Journal of Bengali Studies Vol.5 No.1

8/16/2019 Journal of Bengali Studies Vol.5 No.1

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ISSN 2277-9426

Journal of Bengali StudiesVol. 5, No. 1

oreign Encounters: Bengal and Abroad

Buddhaurni!a, 7 Joishtho 142"

Su!!er Issue, 21 #a$ 2%16


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Journal of Bengali Studies &ISSN 2277-9426' Vol.5, No.1

(u)lished on the o**asion of Buddhaurni!a, 7 Joishtho 142", 21 #a$ 2%16

+he the!e of this issue is oreign n*ounters Bengal and /)road


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ISSN 2277-9426

Journal of Bengali Studies

Vol. 5, No. 1

21 #a$ 2%16

Buddhaurni!a

7 Joishtho 142"

Su!!er Issue

oreign Encounters: Bengal and Abroad

ditor 0r +a!al 0asguta


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+he *o!!entar$, arti*le, reie *o$rights3indiidual *ontri)utors, hile the Journal of

Bengali Studies holds the u)lishing right for re-u)lishing the *ontents of the ournal in future

in an$ for!at, as er our ter!s and *onditions and su)!ission guidelines. ditorial3+a!al

0asguta. oer design3+a!al 0asguta.

urther, Journal of Bengali Studies is an oen a**ess, free for all e-ournal and e ro!ise to go

)$ an en /**ess (oli*$ for readers, students, resear*hers and organiations as long as it

re!ains for non-*o!!er*ial urose. 8oeer, an$ a*t of rerodu*tion or redistri)ution &in an$

for!at' of this ournal, or an$ art thereof, for *o!!er*ial urose andor aid su)s*rition

!ust a**o!an$ rior ritten er!ission fro! the ditor, Journal of Bengali Studies. or an$

:ueries, lease *onta*t shotodina;g!ail.*o! and edit)s;g!ail.*o!

or details a)out our ditorial +ea!, general oli*ies, ter!s and *onditions, su)!ission

guidelines and u)li*ation details, lease see our e)sites htt)engalistudies.)logsot.*o! and

.)engalistudies.*o!

oer I!age (ortrait of /tisha 0ian


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4>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1 .4 www3#engalistudies3$om 2160

1rench +ducationists in Colonial Chandernagore: A Tale of a College

Antara Muk!er)ee 18"

The +ffect of Colonial +ncounter on Medical 6rgani5ation and 7ractice in Bengal

Ai)it 'ing!a 1"8

Sir 2illia0 8ones and Ma9 Muller: The alpataru of Scholarship

'omnat! 'arkar 2%

?eie

-nto the +9otic around the 2orld: 6ur 1irst ;lo


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0is*lai!er

+he *ontents, ies and oinions o**urring in the *ontri)utions are solel$ the resonsi)ilities of

the rese*tie *ontri)utors and the editorial )oard of Journal of Bengali Studies does not hae

an$ resonsi)ilit$ in this regard.

+he i!ages aearing in the Journal are arts of a *riti*al roe*t, not for an$ *o!!er*ial use.I!ages are either roided )$ the authorsdesigners fro! their ersonal *olle*tions and or are

*o$right free to the )est of


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Journal of Bengali Studies is a dou)le )lind eer-reieed online ournal u)lished sin*e 2%12.

or the reious issues lease isit htt)engalistudies.)logsot.*o! and

.)engalistudies.*o!

@e hae reiousl$ u)lished eight issues on the folloing the!es, and all of the! are aaila)le

online

gniug &Vol.1, No.1'

Bengali ine!a Bengalis and ine!a &Vol.1, No.2'

Bengali +heatre Bengalis and +heatre &Vol.2, No.1'

S*ien*e and +e*hnolog$ in 8istor$ #odern Bengali (erse*ties &Vol.2, No.2'

iterature and #oe!ents Bengali rossroads &Vol.", No.1'

=ol


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ditorial

ate 'u$!itra B!atta$!ara wrote a noel in t!e Sharodia $esh 7u'aeart of the Matter as anone reading t!ese two noels side # side would easil

re$ognise3 / raised t!is issue in an o#ituar t!at / wrote on 9a$e#ook a9ter aut!or>s demise and m

status went iral3 'u$! plagiar was not eas earlier #e$ause Bengalis knew t!e literature and $inema

o9 t!e west er t!oroug!l and an su$! attempt o9 plot-li9ting would not !ae gone unnoti$ed as it

does toda3 But w!at is interesting is t!at Bengalis !ae $ontinued to draw >inspiration> 9rom t!e west

een during t!ese dismal times w!en Bengal started to #e ruled # medio$rit3

Bengal $ulturall is a proin$e o9 ?urope@ t!is statement .i9 apo$rp!all0 is sometimesattri#uted to Budd!ade# Basu t!e poet pro9essor o9 ?nglis! and doen o9 $omparatie literature in

/ndia .$redited wit! opening t!is su#)e$t at adapur niersit03 T!e statement is ironi$all true and

per!aps t!e unintended iron lies in t!e use o9 t!e word proin$e3 Bengal !as #een a proin$e to t!e

=est>s metropolis during a large part o9 t!e twentiet! $entur3 =e #e$ame t!e #a$kwater o9 t!e =est a

#a$kward perip!er t!at suddenl tries to wake up to t!e latest 9as!ion o9 t!e metropolis and tries to

imitate t!e adan$ed $entre3 Better to sere as a proin$e o9 t!e =est t!an to deelop own templates o9

knowledge dis$ourses t!at seems to !ae #een t!e motto o9 t!e edu$ated Bengalis 9rom 1"s

onwards3 /t was 9rom t!is period t!at nationalist tenden$ies took a #a$kseat in Bengal and

Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1.4 www3#engalistudies3$om 2160


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C>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

was t!e restoration o9 the =est and its paradigms 9rom t!e 1"s onwards w!i$! again speeded up

t!at pro$ess .t!e support o9 t!e ,ommunist &art 9or Britis! in 1"2 $an #e $onsidered t!e 9ormal

milestone o9 t!is restoration'. T!is is not a pla$e to map t!at tra)e$tor in details3 And t!is is not to sa

t!at we !ae not gained ant!ing 9rom su$! impositions o9 t!e =estern paradigms3 Bengal>s *roup

T!eatre moement art and $ulture during t!e later !al9 o9 twentiet! $entur our $inema and literature

little maga:ine moement E t!e a#ound wit! eamples o9 a uniFue 9louris! t!at was inspired # t!at

entire =estern spe$trum ranging 9rom $ommunism to $apitalism3 (eert!eless at its $ore t!is remains

a $omprador tenden$ t!at supported perpetration o9 $ultural !egemon o9 t!e =est3

And et it was t!is Bengal t!at on$e 9ier$el 9oug!t 9or independen$e 9rom Britis!G not )ust

politi$al independen$e #ut also spiritual $ultural intelle$tual and e$onomi$al independen$e3 /t on$e

led t!e /ndian struggle 9or independen$e and as a reward it was redu$ed to de#ris 9rom wit!in and

9rom wit!out3 ?estoration o9 the =est presided oer t!is ruination3 =!ile a simple a99init or 9ondness

9or Britian was no longer on t!e $ard .t!e interening period o9 !istor was too tortuous 9or t!at0 a

$ra9t met!od was adopted # our 9ormer rulers w!i$! ensured t!at Bengalis remain intelle$tuall

ent!ralled to arious alternatie domains o9 t!e west 9rom Ameri$a to ussia3 nder a sstem o9

patronage 9rom arious esta#lis!ments Bengal>s monke-is! turn to imitating t!e =est in twentiet!

$entur !appened wit! a engean$e3 An un$riti$al reading o9 t!is !istor is detrimental 9or seriousa$ademi$ Fuest3

Howeer w!ile ,!ina>s $!airman #e$ame our $!airman and we $opied 9rom western literature

and we parroted western t!eor in our a$ademia we also $ontinued to inspire t!e rest o9 t!e world wit!

our traditional treasures@ our Baul songs our 9olk $ulture our indigenous !eritage E t!e inspired

a$ademi$ interest 9rom di99erent parts o9 t!e glo#e3 T!e struggle o9 t!e Bengali people during in t!e

past !undred ears o9 perse$ution .$lassi$all #eginning in 1"5 wit! t!e 9irst partition0 and t!e

Bengalis as t!e su99erers o9 one o9 t!e largest $ontinuous geno$ides o9 t!e !istor o9 !umankind

desere a$ademi$ attention 9rom resear$!ers and !umanists alike and *ar Bass>s Blood Telegra0

$oers onl a small period o9 our prolonged dark !istor3 Howeer Bengal remains a 9ertile matter 9or

stud Bengalis are a ri$! 9ield ripe 9or eploration as we !ae 9ound out in t!is e$iting )ourne at

Journal of Bengali Studies &JBS'3 As we de$ided upon t!e t!eme o9 t!is issue we knew t!at studing

Bengal>s foreign en*ounters would $onstitute an interesting $ornerstone in our inestigation o9 t!e


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9>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

!istor and $ulture o9 t!e Bengali people3 ike our preious issues JBS Vol.5 No.1 is going to #e a

$olle$tor>s item t!at will #e alued # spe$ialists and general readers alike3

/ntera$tions wit! arious 9oreign $ultures is w!at $!ara$terised t!e Bengali people sin$e t!e

earliest known 9louris! o9 $iili:ation in t!is part o9 t!e glo#e3 ames! Ma)umdar in >istor of Ancient

Bengal .Colkata@ * B!ardwa) I ,o 1"710 points out t!at t!e people w!o resided at t!e an$ient site

$alled 7andu !a'ar $his $onFuest o9 'ri anka does not te$!ni$all $onstitute a 9oreign en$ounter

#e$ause 'ri anka is a part o9 t!e su#$ontinent3 But Bengalis during t!e Budd!ist period !ae traelledto remote $orners o9 Asia to impart edu$ation to $arr out trade and to s!ow t!eir alour t!e 9ull

!istor o9 w!i$! is not et written3 T!e destru$tion o9 t!e Budd!ist li#raries o9 eastern /ndia # t!e

#ar#ari$ medieal inaders 9oreer destroed man t!reads o9 our !istor #ut we $an still salage some

o9 t!e an$ient tets 9rom ot!er pla$es like Haraprasad '!astri dis$oered ,arapada 9rom (epal3

Howeer wit!out e!austie .and multi-lingual0 studies into t!e ar$!ies o9 t!ese $ountries E 9rom

Ti#et to T!ailand 9rom (epal to apan E t!is !istor $annot #e written3 =e onl !ae 9ragments o9 t!is

past wit! us now and t!e su99i$ientl indi$ate t!at mu$! o9 our dispersed and 9orgotten treasures 9rom

t!e past are still ling unseen3 T!e $annot #e uneart!ed wit!out large-s$ale institutionall #a$ked

resear$!3 'adl t!ere is no sign o9 t!at !appening antime soon3 nless a Bengali nationalist

$onsolidation emerges su$! resear$!es will neer #e undertaken # our goernemnt3

T!e 9i9t! $entur stone edi$t o9 t!e great mer$!ant Budd!agupta o9 t!e aktamrittika region

.near Carnasuarna0 w!i$! was 9ound in 18% in t!e =ellesle distri$t o9 t!e Mala peninsula is a


