, and literary criticism. Through these diverse discussions, Pashupati Sashmal demonstrates a rare ability to combine historical scholarship, textual analysis, and aesthetic appreciation, making each essay both intellectually stimulating and highly informative.

A significant feature of the collection is its engagement with the works and ideas of many of India's most influential literary and intellectual figures. The essays present fresh perspectives on personalities such as Aristotle, Bharatchandra Ray, Nathaniel Brassey Halhed, Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Rakhaldas Haldar, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, Pramatha Chaudhuri, Parashuram (Rajshekhar Basu), Jibanananda Das, Banaphul, Dhurjatiprasad Mukhopadhyay, Manik Bandopadhyay, and many others. By examining lesser-known aspects of their works and ideas, the author offers readers original insights that enrich existing literary scholarship.

The collection reflects the intellectual integrity and quiet dedication of a scholar whose contributions remained largely free from publicity but were marked by exceptional depth and originality. Each essay combines meticulous research with independent critical thinking, making the volume a valuable reference for both academic study and general literary appreciation.

Written in a lucid, scholarly, and engaging style, Prabandha Astabingshati: Pashupati Sashmal (Bengali Version) is an indispensable resource for students, researchers, teachers, and readers interested in Bengali literature, literary criticism, language studies, aesthetics, and intellectual history. The collection stands as a fitting tribute to a distinguished scholar whose work continues to illuminate the study of Bengali language, literature, and culture.