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1%>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

glaring testimon to t!e an$ient sea9aring $ulture o9 Bengal3 Atis!a Dipankara>s spiritual $onFuest o9

Ti#et !as not #een 9ull $!roni$led et #ut t!is issue o9 B' !as a alua#le arti$le on Atis!a # Dr

Manikuntala Haldar De renowned &ro9essor o9 &ali and t!e leading /ndian epert in t!is 9ield3 María

Helena Barrera-Agarwal !as aut!ored w!at !appens to #e t!e 9irst a$ademi$ stud o9 t!e legendar

Bengali 'ures! Biswas o9 Bra:il w!o represents one o9 t!e most t!rilling $ases o9 Bengal>s 9oreign

en$ounters as modernit dawned3 Her arti$le is an asset to t!is issue3

Dr Antara Muk!er)ee>s arti$le is a alua#le re$ord o9 t!e !istor o9 ,!andernagore>s $onta$t

wit! ren$! edu$ationists3 Anu)a *upta Bandopad!a>s arti$le dis$usses iekananda 9rom an

international perspe$tie w!ile &art!a 'arat!i (andi>s arti$le on iekananda illuminates one o9 t!e

most signi9i$ant 9oreign en$ounters t!at modern Bengal !ad in iekananda>s spiritual mission a#road3

Ai)it 'ing!a !as written a #rie9 arti$le on t!e western $olonisation o9 t!e 9ield o9 medi$ine in Bengal3

A#!is!ek ,!owd!ur>s arti$le on '!akespeare>s 6thello in nineteent! $entur Bengal itsel9 a $lassi$

pla on t!e trou#les o9 $ultural $onta$t #rings out t!e tensions in!erent in t!is parti$ular instan$e o9

9oreign en$ounter3 Dr Arindam Muk!er)ee is an epert on '!akespeare studies in Bengal and !is arti$le

deals wit! t!e a$ademi$ and intelle$tual approa$!es to '!akespeare during t!e Britis! a)3 Tanima

De>s arti$le eplores t!e !istori$ Bengali $onne$tion o9 t!e roal $ourt o9 Arakan3

Dr 'omnat! 'arkar>s arti$le on =illiam ones and Ma Muller is an appre$iation o9 t!e role

plaed # t!ese two 9oreigners in 'anskrit s$!olars!ip3 Dr Mousumi Bandopad!a is an aut!orit on

'ister (iedita and !er arti$le do$uments t!e /ris!-Bengali relations!ip t!roug! t!e persona o9

(iedita3 ,!ampak Duti Ma)umder>s $ommentar on Amia B!us!an Ma)umdar>s noel 1rida

-sland #rilliantl eplores its de$onstru$tion o9 t!e western ar$!etpes o9 $iilisation and saager3

Tapo#an B!atta$!ara>s arti$le on as!#e!ari Bose in apan o99ers dis$ussions into a alua#le

!istori$al tie t!at was 9orged # t!e reolutionar nationalist moement o9 Bengal as as!#e!ari t!e

legendar leader o9 t!at moement later t!e 9ounder o9 /(A and mentor o9 'u#!as! Bose #roug!t

Bengal and east Asia $loser3 Mousumi Biswas Dasgupta $o-9ounder o9 JBS !as aut!ored a reiew o9

t!e traelogues o9 t!e Bengali glo#etrotters amnat! Biswas and Bimal Muk!er)ee pioneering

a$ademi$ dis$ussion on a er important #ut 9orgotten aspe$t o9 Bengal>s !istor3 /n addition let me

sa t!at / am grate9ul to !er and m son 9or enduring m long !ours o9 work w!i$! went into t!e

making o9 m own arti$le and t!is issue3 M arti$le is on t!e 'oiet #ooks in Bengali 9or $!ildren and


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adoles$ents a !it!erto uneplored area t!at $onstitutes one o9 t!e most signi9i$ant 9oreign en$ounters

t!at Bengal !ad in t!e past $entur3 / !ope t!at m arti$le will generate 9urt!er a$ademi$ interests into

t!is topi$ o9 Bengal>s $ultural !istor3 Dr Amit '!ankar 'a!a !as gien !is alua#le time to trans$ri#e

t!e arti$le on Atis!a alread mentioned and anone w!o !as worked wit! dia$riti$s on $omputer will

appre$iate !is diligen$e and la#our in rendering t!at arti$le 9lawless3 Amit is a personal 9riend and !as

#een asso$iated wit! JBS 9or a er long time3 He is a renowned $reatie writer and !e !as penned an

e$ellent s!ort stor ;M *reat *reat Aunt =!o Died


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+rans&nl'ation

+he Nation in +ranslation in the Soiet Boos and Adoles$ents> iterature air Tales olk Tales 'oiet Books in Bengali ,!ildren

ussian ,ulture Bengal and ussia ,ommunist &art ussian (ationalism Bengali language and ussian language

Bengalis and ussians 'oiet nion &rogress aduga Mir ostok Manis!a (ational Book Agen$ Arun 'om

(oni B!owmik 'o$ialist ealism 'pontaneit and ,ons$iousness 'oiet (ostalgia 'oiet-?ra Books3

iterature produ$ed 9or $!ildren and adoles$ents are meant to delig!t t!em #ut t!e are also supposed

to $ondition t!em so$ialise t!em and introdu$e t!em to t!e world t!at t!e would grow up in3 Ta$itl

.stor #ooks0 or dire$tl .primers0 su$! tets are tools o9 arious ideologi$al sstems to in$ul$ate$ertain alues among t!e oung minds to instru$t t!em into patterns o9 t!inking during t!eir 9ormatie

ears and make t!em read to re$eie t!e knowledge dis$ipline and !uman skills w!i$! t!e adult

$ommunit 9inds use9ul and rewarding3 /n addition to all t!e 9eatures o9 $!ildren>s #ooks adoles$ent

12>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1 .4 www3#engalistudies3$om 2160


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1">Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

9i$tions introdu$e a $ertain $oming o9 age narratie t!at er o9ten inoles adenture 9reFuentl

introdu$ing adult moti9s like loe $risis and war3 Ceeping t!is in iew we pro$eed to stud t!e $ase o9

'oiet $!ildren>s .and adoles$ents>0 literature in Bengali translation3 As we s!all stud t!e stru$tural and

ideologi$al aspe$ts o9 t!e re$eption o9 t!ese #ooks # t!e Bengali speaking readers!ip we s!all see t!at

t!ese #ooks tempt t!e oung minds into a general 9ondness 9or 'oiet nion and a le9t-leaning

worldiew3 But in t!is arti$le we s!all also see t!at t!e ideolog o9 'oiet nion was not )ust

$ommunisti$ it was deepl rooted in t!e traditional ussian nationalisti$ alues3 'u$! literature

t!ere9ore did not merel o99er a simple $ommunist orientationG going #eond t!at t!e 9ostered a

'laop!iliaussop!ilia3

ig31@ Mu)ta#a Ali on 'oiet #ooks in 1"51523 &ro#a#l t!e 9irst mention o9 t!ese #ooks3 Collected 2orks 4ol? p 2"3

'ed Mu)ta#a Ali in !is !ai 7ithoura3s Colu0n t!at !e used to write in t!e Ananda


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9ledged stud o9 'oiet ,!ildren>s stories and 9i$tions in Bengali we s!all draw 9reel 9rom t!e general

o#serations a#out 'oiet #ooks and $ulture made # $riti$s w!i$! will #e 9ollowed # spe$i9i$ $ase

studies o9 'oiet $!ildren>s #ooks w!ere we s!all inestigate t!e appli$a#ilit o9 t!eses $riti$al

paradigms to t!e Bengali translations3

ig32 I %@ ,oers o9 Bengali translations o9 works o9 enin and ermonto

Mu)ta#a Ali dete$ts t!e ideologi$al motie and $ontrasts t!e ussian approa$! wit! ,!ristian

missionar a$tiit o9 dispensing 9ree Bi#les3 T!e missionaries 9ailed to make people read Bi#le #e$ause people did not $are 9or 9ree #ooks3 And w!en t!e stopped giing it awa 9or 9ree and de$ided

on a steep pri$e 9or t!e Bi#le people did not read it eit!er #e$ause t!e pri$e a$ted as a deterrent3

Mu)ta#a Ali o#seres t!at t!e ussians !ae kept t!e pri$e su99i$ientl low so t!at people $an #e

tempted to #u t!ese #ooks #ut t!e are not giing t!ose #ooks awa 9or 9ree or too low a pri$e w!i$!

would !ae resulted in dealuation3 urt!er 'oiet pu#li$ations 9et$!ed greater $ommission $ompared

to #ooks imported 9rom t!e west as t!e #ookseller in Del!i $on9irmed to Mu)ta#a Ali w!o was

stationed in Del!i during t!at period3

=!ile most #ooks are politi$al tra$ts o9 Mar enin and 'talin .and 'talin was still alie0

some $lassi$s are also aaila#le Mu)ta#a reports t!oug! !e $omplains t!at t!e ratio would #e like

1@1 i3e3 9or eer !undred politi$al and ideologi$al tra$ts t!ere will #e a nineteent! $entur ussian

$lassi$ realist tet on sale3 He o#seres t!at a work # ermonto is aaila#le at a pri$e o9 s 135

w!i$! is tempting enoug! gien t!e superior Fualit o9 print paper and #inding3


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'ome er use9ul points $an #e etra$ted 9rom t!is #rie9 reportage o9 Mu)ta#a Ali t!oug! !e is

talking o9 'oiet #ooks in ?nglis! language not in Bengali and not parti$ularl 9or $!ildren3 &ro#a#l

Bengali #ooks did not appear in t!e /ndian market et #ut er soon t!e would arrie and $onFuer

su$$essie generations o9 Bengali readers t!roug! t!e net 9our de$ades3 Mu)ta#a>s 9eed#a$k makes it

a#undantl $lear t!at t!e 'oiet marketing strateg was well planned and it worked well3 =it!out

going t!roug! t!e details o9 t!e understanding #etween t!e (e!ru *oernment and 'oiet nion

during t!is period one $annot pinpoint t!e intri$a$ies o9 t!e me$!anism o9 $ir$ulation o9 'oiet #ooks

in /ndia3 But gien t!at & , os!i w!o was t!e erstw!ile general se$retar o9 ,&/ .1"%5-70 and later

epelled 9rom t!e part in 1"" known 9or !is $loseness to (e!ru was re!a#ilitated in into t!e part

in 1"51 we $an assume t!at t!e /ndian goernment mig!t !ae #een 9riendl to 'oiet nion in t!e

import o9 t!ese #ooks as os!i>s reinstated status in t!e part suggestiel $oin$ides wit! t!e mass

arrial o9 'oiet #ooks in /ndia3

An interiew o9 Arun 'om t!e noted translator o9 'oiet #ooks into Bengali t!at was taken #

t!e present aut!or .w!i$! is pu#lis!ed in t!is issue0 $on9irms t!at initiall t!e ma)orit o9 t!e 'oiet

#ooks were politi$al and ideologi$al in nature and $lassi$s $onstituted a minor portion o9 t!e total

amount o9 #ooks sent 9rom 'oiet nion3 But graduall t!e emp!asis on ussian nineteent! and earl

twentiet! $entur literar $lassi$s and $!ildren>s literature was made w!i$! $ulminated in t!eesta#lis!ment o9 aduga in 1"82 spe$ialising in t!ose tets3 /n ussian aduga meant rain#ow3 T!e

pu#lis!ing !ouse was pro#a#l meant to #e an a$knowledgement o9 ot!er $olours w!i$! were not red

#ut eisted in a spotless !armon wit! red )usti9ing a $ommon w!ole3 aduga stood 9or t!e a#ilit o9

9orging a $onsensus t!ere# esta#lis!ing !egemon3 ain#ow is asso$iated wit! $olour9ulness and a

suggestion o9 in$lusieness is t!ere3

=e $an t!us o#sere t!e t!ree di99erent p!ases o9 transmission o9 'oiet #ooks in /ndia@ 13

Books are in ?nglis! and mostl politi$al tra$ts wit! er 9ew $lassi$s3 (o mention o9 $!ildren>s

literature .1"51-5203 23 Books #egin to get translated into Bengali3 ,!ildren>s #ooks arrie on t!e s$ene3

T!e earliest spe$imen t!at / !ae #een a#le to tra$e #elongs to 1"5 .igI503 T!is #ook was printed

and pu#lis!ed 9rom Colkata under some arrangement wit! oreign anguage &u#lis!ing House

Mos$ow3 %3 &rogress &u#lis!ers .esta#lis!ed in 1"%10 !it!erto engaged wit! politi$al pu#li$ations

entures into $!ildren>s #ooks and nineteent! $entur ussian $lassi$s .t!e ea$t ear o9 t!is $!ange is


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not known03 &rogress operates 9rom 21 Ou#osk Bouleard Mos$ow3 T!e oreign anguage

&u#lis!ing House operating out o9 17 Oo#osk Bouleard is pro#a#l merged wit! &rogress #e$ause

t!e oreign anguage &u#lis!ing House is no longer !eard o9 9rom t!e 1"7s3 aduga is set up in 1"82

9or e$lusie pu#li$ation o9 $lassi$s and $!ildren>s literature3

ig3 I 5@ &ro#a#l t!e 9irst 'oiet ,!ildren>s #ook in Bengali krainio pokotha printed and pu#lis!ed 9rom Colkata

in 1"53 ront $oer and $oprig!t page3

'oiet 9i$tions were earmarked # a planned sstem o9 /'A and Caterina ,lark>s The Soviet

Novel: >istor as !itual minutel dis$usses t!e di99erent aspe$ts eolutions and epressions o9 t!at

ideologi$al unierse and w!ile doing t!at s!e draws a signi9i$ant t!read o9 $ontinuit 9rom t!e pre-

'oiet past w!i$! $omes to $!ara$terise t!e $ontinuing literar and $ultural tradition o9 t!e ussian

nation3 Aut!oritarianism and goernment interentions in t!e 'oiet literar world !ae Tsarist

pre$edents .man would argue t!at $ontemporar ussia o9 ladimir &utin $ontinues wit!in t!e same

tradition o9 aut!oritarianism t!oug! its literar output ma #e minimal03


19/263


'oiet-era aut!oritarianism is in man respe$ts a $ontinuation o9 t!e Tsarist pra$ti$e in spite o9

t!e massie epistemi$ #reak $aused # t!e rise o9 t!e $ommunist part3 ,lark is Fui$k to note@

/deolog is no stranger to t!e ussian noel in an o9 its mani9estations3 P ideolog plas a

parti$ular !istori$al role in t!e relations!ip #etween literature and t!e goernment3 T!is

relations!ip is er di99erent in t!e 'oiet period 9rom w!at it was under t!e tsars alt!oug!

mu$! o9 t!e di99eren$e is one o9 degree onlG 9or seeral nineteent! $entur writers E

*on$!aro 9or eample E worked as $ensors Dostoesk was $lose to t!e tsar>s adisor

&o#edonosetso and in t!e 18%s t!e in9amous Bulgarin worked as a worked as a goernment

agent3 T!us during t!e old regime t!ere were writers w!o s!ared t!e o99i$ial ideolog and t!e

goernment itsel9 plaed a monitoring role in nineteent!-$entur literature3 .2520

=!ile $!arting t!e spe$i9i$ deelopments wit!in 'oiet 9i$tion ,lark $autions us against t!e adoption

o9 ;=estern !ig!#row literar $riteria in studing a literature t!at was not intended to meet t!em< and

as s!e #egins !er stud o9 t!e tra)e$tor o9 ussian literature under t!e 'oiets s!e insists t!at ;t!ere

!as alwas #een a distin$tion #etween modern ussian and ot!er =estern literature and t!is distin$tion

#e$ame ea$er#ated under t!e 'oiets< .i03

=!ile speaking o9 t!e distin$t $ontinuit o9 t!e ussian nation one $annot miss t!e o#ious

sense o9 perpetuit w!en t!e 'oiet-era ant!em is retained toda as t!e $ontemporar ussian national

ant!em wit! some appropriate $!anges o9 lri$@ 9or eample t!e p!rase ;enin>s part strengt! o9 t!e

people< .&artia enina 'ila (arodnaa0 turns into ;popular wisdom o9 our 9ore#ears< .&redkami

Dannaa Mudrost (arodnaa031 But t!e tune is ea$tl t!e same and man parts o9 t!e lri$ remain

un$!anged3 T!is is a small 9a$t #ut it $an assume paramount signi9i$an$e as we propose to $onsider

t!e essen$e o9 t!e ussian nation t!at is propagated in t!e 'oiet 9i$tions3 ussian literar $onentions

under t!e Bols!eiks e!i#it an underling sense o9 $ontinuit in t!e midst o9 all drasti$ up!eaals3

=e need to a$knowledge t!at nations !ae no timeless essen$e nor t!e are stati$3 T!e $!ange

signi9i$antl and t!e also remain t!e same to an etent3 /n $ase o9 t!e tra)e$tor o9 t!e 'oiet #ooks

eer new deelopment wit!in t!e $ultural sp!ere takes into a$$ount t!e tradition o9 t!e ussian

people #e$ause t!at tradition proides su#stan$e to t!e $ultural stru$ture as $ommunist ideolog gies

s!ape to it3 ?en t!at ideolog seems to !ae 9ormed a remarka#le $ontinuum wit! ussian tradition3


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1C>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

ig3 6@ $adur $ostana a 1"55 $olle$tion o9 9olk tales 9or $!ildren pu#lis!ed # oreign anguage>s iterature &u#lis!ing

House Mos$ow3 /t was pro#a#l t!e 9irst 'oiet #ook 9or $!ildren in Bengali t!at was imported 9rom 'oiet nion3 olk

tales are a uniFue repositor o9 traditional wisdom and t!e o99ered t!e perpetual alues o9 ussia3

Anatomi$al similarit !as #een suggested #etween so$ialist realism and ussian tradition@ ;T!e

'o$ialist ealist noel 9orms a tradition t!at rests on $anoni$al eemplars3 ,onseFuentl mediealists

w!o stud t!e $onentions o9 !agiograp! and ot!er su$! tets tied to a $anon will 9ind mu$! in

$ommon #etween t!e distin$tie 9eatures o9 t!eir tets and t!ose o9 t!e 'oiet noel< .,lark ii03


21/263


T!e underling mt!i$al stru$ture o9 'oiet #ooks is anot!er $ase in point w!i$! asserts t!is

$ontinuit o9 t!e ussian nation3 'e$ular mt!s o9 t!e great reolution t!e great patrioti$ war t!e giant

leap 9orward t!e pat! to $ommunism were $ele#rated in t!e 'oiet #ooks as we s!all presentl

o#sere in our $ase studies and tpe studies in t!is arti$le3 As 'o$ialist realism was graduall giing

wa to newer 9orms o9 writings during t!e 1"7s and 1"8s and t!e grip o9 $ommunist ideolog was

sla$kening it was o#sered t!at 'o$ialist realist paradigms were seamlessl 9un$tioning as ;,!ristian

ealist (ationalist ealist or as some ersion o9 'piritual ealism< .,lark 2703 ,lark does not

mention w!et!er su$! #ooks were still o99i$iall pu#lis!ed during t!e 1"7s and 1"8s #ut in all

likeli!ood t!e were not prior to *or#a$!e>s arrial on t!e s$ene3 T!is is anot!er eample o9

$ontinuit w!i$! mig!t de$eptiel appear as a paradigm s!i9t3 'o$ialist realism is $!ara$terised # t!e

ussian pra$ti$e t!at $alls 9or a ideologi$al rearrangement o9 realit .realism in t!e =est was also a

#ourgeois do$trinal rearrangement o9 realit #ut it was soon supplanted # arious literar moements

9rom omanti$ism onwards w!i$! went #eond realit altoget!er03

ig 7@ /llustrated ,!ildren>s tale o9 a !at t!at apparentl $ame alie #e$ause o9 t!e kitten underneat!

T!e mt!s o9 t!e ussian nation $ome to represent a !ig!er 9orm o9 realit somew!at in t!e

ein o9 &lato>s diine realit3 'o$ialist realism a$$ommodated t!e dominant mt!s o9 t!e time and

portraed realit in t!e lig!t o9 t!ose mt!i$al paradigms3 ,lark makes a $ategorisation o9 a t!ree-leel

realit in 'o$ialist ealism@ T!e people at t!e ground leel t!e ordinar mortals 9orm a s!adow world3

T!e Cremlin 9orms t!e !ig!er world and a#oe t!at stru$ture stand t!e supra-terrestrial #eings enin


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and 'talin w!o $onstitute t!e topmost 9orm o9 realit .1203 Howeer ,lark>s erti$al diision o9 leels

o9 realit $an #e 9ault3 ,lark does not realise !ere t!at t!e realit o9 t!e people on t!e ground ma not

not ne$essaril #e t!at o9 mere s!adow wit!in so$ialist realism3 /nstead t!e politi$ised depi$tion o9 t!e

proletarian $!ara$ters on t!e ground $an 9reFuentl 9orm t!e essen$e o9 a !ig!er realit w!i$! $an #e

argued in t!e $ase o9 (ikolai +strosk>s >ow the Steel 2as Te0pered . -spat in Bengali03 T!e !ero o9

t!e 9air tale9olk tale also represents a !ig!er realit t!oug! t!at mig!t not outwardl 9ollow so$ialist

realism3 ,lark>s reading does not take into a$$ount t!e nuan$es o9 t!is do$trine o9 !ig!er realit and is

redu$tie to t!e etent t!at it $on9lates &art stru$ture and politi$al !ierar$! wit! t!e aest!eti$s o9

so$ialist realism3

ig3 8@ ront ,oer o9 -spat 4ol?

'oiet nion em#arks upon a !eroi$ ageG #raado risk-taking sa$ri9i$e adenture and struggle

against insurmounta#le odds $ome to $!ara$terise t!e staple material 9or 'oiet literature3 T!e

$orresponding elements 9rom 9air tales and 9olk tales are in$reasingl emp!asised $onstituting models


23/263


9it 9or emulation3 'u$! stru$tures are $ru$iall posited wit!in t!e /deologi$al 'tate Apparatus3 T!e

$!ildren>s unierse o9 9air tales suddenl wake up to t!e !ig!er $all o9 t!e nation and repeatedl $ome

to t!e 9oreground o9 'oiet o99i$ial mt!s3 Here we see t!at t!e 9un$tion o9 $!ildren>s literature in

'oiet nion #e$omes mani9old3 /t a$ts as a repositor o9 mt!s w!i$! are resour$e9ul 9or t!e adult

mature world3 But it is also a potentl dire$t weapon 9or indo$trination3 Ben Hellman notes@

+n 17 e#ruar 1"18 an arti$le appeared in &rada entitled ;T!e orgotten =eapons literature3 T!e kenote

!ad #een sounded # enin w!o said t!at ;t!e entire purpose o9 training edu$ating and

tea$!ing oung people s!ould #e to im#ue t!em wit! $ommunist et!i$ss literature was an indispensa#le all in t!e pro$ess o9 moulding t!e new man3

.2"0

air tales and ot!er $!ildren>s stories in order to #e attra$tie must #e a$$ompanied # illustrations3

T!e use o9 grap!i$ art to 9urt!er t!e $ause o9 t!e 'oiet sstem among t!e $!ildren !as #een a nota#le

strateg 9rom t!e #eginning3 ?gen 'teiner>s Stories for .ittle Co0rades studies t!e use o9 >reolutionar> art to indo$trinate t!e $!ildren in t!e earl de$ades .1"2s and 1"%s0 o9 'oiet nion

and inestigates t!e strange marriage o9 aant garde art wit! t!e totalitarian ideolog during t!is time3

se o9 #rilliant sket$!es paintings images p!otograp!s and illustrations $ontinued to adorn $!ildren>s

and adoles$ents> #ooks in 'oiet nion3 T!ere !ae also #een attempts to pro$ess t!e !istor o9 t!e

1"17 Bols!eik reolution into a grap!i$ narratie meant 9or eas $onsumption o9 $!ildren and grown

up readers alike and !ush Biplo< i ;hotechilo (!ussian !evolution: 2hat Actuall >appened) is an

interesting $ase in point3 /t $ame out in 1"873 Again a $o99ee ta#le pu#li$ation on t!e ussian

eolution .t!at $ame out in 1"87 $ommemorating t!e 7 t! anniersar o9 t!e reolution0 printed 9ull

on gloss papers in roal si:e titled An -llustrated >istor of the ;reat 6cto


24/263


ig3 "@ !ush Biplo< i ;hotechilo3 Histor o9 1"17 in $omi$s 9ormat

ig3 1 .top rig!t0 11 12 1%@ An -llustrated >istor of the ;reat 6cto


25/263


tpal Dutt>s1"76 pla ;enin Cot!aQs #ooks alike3 /t is not!ing s!ort o9 a 'oiet ritual a $ertain rite o9 passage as

Caterina ,lark argues in !er #ook@ it is t!e sontaneit$*ons*iousness diale$ti$ .220 a dadi$ stru$ture

t!at 9orms t!e nu$leus o9 'oiet mt! o9 su#)e$tiit3 /n t!e a#oe eample o9 Dutt>s pla $!ildren

represent sti9i'nost3 or spontaneit w!ereas enin represents so5natel3nost3 or $ons$iousness3 Howeer

t!is dad s!ould not #e t!oug!t o9 in terms o9 a Bak!tinian dialogi$ stru$ture3 At #est it $an #e $alled

pseudo-dialogi$ #e$ause t!e out$ome o9 t!is dialogue is 9ied and in man respe$ts t!e $onersation

#etween spontaneit and $ons$iousness resem#les entriloFuism as $ons$iousness is slated to win and

eentuall eert its $ontrol oer spontaneit3

ig31@ An -llustrated >istor of the ;reat 6cto


26/263


/nterestingl t!is dualit is $loser to Bengal>s er own prakEti,puruFa dualism 9rom 'ank!a

p!ilosop! t!an we would $are to t!ink3 ,lark o#seres t!at t!e ;ussian word 9or spontaneit

sti9i'nost3 is 9ormed 9rom t!e root sti9i'a meaning >t!e elements>< .1103 T!e stii)nost>-so:natel>nost>

dualism is t!ere9ore a #inar opposition o9 matter and $ons$iousness er mu$! like Bengal>s own

prakEti,puruFa dualism3 Howeer t!e 'ank!a s$!ool o9 p!ilosop! is tragi$all aware o9 t!e

oerw!elming power o9 t!e elemental 9or$es o9 nature oer $ons$iousness w!i$! is represented # t!e

standing Cali atop a ling '!ia or a Cris!na !olding t!e 9eet o9 ad!a as / dis$ussed in t!e B'

literature issue .ol3% (o31 2103 /n t!e 'oiet paradigm t!e opposite is t!e $ase3 Here t!e elemental

9or$es o9 nature are meant to #e triump!antl !arnessed # $ons$iousness3 'ank!a>s tragi$ awareness

gae #irt! to t!e Budd!sit notion o9 Moks!a w!ere $ons$iousness is 9reed 9rom t!e $on9ines o9

materialit3 T!e 'oiet triump!al dad o9 t!e master o9 $ons$iousness oer spontaneit gae #irt! to

t!e so$ial realist notion o9 t!e positive hero t!e most popular eample o9 w!i$! is pro#a#l &ael

Cor$!agin 9rom >ow the Steel 2as Te0pered 3 /n Bengali t!is noel # (ikolai +strosk !as #een

translated as -spat .'teel0 and !as #een immensel popular wit! t!e adoles$ent readers3 Here we 9ind a

prototpi$al template w!ere t!e !ero>s )ourne 9rom spontaneit to $ons$iousness is mapped and t!e

'oiet ersion o9 !istor is ena$ted wit!in t!e mi$ro$osm o9 t!e tetual unierse3

ig3 15@ T!e #a$k $oer o9 -spat 4ol? G


27/263


,lark $alls +strosk>s noel ;one o9 t!e all time $lassi$s o9 'o$ialist ealism< .1%103 T!e #a$k

$oer o9 t!e Bengali edition de$lared t!at t!e #ook !as #een translated into 8 languages and pu#lis!ed

in 2 $ountries3 /n 'oiet nion "5 editions o9 t!e tet !ae appeared and a total o9 135 $rore $opies

!ae #een soldG 9urt!er it topped t!e list o9 t!e most loed noels as oted # t!e Comsomol .Roung

,ommunists> eague was $alled Comsomol0 mem#ers3 +strosk>s noel $ele#rates Comsomol an

organi:ation t!at was set up on 2" +$to#er 1"18 one ear a9ter t!e reolution3 Comsomol was a

$ompulsor all ussia organi:ation3 Mem#ers!ip was open to eer#od 9rom t!e age o9 1 ears to 28

ears and one needed to #e a serious #la$k s!eep to #e out o9 it3

+strosk>s noel was seriall pu#lis!ed in Molodaa ;vardia t!e Comsomol )ournal3 T!e

9irst part was pu#lis!ed in 1"%2 and t!e se$ond part in 1"%3 /t was an auto#iograp!i$al noel and

&ael Cor$!agin is +strosk !imsel93 Cor$!agin as a $!ild represents t!e raw untamed 9or$e o9

nature t!at is spontaneit3 As !e grows up !e $omes into $onta$t wit! $ommunist ideolog3 He gets to

learn a#out t!e true pat! o9 Bols!eism under t!e tutelage o9 arious mentors in di99erent p!ases o9 !is

li9e as !e em#arks on !is )ourne towards $ons$iousness3 T!is noel>s su$$ess !as a num#er o9 reasons3

Bot! +strosk as well as !is noel>s !ero Cor$!agin are proletarian and in a wa t!e depi$t t!e

su$$ess9ul mar$! o9 t!e reolution itsel93 ,lark 9inds in t!is noel ;de9ining aspe$t o9 !ig! 'talinist

politi$al $ultureBols!eik =ill> #uta#oe all it proided w!at t!e age demanded E an entire !eroi$ #iograp! to 9un$tion as an eample<

.1%1-203 ,lark notes t!at ;Cor$!agin is the positie !ero o9 'oiet literature the model 9igure 9or t!e

'oiet people to emulate3 P it is !is role to resole sm#oli$all t!at pro#lemati$al diale$ti$ #etween

t!e 9or$es o9 >spontaneit> and t!ose o9 >$ons$iousness>< .1%2-%03 Howeer t!e tragi$ ending o9 t!e

noel is gien a miss # ,lark w!ile dis$ussing a#out its 9aoura#le re$eption among readers3

eolution deours its $!ildren as an !istor o9 reolutionar turmoil would testi93

Bengalis know t!is and t!e popularit o9 -spat mig!t stem 9rom t!e 9a$t t!at not onl it o99ered

an aut!enti$ eperien$e o9 an a$tual reolution t!at s!ook t!e world .w!i$! t!e reader $ould

i$ariousl 9eel0 #ut it also s!owed t!e tremendous pri$e t!at su$! a reolution ea$ts and etra$ts

9rom its 9ollowers3 /t must !ae stru$k a $ord wit! t!e Bengali readers o9 twentiet! $entur w!o were

no strangers to #loods!ed loss o9 lies and tur#ulent times3


28/263


+ne striking 9eature o9 su$! 'oiet so$ialist realist narraties is t!at t!e appropriate t!e

$ultural am#ien$e o9 9olk and 9air tales as we !ae alread o#sered3 T!e protagonist is er o9ten

like a bogatyr .knig!t0 9rom a bylina .!eroi$ poem0 and t!e Cing t!at t!is #ogatr seres is t!e 'oiet

'tate enin and 'talin t!emseles3 urt!er t!e o#sta$les in t!e pat! o9 reolution remind o9 t!e

monsters t!at a !ero must 9ig!t and de9eat3 /n 'oiet $!ildren>s 9air tales spe$i9i$ politi$al $orrelations

are made w!ere t!e 9air tale>s protagonist resem#les a 'oiet !ero t!e magi$ !elper is reminis$ent o9

a 'oiet mentor and t!e stor>s !app ending relates to t!e ;radiant 9uture< o9 t!e $lassless paradiseG

'oiet 9air tales are t!us $onsistentl 9ull o9 politi$al moti9s as t!e 9oreword o9 7oliticised Magic #

Marina Balina et al points out .0 and notes t!at ;t!e 'oiets appropriated t!e 9air tale paradigm

w!olesale 9or propagandist purposes< .ii03

ig3 16@ T!e &arenting manual Chele0ee Manush ora 7roshonge opens wit! distin$t nationalist oertones

As t!e ,!ildren were 9ed wit! a regular diet o9 9air tales wit! a determined agenda rearing

$!ildren was promoted to a leel o9 s$ien$e at par wit! s$ienti9i$ Marism3 T!e parenting manual

Chele0ee Manush ora 7roshonge .t!e title $an #e translated as ;A#out earing t!e Cids


29/263


t!e ?nglis! ersion was rat!er seriousl titled ;Dialogues on ?du$ation


30/263


ingrained3 =e ma remem#er t!at 'oiet nion neer !ad an woman as t!e !ead o9 state and upper

strata o9 'oiet so$iet did not !ae man women in spite o9 #eing one o9 t!e 9irst $ountries o9 t!e

west to a$$ord oting rig!ts to women3 /t is t!is ussian nation male and paternalisti$ a eteran o9

man toug! winters w!i$! perpetuates itsel9 in t!e pages o9 t!is manual3

+ne ma)or 9eature o9 t!e underling ussian nationalism t!at in9orms 'oiet $ulture is t!at it

o9ten tends to a99irm t!e $om9orta#le $ertainties o9 gender stereotpes instead o9 $!allenging and

de$onstru$ting t!em in t!e ein o9 western li#eralism3 /n order to ensure maimum produ$tiit 9rom

its $iti:ens t!e 'oiet state needed its women to #e as mot!erl as possi#le w!ile t!e men needed to

#e paternal in an eemplar wa3 T!e $!ildren are t!e elemental 9or$es o9 nature t!e stand 9or a

spontaneit t!at is mallea#le and must #e s!aped a$$ording to t!e dominant $ons$iousness3 Chele0ee Manush ora 7roshonge announ$es t!at t!e spe$ialit o9 a $!ild>s $!ara$ter is t!at it is 9lei#le

in$redi#l 9lei#le .25503 ,learl t!e $!ildren are t!e so9t raw materials w!o will #e $onditioned to

grow up into pillars o9 strengt! to t!e ussian nation3 And 9or t!is purpose t!e renowned nineteent!

$entur ussian edu$ationist Constantin s!insk is 9reel Fuoted and pressed to seri$e in

Chele0ee Manush ora 7roshongeG 9or eample it is asserted t!roug! s!insk>s statement t!at

imparting knowledge to $!ildren and making t!eir intelligen$e 9louris! are not su99i$ient #e$ause

$!ildren must learn to t!irst to undertake la#our 9or people>s wel9are ."03 T!e 'oiet state alued !ardwork #e$ause it was #uilt upon !ard super!uman la#our3 'o it wanted to instil t!at alue among t!e

$!ildren3

A #o needs to know a#out t!e real !andsomeness o9 men t!at $onsists o9 ;intelligen$e

strengt! and generosit


31/263


JTK!ese works #latantl $ounter ladimir (a#oko>s apodi$ti$ assertion t!at >literature is not a

dog $arring message in its teet!>3 /ndeed t!eir messages appear in oersi:ed itali$s and rel on

t!e !ermeneuti$al drum#eat o9 emp!ati$ iteration .repetition $onenientl #eing a $ardinal

9eature o9 9air tales03 /t is no $oin$iden$e t!at t!e premier 'oiet dire$tors o9 9air-tale s$reen

adaptations Aleander &tus!ko and Aleander ou t!ried during 'talinism E an era

dominated # t!e #rutall utopian slogan@ >=e were #orn to make 9air tales $ome true>3 .0

Caterina ,lark points out t!at 'oiet nion under 'talin ;9o$used on t!e primordial atta$!ments o9

kins!ip and prote$ted t!em as t!e dominant sm#ol 9or so$ial allegian$e3 'oiet so$iet>s leaders

#e$ame >9at!ers> .wit! 'talin as t!e patriar$!0G t!e national !eroes model >sons>G t!e state a >9amil><

.1103 =e ma noti$e t!at t!is 9amilial 9eature singularl $!ara$terises t!e 9ormation o9 nationalist

dis$ourse in most parts o9 t!e world w!ere t!e organi$ ties o9 kins!ip are eoked to press t!e $iti:en to

t!e seri$e o9 t!e nation as nation #e$omes identi9ia#le wit! immediate kins!ip and 9amilial #ond3 T!e

$all o9 t!e so$ialist 9at!erland during t!e time o9 'talin !as distin$t e$!oes o9 nationalism3 But w!at is

more important is t!at a$ross t!e de$ades t!e latent nationalist $!ara$ter o9 t!e 'oiet ussian

propaganda literature remained un$!anged3 /n -spat too &ael Cor$!agin 9orms a $ommunit wit! t!e

9ellow #elieers in $ommunism t!at !as organi$ kins!ip as its model o9 $o!esion3 ?er mentor is a

su#stitute 9at!er and eer trainee a son3 T!e trainee graduall attains maturit and #e$omes a 9at!er 9igure !imsel9 read to inspire ot!ers and leae #e!ind a lega$ w!i$! is t!e 9inal destin o9 &ael

Cor$!agin3

Cor$!agin is t!e ar$!etpi$al positie !ero and it is Fuite interesting to note t!at t!e positie

!ero !as #een a part o9 t!e traditional ussian narratie3 &arti$ularl wit!in nineteent! $entur realist

tets t!e positie !ero looms large a$$ording to ,lark w!o points out@

Howeer t!e positie !ero !as alwas plaed a role in t!e greater tradition o9 ussian literature

.$onsider 9or eample t!e !eroes o9 Dostoesk03 T!is re9le$ts t!e greater moral 9eror to #e

9ound in modern ussian literature t!an in t!e =est3 'in$e t!e mid-nineteent! $entur ussian

$riti$s !ae )oined ussian writers setting out two tasks 9or literature t!at alt!oug! 9ound in

=estern literature !ae $ertainl not $!ara$teri:ed it 9or roug!l t!e past !undred ears3 T!ese

tasks were 9irst to draw >tpi$al> $!ara$ters E $!ara$ters w!o were not so mu$! indiiduals


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"%>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

as representaties o9 $ommonl 9ound so$ial tpes t!roug! w!i$! t!e writer was to present a F

$ritiFue o9 ussian li9e E and se$ond to set 9ort! models o9 #e!aior w!o mig!t # t!eir

eample s!ow t!e wa out o9 ussia>s so$ial ills3< .60

T!oug! we are dis$ussing 'oiet $!ildren>s and adoles$ents> literature some Colkata pu#li$ations

s!ould also #e taken into $onsideration !ere3 /n all likeli!ood some o9 t!e 9irst 'oiet #ooks were

printed and pu#lis!ed 9rom Colkata .we !ae alread seen one eample0 pro#a#l #e$ause o9 t!e

aderse logisti$s inoled in a mass import and gien t!at t!e politi$al $limate was !ostile to t!e

$ommunists in Bengal during t!e earl 1"5s3 Howeer as more and more 'oiet #ooks started

appearing dire$tl 9rom 'oiet nion t!e need 9or Colkata reprints o9 'oiet #ooks would not arise

until t!e 9all o9 1""1 9ollowing w!i$! some popular 'oiet #ooks again would #e printed 9rom Colkata

.o!n eed>s $unia napano $osh $in is a prime eample o9 ,&M-$ontrolled (ational Book

Agen$>s enture into reprints o9 'oiet $lassi$s in t!e post-'oiet era03 T!e pu#li$ations t!at we are

$on$erned wit! !ere are t!e spe$i9i$ tets w!i$! were inspired and in9luen$ed # t!e 'oiet ideologi$al

ma$!iner #ut were works $omposed # Bengali aut!ors pu#lis!ed 9rom Colkata not straig!t9orward

translations as su$! #ut er mu$! operating wit!in t!e generi$ 'oiet paradigms3 Here / intend to

dis$uss one work o9 9i$tion # Dines!$!andra ,!attopad!a $uronto +agle and a non-9i$tional

propaganda work $entred on 'oiet ,!ildren # '!amal ,!akra#ort Shishutirthe Shishura as tpestudies3 =e s!all see t!at #ot! o9 t!ese two tets !ae soiet templates as t!eir model3

ig3 17@ Shishutirthe Shishura ig3 18@ $uronto +agle


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"1>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

,!akra#ort>s tet .1"86 pu#lis!ed # (ational Book Agen$ ,&M>s pu#lis!ing wing0 $omes

wit!in a long line o9 $ele#rator works w!i$! promote 'oiet nion # making t!e 'oiet $!ildren its

#rand am#assadors3 ,!akra#ort a minister in t!e ,&M-led =B goernment and one o9 t!e top leaders

o9 t!e part went to 'oiet nion 9or medi$al treatment and lied in a sanatorium near Ralta # t!e

#la$k sea and !e went to isit Artek t!e most 9amous &ioneer .t!e adan$ed group o9 'oiet #os and

girls w!o were #roug!t toget!er in a s$out-like 9ormation0 $amp o9 'oiet nion esta#lis!ed in 1"253

awa!arlal (e!ru !imsel9 made a isit to Artek in 1"55 and Artek $ontinued to #e t!e pri:ed poster o9

'oiet propaganda 9o$used on $!ildren3 A des$ription o9 Artek opens a monograp! on 'oiet $!ildren

pu#lis!ed # &rogress &u#lis!ers in Bengali in 1"8" w!i$! is aut!ored # a pro-'oiet /ndian writer

ai &rakas! B!arti3 T!is Bengali translation $ame a9ter ,!akra#ort>s memoir was pu#lis!ed #ut #ot!

o9 t!em open wit! a rat!er tempting des$ription o9 t!e #reat!taking s$eni$ #eaut o9 t!is pla$e in

ig3 1"@ ai &rakas! B!arti>s Soviet Shishu'ogot


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,rimea3 T!e des$riptions o9 t!e geograp! and !istor o9 t!e seaside town o9 Hur:u9 .w!ere Artek is

situated0 gien # ,!akra#ort and B!arti are er similar and it rouses a suspi$ion t!at #ot! o9 t!em

are pro#a#l $oping 9rom t!e 'oiet propaganda !anded down to t!em sin$e t!e are speaking in one

oi$e in spite o9 #eing separated 9rom ea$! ot!er # language and time .in all likeli!ood B!arti did not

read Bengali and !e $ould not anwa read ,!akra#ort w!o wrote !is memoir prior to B!arti>s traels

in 'oiet nion03

T!e 'oiet propaganda ma$!ine insisted t!at t!e onl priileged $lasses o9 'oiet nion were

its $!ildren and #ot! ,!akra#ort and B!arti make it a point to #egin t!eir respe$tie tets wit! t!is

e!ortation w!ile !ig!lig!ting t!e adage o9 enin@ t!e #est t!ings are meant 9or t!e $!ildren3 Bot!

,!akra#ort and B!arti 9ondl des$ri#e t!e mt! o9 t!e #ear mountain .Au-Dag0 near t!e Artek $amp

in almost similar language3 T!e standard pa$i9ism o9 t!e Bre:!ne era .stemming 9rom t!e 'oiet

$urtailing o9 De9en$e #udget0 utilised and mo#ilised t!e $!ildren to #ring 9ort! t!e message o9 world

pea$e and #ot! ,!akra#ort and B!arti deote lengt! attentions to t!e pa$i9ist moement laun$!ed

internationall # t!e Artek &ioneers3 /n addition B!arti also takes t!e name o9 (e!ru in support o9 t!e

'oiet agenda 9or world pea$e w!ile #ot! ,!akra#ort and B!arti are $alling 9or greater $ooperation

and $onta$t #etween t!e $!ildren o9 'oiet nion and /ndia3 T!e 9a$ilities in t!e Artek $amp are

spe$iall adertised in #ot! t!e works wit! an emp!asis on t!e 9ree seri$es t!at t!e $!ildren en)ot!ere $ontrasting it wit! t!e standard $apitalist state>s la$k o9 wel9are poli$ies3 T!e des$riptions are

indeed tantalisingl attra$tie and #ear testimon to t!e ps$!ologi$al e99e$t o9 'oiet propaganda

aimed at t!e $!ildren and adults alike !elping t!e spontaneous segments o9 t!e popula$e attain t!e

nirana o9 $ons$iousness3 And t!is was not mere propaganda t!ese writers genuinel #elieed in w!at

t!e propagated3 ,!akra#ort>s #ook is 9ondl dedi$ated to !is small daug!ter s!asie .w!o is a 9ilm

and teleision a$tress o9 Colkata toda03

Dines! ,!attopad!a t!e le9t-leaning pu#lis!er-writer was renowned as t!e 9ounder editor and

pu#lis!er o9 ishor Bharoti a mont!l maga:ine in Bengali meant 9or teenagers3 He wrote e$lusiel

9or adoles$ent readers3 His noel $uronto +agle is set in t!e &amirs reputed to #e t!e roo9 o9 t!e

world3 T!e writer re$ognises *eorgii Tus!kan>s The >unter of the 7a0irs as one o9 t!e in9luen$es on

!im in t!e 9oreword #ut i9 we stud #ot! t!e tets side # side ,!attopad!a>s noel is reealed to #e

a$tuall a dire$t translation o9 Tus!kan>s tet wit! some improisations t!rown in t!e most nota#le o9


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"">Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

w!i$! is t!e introdu$tion o9 a Bengali $ommunist $!ara$ter *ora w!o is not t!ere in Tus!kan>s noel3

*ora a$ts as ura>s mentor and represents t!e $ons$iousness to ura>s spontaneit3 Barring t!is

innoation o#iousl aimed at t!e Bengali readers t!is #ook is a$tuall an una$knowledged

translation o9 Tus!kan>s tet3 But ,!attopad!a $laims aut!ors!ip o9 $uronto +agle t!e status o9

w!i$! is not gien as a translated work3 urt!er t!e #lur# o9 t!e #ook proudl re$ords some o9 t!e

praise t!at ,!attopad!a re$eied 9or t!e #ook w!i$! announ$e t!e #ook to #e an epi$ .reiew o9 t!e

Bengali dail Aa'kal 0 to #e #ot! an epi$ and a timeless $lassi$ .Manis! *!atak>s reiew0 w!i$!

distur#ingl suggest t!at t!ese reiewers pro#a#l were not aware t!at it was not an original work and

almost a er#atim $op o9 *eorgii Tsu!kan>s noel3

*eorgii Tus!kan>s noel .9ull title o9 w!i$! is The >unter of the 7a0irs: A Novel of Adventurein Soviet Central Asia0 9ollowed t!e 'oiet paradigm o9 t!e positie !ero3 ura .all t!e $!ara$ter names

remain un$!anged in ,!attopad!a>s #ook0 is t!e protagonist w!ose )ourne 9rom spontaneit to

$ons$iousness is depi$ted in t!e progression o9 t!e tet3 iing in a remote illage o9 t!e &amirs ura

!is un$le Cu$!ak and !is #eloed Oeine# $onstitute t!e main troika o9 t!is noel w!o are uprooted

9rom t!eir sa9e !amlet and now !ae to undertake a )ourne a$ross t!e !ostile terrains o9 t!e &amirs in

t!e midst o9 t!e orte o9 Basma$!i re#ellion during t!e earl 1"2s3

T!e /slami$ $!ara$ter o9 'oiet ,entral Asia !as ariousl in9luen$ed 'oiet poli$ies3 'o$ialism

was on$e identi9ied wit! /slam in 'oiet nion and t!at was a geopoliti$al strateg aimed at $entral

Asia3 'ometimes su$! strategies etended to 'oiet 9oreign poli$3 T!e $entral Asian 9i$tions pu#lis!ed

9rom t!e 'oiet nion in Bengali .,!ingis Aitmato>s noels 9or eample0 mig!t !ae #een intended

to impart a $loseness to Muslim Banglades! one $an suspe$t3 /t is di99i$ult to sa i9 t!e usual

proportion o9 su$! $entral Asian #ooks in ?nglis! translation was e$eeded # t!e Fuantit o9 su$!

#ooks translated into Bengali in t!e a#sen$e o9 o99i$ial data3 (eert!eless stories wit! Muslim $olour

mig!t !ae #een endearing to t!e people in Banglades! gien t!at t!e literature produ$ed in =est

Bengal t!oug! eagerl $onsumed # t!e Banglades!i readers er rarel !ad an Muslim $!ara$ter or

/slami$ #a$kground3 T!e 1"86 $olle$tion o9 9air tales on Se $esher on Sagorer 7are !as a 9ew

stories set in t!e #a$kdrop o9 Muslim $ulture .written # ussian writers t!oug!03 'u$! stories w!ile

#eing generall popular in =est Bengal .w!ere t!e Muslim $omponent would not distur# t!e pro$ess o9

readers> re$eption0 t!e mig!t !ae generated spe$ial ent!usiasm in t!e eastern side w!i$! was # t!is


36/263


time de$lared as /slami$ repu#li$ # &resident ?rs!ad and 'oiet nion must !ae taken note o9 t!at3

'o in t!is $olle$tion Aleander Cuprin>s ;Cismet< is set in some 9arawa Muslim land w!i$! is not

$entral Asia as t!e stor !as a lot o9 t!e seas!ore and sea oage and also a Bads!a!3 A Muslim

mer$!ant is t!e protagonist in t!is stor3 Anot!er stor o9 e Tolsto titled ;(a#i$!arok< .udge0 is

set in Algeria3 ermonto>s ;As!ik Ceri#9olk tales> oer 9air tales 9or reasons o#ious3 =!ile strongl dis$ouraging

supernatural stories .'oiet literature were distinguis!ed # a total a#sen$e o9 g!ost stories0 t!e so9t

and aerial >9air> mig!t !ae #een dis$arded in 9aour o9 a sturd proletarian >9olk> .at least in all

?nglis! and 9oreign language translations t!e word 9air !as #een eit!er dis$ouraged or outrig!t

manipulatedG we s!all o#sere t!e latter in *ork>s -talr !upkotha03 air tales in 9a$t su99ered seere

$astigations and onslaug!ts in t!e a9termat! o9 t!e reolution during t!e 1"2s onl to #e reinstated to

a status o9 use9ulness in t!e mid-1"%s a pro$ess t!at Marina Balina $!roni$les in 7olitici5ed Magic

w!ile dis$ussing t!e relation #etween 9air tales and so$ialist realism3 '!e in9orms t!at a polemi$al tet

titled 2e Are Against the 1air Tale $olle$tiel aut!ored # leading 'oiet ideologues working in t!e

9ield o9 $!ildren>s edu$ation appeared in 1"28 and t!en Balina 9urt!er notes@

A$$ording to eli 3 +inas in t!e earl 1"2s ;t!e #elie9 t!at 9olklore re9le$ted t!e ideolog o9

t!e ruling $lasses gae rise to a strongl negatie attitude toward it P A spe$ial ,!ildren>s

&roletkult soug!t to eradi$ate 9olktales on t!e #asis t!at t!e glori9ied tsars and tsarei$!es

$orrupted and instigated si$kl 9antasies in $!ildren deeloped t!e kulak attitude3 And

strengt!ened #ourgeois idealss widow as well as a leading aut!orit on edu$ation and li#rar

s$ien$e in t!e new 'oiet state3 /n 1"2 Crupskaa .t!en t!e $!air o9 t!e ,entral ,ommittee on

&oliti$al ?du$ation or *lapolitproset0 was instrumental in putting toget!er an in9luential

manual t!at led to t!e e$lusion o9 9air tales 9rom li#rar s!eles3 our ears later s!e laun$!ed

a $ampaign against Corne ,!ukosk>s literar 9air tales wit! an arti$le in t!e leading

goernmental newspaper 7ravda titled ;+n ,ro$odile


37/263


/n t!e same #reat! Balina o#seres@ ;it was $onsidered >#ourgeois> # its er nature3 air-tale

$reatures su$! as magi$ 9antas animism and ant!ropomorp!ism E all t!e dei$es t!at $ompose t!e

essen$e o9 t!e genre E were $ondemned as >idealism>< .1703 air tales $ontinued to remain in t!e

o99i$ial #la$klist o9 'oiet ideolog 9or Fuite some time3 And t!en t!e stor o9 t!e re!a#ilitation o9

9air tales #e$omes eFuall interesting3 =!ile Balina gies a detailed a$$ount o9 t!at pro$ess s!e does

not ponder oer t!e $!ange in nomen$lature w!i$! suggests a tension t!at underlies t!e return o9 9air

tales as 9olk tales3 T!is is a pre9eren$e in nomen$lature t!at remains till t!e end o9 'oiet nion and

t!e alwas pre9erred t!e term olk oer air3 Almost t!e 9air tale #ooks w!i$! we !ae re$eied in

Bengali 9rom 'oiet nion $are9ull aoid t!e term 9air tale in t!eir titles3 T!e are not $alled

!upkotha t!e $onentional word 9or 9air tale in Bengali and instead are $alled pokotha a ague

neologism t!at stands 9or 9olk tales .9olk tale s!ould more properl #e translated as .okokotha03

&ro#a#l t!e term lokokotha was deli#eratel aoided to ward o99 suspi$ions 9rom apoliti$al

readers w!o mig!t not want a politi$al treatise in disguise w!ile #uing #ooks 9or t!eir $!ildren gien

t!at su$! ant!ologies were aimed at a large readers!ip 9ar #eond t!e politi$all initiated3 T!e word

upokotha resonates and r!mes wit! rupkotha and t!e 9ormer $an #e easil mistaken 9or t!e latter # a

reader w!o mig!t simpl oerlook t!e di99eren$e3 T!is ma #e an interesting $ase o9 epedien$ in

Bengali translations o9 'oiet #ooks3 =!ateer mig!t !ae #een t!e intri$a$ies t!e minute $!anges innomen$lature desere our attention as t!e epose t!e ps$!opoliti$s o9 words w!ere t!is nomen$lature

is at work3 Historians !ae generall agreed t!at 'talin s!ared a #itter !istor o9 enmit wit!

Crupskaa3 Balina does not take t!at into a$$ount #ut it nonet!eless mig!t !ae a$ted as a 9a$tor in

'talin>s w!ole !earted support #e!ind t!e 'oiet nion>s o99i$ial restoration o9 9air tales w!i$! was

inaugurated # *ork in 1"%3

T!e task o9 reitali:ation 9ell to Maim *ork t!e 9at!er o9 so$ialist realism w!ose spee$! at

t!e 9irst 'oiet =riters> ,ongress in August 1"% signaled t!e 9air tale>s ideologi$al

re!a#ilitation3 +9 t!is 9amous opening spee$! +inas !as written ;*or>kii>s insisten$e t!at

9olklore #elonged 9irst o9 all to working people !ad 9ar-rea$!ing impli$ations3 As i9 # magi$

it opened t!e ees o9 t!e part leaders to t!e possi#ilities t!at 9olklore would !ae 9or t!e

adan$ement o9 $ommunism3 And 9rom t!at time on we $an 9ollow t!e $ons$ious use o9

9olklore 9or so$ial and politi$al use


38/263


as asilisa t!e =ise and ;t!e ironi$all lu$k /an t!e 'imple< to #e meritorious indiiduals and

praised #ot! 9olklore and t!e 9olktale 9or t!eir la$k o9 pessimism and t!eir parti$ipation in t!e

struggle 9or ;t!e renoation o9 li9es #ook translatedinto Bengali as -talr !upkotha .air Tales o9 /tal0 t!oug! t!e ?nglis! name o9 t!e #ook on t!e

$oprig!t page is simpl .and $orre$tl as it is internationall known0 gien as Tales of -tal3

ig3 2 I 21@ ront $oer and $ontent o9 -talr !upkotha3 (ote t!at t!e title o9 t!e er 9irst stor is ;'trike


39/263


T!e use o9 t!e term rupkotha is an interesting $ase o9 appropriation o9 t!is genre 9or politi$al purpose

utilising t!e poten$ appeal and inno$en$e o9 t!e term t!us making inroads into t!e #ooks!eles o9

oung readers and t!eir parents alike3 T!is is an interesting $ase o9 manipulating tradition as t!e stories

are t!ose o9 $ontemporar /talian working people .$omposed during *ork>s so)ourn in /tal #etween

1"6 and 1"1%0 and !ae not!ing to do wit! t!e 9orm and $ontent o9 $onentional 9air tales3 T!is is a

supreme eample o9 politi$al restru$turing o9 a genre and w!at is most interesting to o#sere in t!is

$ase is t!at *ork>s poli$ regarding 9air9olk tale de$lared in 1"% $ontinues to !ae a 9ar-rea$!ing

impli$ation in t!e 'oiet strateg goerning t!e Bengali translations w!ere t!e word rupkotha is

$unningl sur$!arged into t!e Bengali title in 1"8 ensuring a reolutionar transa$tion o9 proletarian

alues to #e instilled in t!e mind o9 t!e reader w!o approa$!es t!e #ook wit! inno$ent epe$tations3

T!is initiatie adds an entirel new dimension to t!e politi$al appropriation o9 t!e genre o9 9air tales3

,onentional 9air tales !ae #een read as an allegor o9 t!e 'oiet ersion o9 !istor and t!e

progression o9 t!e proletariat #ut w!at we 9ind !ere is a $omplete rede9ining o9 t!e genre w!ere

$ontemporar tales inoling workers w!i$! !ae no resem#lan$e to t!e standard and traditional

pattern o9 9air tales are gien t!e name rupkotha spe$i9i$all in t!e Bengali translation .t!e ?nglis!

ersion $ontinues to #e issued under t!e non-am#itious title Tales of -tal03

T!e Bengali #ook opens wit! a Fuotation 9rom Hans Anderson w!i$! )usti9ies t!e use o9 t!eterm rupkotha@ ;(o 9iner 9air tales are t!ere t!an w!at is written # i9e itsel9s statement w!ere !e o#sered@ ;/ !ae $alled t!ese s$enes

Tales #e$ause #ot! t!e lands$ape o9 /tal and t!e $ustoms o9 its people indeed t!eir entire wa o9 li9e

is .si$0 so di99erent 9rom ussia t!at to t!e ordinar ussian reader t!e mig!t indeed seem like tales3< %

'ome o9 t!ese stories are set in ur#an metropolitan /tal o9 *enoa and (aples w!ile some o9 t!em

take pla$e in t!e remote mountains and lakes o9 /tal #ut eer stor is weaed in t!e #a$kdrop o9

$ontemporar times and !as t!e toiling /talian people as its $!ara$ters3


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"C>Journal of Bengali Studies ./''( 2277 "260 ol3 5 (o3 1

T!e 'oiet use o9 t!e genre o9 9air tales to !ig!lig!t t!e toiling masses sometimes inoled a

minor realignment o9 t!e stories w!ere t!e protagonist>s $lass status was suita#l altered or t!e $lass

enem suita#l ili9ied in order to mat$! t!e politi$al agenda3 !ushdesher pokotha is a $ase in point3

/nterestingl t!ese are a$tual traditional 9air tales unlike *ork>s Tales o9 /tal and t!ere9ore t!e

nomen$lature o9 upokotha .literall su#-tales #ut t!is is w!at !as alwas #een used in t!e Bengali

translations o9 ussian krainian and ot!er 'oiet 9air tales0 #e$omes signi9i$ant3 T!e ?nglis! title o9

t!e #ook is gien as !ussian 1olk Tales3 T!e penultimate stor is t!at o9 Alos!a &opoi$!3 As

'oumendra 'ikdar>s stud points out Alos!a &opoi$! was a #oar i3e3 a 9eudal lord w!ereas /la

Muromets was 9rom t!e peasant sto$k .103 'ikdar does not note t!e pro#lemati$ nature o9 $lass status

o9 a #oar !ero wit!in t!e 'oiet transmission o9 9air tales t!oug!3 But t!e 9ree miing o9 $lasses in

t!e world o9 9air tales is a dire$t anat!ema to t!e $lass struggle ersion o9 !istor and t!ere9ore 'oiet

stortelling tried to realign t!e narratie3 /t>s easier to do so 9or t!e Bengali readers .and ot!er non-

'oiet ones0 #e$ause t!e are not alread 9amiliar wit! t!e narraties3

ig3 22@ ront $oer o9 !ushdesher pokotha


41/263


T!e #oars stood se$ond !ig!est in t!e roal !ierar$! onl net to t!e prin$e3 (ow

!ushdesher pokotha simpl presents Alos!a as a #ogatr or knig!t-errant w!i$! !e indeed was in

t!e legends and s!ows !im as a son o9 a illage priest w!i$! !e also was in t!e legends3 But Alos!a

attained aristo$rati$ status #e$ame a #oar and t!at is erased 9rom !is tale t!at we 9ind in t!is

ant!olog3 But interestingl t!e stor on t!e eFuall 9amous #ogatr Do#rna (ikiti$! s!ows

Alos!a in a #rie9 $ameo !aing negatie $!ara$teristi$s 9alse a$$using Do#rna to #e 9riends wit!

t!e mt!i$al serpent Ome *orn$! and t!us making Do#rna 9ig!t t!e serpent alone3 +ut o9 t!e

t!ree 9amous #ogatrs 9rom t!e legends o9 t!e Ciean us onl Alos!a is singled out to pla a minor

illain in one o9 t!e stories3 +ne $an understand t!at t!e #oar status o9 Alos!a t!oug! remains

unspoken nonet!eless 9un$tions as an inisi#le su#tet3

T!ere are two $olle$tions o9 9air tales 9rom kraine t!at we !ae in Bengali translation3 T!e

1"5 tet w!i$! we !ae alread mentioned earler krainio pokotha was a slender olume o9 9our

stories pu#lis!ed 9rom Colkata under an arrangement wit! oreign anguage &u#lis!ing House

Mos$ow3 T!e name o9 t!e original 'oiet tet is gien as krainske (arodne 'ka:ki3 (o ?nglis!

title is gien #ut as par m knowledge o9 ussian it it would #e krainian olk Tale3 T!is is one o9 t!e

9irst .pro#a#l t!e 9irst0 'oiet $!ildren>s pu#li$ations in Bengali and t!is is t!e 9irst time t!e word

upokotha is $oined to signi9 9olk tales3 But t!e 1"88 tet t!e ussian name o9 w!i$! is also gien askrainske (arodne 'ka:ki and t!e ?nglis! name as krainian olk Tales is $alled krainer

.okokotha in Bengali and t!is is t!e lone instan$e w!ere t!e proper translation o9 t!e term 9olk tale !as

#een used in 'oiet Bengali pu#li$ations3 T!e preious $olle$tion o9 krainian 9air tales mig!t !ae

$las!ed wit! t!e new #ook i9 it was also $alled upokotha and pro#a#l t!at was w! t!e new edition

was named lokokotha3 +r one $an spe$ulate t!at # 1"88 'oiet pu#li$ation stopped 9eeling an need

9or t!e ague neologism upokotha 9or t!e Bengali reader # now under $ommunist rule 9or 11 ears

and $ame straig!t to t!e politi$al point in a 9olks wa3 T!e 1"88 $olle$tion as well as t!e 1"5 one

$ontain mostl animal 9a#les and stand in stark $ontrast wit! t!e ussian 9air tales w!i$! t!oug!

!ae t!eir own dose o9 animal 9a#les #ut are predominated # tales o9 #raer o9 soldiers #ogatrs and

great !eroes 9ig!ting wit! great monsters3 T!e small domesti$ animals and domesti$-like wild animals

w!o predominate t!e krainian $olle$tion mig!t #etra a ussian imperial design to s!ow kraine as

t!e perennial Malorossia ittle ussia t!e smallis! land on t!e margin !aing onl small stories to

tell inoling small animals3


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ig3 2%@ krainer pokotha o9 1"88

Caterina ,lark pinpoints t!e politi$al use o9 9air tales in 'oiet ussia w!en s!e $omments@

;/n order to des$ri#e ho0o e9traordinarius one needed more 9a#ulous 9orms su$! as 9air tales<

.1703 'o t!e 9air tales $onne$ted t!e dread9ul Fuotidian o9 'oiet $iti:en>s li9e wit! t!e promised

9uture o9 $ommunism # t!eir stru$tural )utaposition o9 !ards!ip and i$tor o#sta$les and !app

ending ordinar persons and etraordinar 9antasies3 T!e 9air tale $!ara$ters like C!ude /an #oro #udd!iman .'mall /an t!e intelligent0 and 'ika Burka aduka adka .'ika Burka t!e 'on o9 Magi$0

!ae #een popular wit! generations o9 Bengali readers and t!e represent t!is se$ret passage 9rom a

drear eisten$e to a da::ling li9e o9 en$!antment3 T!e immense popularit o9 t!e 'oiet 9air tales in

Bengali stems 9rom t!is trait@ t!e presented an es$ape 9rom our drudger t!e represented an elusie

realit t!at was 9oreer out o9 our rea$! #ut tantalisingl $lose as $lose as t!e printed #ook3 /n a wa


43/263


t!e so$ialist 9at!erland t!e immense land o9 ussia #e$ame t!e land o9 9air tales 9or t!e Bengali

reader3 T!e dread9ulness o9 t!e present times notwit!standing t!e o99ered an es$ape into a

wonderland w!ere men were #rae w!ere t!e !onest people won in t!e end w!ere t!e monsters were

de9eated and #eauti9ul maidens #e$ame prin$esses3 =!at 'oiet so$ialism $ould not attain in realit

t!e same $ould #e attained on t!e pages o9 t!e 9air tales3 Moreoer t!e 9air tales deepl

$onentional o99ered t!e traditional alues o9 ussia in a dissemina#le 9ormat 9or t!e international

readers3 T!e Bengali readers deeloped t!eir ussop!ilia mainl 9rom reading t!ese tets3 T!e 9air

tales also sm#olise a land o9 renewal o9 reinigoration o9 re#irt! w!ere a ,inderella-like

trans9ormation awaits t!e reader3 T!e 9air tales in s!ort stood 9or an ideal it was t!e ideal o9 a

promised land3 T!e 9air tales stood 9or 'oiet nion w!i$! remained an ideal3 Howeer 9air tales

did not not alwas stand 9or an unreali:ed ideal let alone a remote and a#stra$t ersion o9 'oiet

!istor3 T!e 9air tales were a $onsistent sour$e o9 inspiration 9or t!e pro)e$ts o9 realit .in$luding t!e

writing o9 so$ialist realist noels03 And sometimes t!e #e$ame realit3 ,lark notes t!at ;in

Continuation of a .egend 9air tale does #e$ome realit@ one o9 t!e workers tells a lo$al 9olktale in

w!i$! t!e Renise and Angara riers are united E as in realit t!e are in t!e /rkutsk pro)e$t .22"03

/n t!e age o9 s$ien$e and te$!nolog s$ien$e 9i$tions #e$ome a ma)or genre all oer t!e world3

T!e s!are some $ommon 9eatures wit! 9air tales3 Bot! are imaginatie and depi$t in$redi#le 9eats o9 men and women3 Magi$al and supernatural $reatures s!ow a strong similarit wit! t!e 9antasti$al

#eings o9 s$ien$e 9i$tions3 T!e en$!anted world o9 a s


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45/263


oe in t!is noel $auses a relapse into untamed and raw materialit3 oe $auses indis$ipline

and leads to li9e-t!reatening risk3 'oiet loe stories !ae #een sometimes derided # western $riti$s as

;#o gets tra$tor< narraties .,lark 2"0 w!ere t!e protagonist instead o9 getting t!e loe o9 !is li9e

ends up getting a tra$tor or somet!ing eFuialent and $ontri#utes to t!e 9orward mar$! o9 so$ialism3

eprodu$tion is suppressed in 9aour o9 produ$tion as one ma Fuip3 /$!t!ander does not get t!e girl

!e loes #ut !e is promised wit! t!e 9inal triump! o9 s$ien$e instead3 /n 9a$t !e is punis!ed 9or !is loe

in t!e noel and it is onl # 9orsaking t!e spontaneit o9 loe and returning to t!e dominant aut!orit

o9 'alator .i3e3 $ons$iousness0 t!at !e $an #e salaged3 urt!er /$!t!ander>s loe 9or *uittere !as a

9or#idden aspe$t too .unknown to #ot! o9 t!em0 as *uittere is !is !al9-sister3 Baltasar t!e pro9essional

dier working 9or Ourita is t!e 9at!er o9 #ot! o9 t!em3 /$!t!ander was an in9ant w!en !is mot!er died

and !e was gien to 'alator 9or treatment # ,risto Baltasar>s elder #rot!er3 'alator later told ,risto

t!at t!e #a# !as died3 Howeer 'alator lied and /$!t!ander was su$$ess9ull operated onl to #e

turned into t!e amp!i#ious man3 =!en Baltasar gets to know a#out it !e wants to get /$!t!ander

#a$k and t!ere is a !ig! emotional drama in t!e plot3

T!ere is a $oert $ritiFue o9 'talin-era #rutalit o9 industrialisation in t!e snat$!ing awa o9

/$!t!ander 9rom !is #iologi$al 9at!er Baltasar3 T!e noel in 9a$t ends wit! a !al9-mad Baltasar $alling

out loudl to /$!t!ander # t!e sea on storm nig!ts and t!e separation o9 t!e 9at!er 9rom t!e son 9or t!e sake o9 s$ien$e $an #e read as a se$ret narratie o9 t!e !uman #eing>s alienation 9rom !is immediate

root identit nature $ommunit and propert $aused # rapid industrialisation in t!e 'oiet state3 /t is

indeed sad t!at t!is popular 9i$tion o9 multi-laered signi9i$ations !as not merited a detailed dis$ussion

9rom t!e $riti$s w!o stud 'oiet literature3

T!e $ountr and t!e $it .amond =illiams> eponmous stud immediatel $oming to mind0

eist as an interesting dad wit!in t!e 'oiet $!ildren>s literature and t!e dnami$s o9 t!is dadi$

stru$ture !as $!anged a$ross t!e 'oiet period3 or t!e period o9 enin and 'talin rural world

represented t!e natural element meant to #e tamed3 illages stood 9or t!e raw materialit w!i$! needed

to #e moulded and s!aped # $ons$iousness3 'truggle wit! nature was a re$urrent moti93 Man pitted

against a !ostile nature was a $entral 'talinist era image as Caterina ,lark points out .103 But t!is

interrelations!ip $!anges wit! time and # t!e late 1"s and earl 1"5s t!e world o9 nature $omes

to suggest a !aen and re9uge 9rom t!e agaries o9 t!e world o9 men t!e world o9 war te$!nolog and


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$orruption3 (ow t!e illage represented a pristine prelapsarian ussia t!at was not $orrupt t!at was

not #ureau$rati$ and t!at was not un9ree and t!e $it was its ea$t opposite3 An interesting eample o9

t!is eolution is (ikolai Du#o>s Shagortire pu#lis!ed in 1"853 /t !as two noellas ;(odir Buke Alor

Mala< and ;'!agortire


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As ;(odir Buke Alor Mala< opens Costa t!e protagonist is presented to t!e reader as

spontaneit in$arnate3 He studies in 9i9t! standard in Cie is immature and is not at all $ons$ious o9

!is responsi#ilities3 He does not parti$ipate in &ioneer a$tiities takes an idle interest in moies and

sports and is 9ar 9rom t!e ideal #o3 But !is )ourne on a steamer 9rom t!e $it to t!e illage along t!e

rier Dnieper is a #eginning o9 a Fuest t!at will $!ange !im 9oreer3 T!is is a narratie w!ere Costa

t!e immature $!ild protagonist turns into a mature adoles$ent #o read to parti$ipate in t!e #uilding o9

'oiet nion3 /t is a $oming o9 age narratie and t!at wa it $an #e $alled a tpi$al 'talinist noel t!e

paradigm o9 w!i$! $ontinues in t!e post-'talinist literature mostl un$!anged inoling ;a rite o9

passage # w!i$! t!e !ero passes 9rom a state o9 >spontaneit> to one o9 >$ons$iousness> and t!us

a$!iees so$ial integration< .,lark 22603 T!is ritual o9 metamorp!osis takes pla$e in t!e midst o9

wonder9ul natural s$ener o9 &olanskaa3 ,lark notes t!at instead o9 t!e !ig! 'talinist emp!asis on

ur#anisation and industrialisation t!e noels o9 1"5s parti$ularl t!e out! noels .and Du#o>s

noella $an Fuali9 as oneG t!oug! ,lark $onsiders t!e genre to !ae #een inaugurated onl in 1"56

w!i$! is 9our ears a9ter ;(odir Buke Alor Mala< was writtenG sadl s!e does not take Du#o into

$onsideration anw!ere in !er stud0 insisted on t!e redeeming Fualities o9 rural li9e3 Costa>s )ourne

9rom t!e $it to t!e illage is also a passage 9rom 'talinism to post-'talinism t!oug! it was written

during t!e 9ag end o9 'talinist period3 T!is is !ow ,lark delineates t!e eolution o9 t!e 'oiet

paradigm@

/n t!e 'talinist noel Mos$ow 9un$tioned as a pla$e pre9iguring t!e !ig!er-order realit to

$ome in ,ommunism w!ile t!e proin$ial town 9a$tor $onstru$tion site or kolk!o: in w!i$!

t!e noel was set was #ound to #e 9ar #e!ind Mos$ow on t!e pat! to per9e$tion3 /n t!e out!

noel # $ontrast Mos$ow .or eningrad0 9un$tions as t!e ;9alse< pla$e polluted #

#ureau$ra$ $areerism insin$erit and ot!er su$! ;'talinist< ills w!ereas some pla$e ;9ar

awa 9rom Mos$ow< .in t!e words o9 t!e title o9 A:!ae>s O!danoist $lassi$0 and pre9era#l

dramati$all less $iili:ed t!an Mos$ow .or eningrad0 #e$omes t!e !aen o9 eninist ideals to

w!i$! t!e !ero is drawn3 .2270

Costa represents t!e 9riolit o9 t!e $it t!at is at odds wit! t!e seriousness o9 rural li9e t!at is

epitomised in t!e $!ara$ter o9 !is maternal un$le and mentor Re9im Condratei$! resident o9

&olanskaa3 /nterestingl in Du#o>s work t!e $it stands 9or untrained un$ons$ious materialit


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w!ereas remote &olanskaa is t!e site o9 $ons$iousness3 T!e tet $ele#rates p!si$al la#our and

emp!asises on p!si$al la#our as t!e singular 9or$e t!at is restru$turing a deastated nation in t!e

a9termat! o9 se$ond world war w!i$! stands as a re$urrent moti9 still 9res! in re$ent memor3 T!e

$!ild protagonist Costa is an orp!an w!o lost !is 9at!er in t!e se$ond world war3 urt!er Costa>s

mentor and 9at!er 9igure Re9im Condratei$! is !imsel9 a eteran o9 t!e war3 T!e war ane$dotes o9

#raer and strengt! re$ur in t!e narratie as t!e pla an important role in t!e rite o9 passage t!at

Costa undergoes3 /9 t!e great war lurks in t!e #a$kground t!en $ommunism is 9oregrounded in t!is

narratie3 =!ile $ommunism as t!e distin$t !ori:on is repeatedl pointed to a te$!no$rati$

#ureau$rati$ attitude to $ommunism is repudiated # Du#o w!o a#oe all alues organi$ unit

#etween man and nature and t!e sweat swart! eart!en Fualit o9 $ommunist la#our3 T!is noella

t!us 9ores!adows post-'talinist aest!eti$s and is an interesting $ase stud in t!e transition o9 'oiet

$!ildren>s literature 9rom 'talinism to post-'talinism3

T!e se$ond noella ;'!agortire< .The Bo at the Seashore/A Bo


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# t!e present resear$!er t!e ear o9 pu#li$ation o9 t!e ussian original $ould not #e as$ertained3

Howeer Two Toreadors fro0 4asukivka .spelling is di99erentl gien as asukoka asiukoka

asukoka and asukika0 was made into an a$$laimed 'oiet ussian moie w!i$! won pri:es in a

9ew 9ilm 9estials in 1"68 and >6"3 /t $an #e sa9el assumed t!at t!e tet #elongs to t!e earl or mid

1"6s3 T!ere is a distin$tl Bre:!neite dimension o9 t!is tet to w!i$! / s!all $ome presentl3

ig3 28@ $ui -arer 8oto ando ig3 2"@ ;A)o# Adenture< ig3 %@ ;*!ori (ie *!orag!uri<

T!is period !eralded prosperit in 'oiet li9e and t!is is a tet t!at s!ows 'oiet ur#an $om9ort

and t!e glamour o9 $it li9e o9 Cie3 T!e two protagonists #ot! o9 w!om are students o9 9i9t! standardw!o get promoted to t!e sit! $lass during t!e narratie>s progression are $alled aa and &ael3 T!e

tet is 9ull o9 !umour3 A ma)or sour$e o9 t!e $omi$ dis$repan$in$ongruit t!at gies #irt! to laug!ter

in t!e tet $an #e dete$ted in t!e tension #etween initiatie and dis$ipline or planning and out$ome3

,lark notes t!at in 1"52 a leading 'oiet ideologue and writer alentin +e$!kin in a #rie9 sket$!

eplored t!e di$!otom #etween initiatie and dis$ipline as one o9 t!e dominant tensions o9 t!e 'oiet


50/263


sstem .2103 T!oug! ,lark does not pa an attention to (estaiko nor does s!e realise t!e !umorous

potential o9 t!at tension #etween initiatie and dis$ipline and limits !ersel9 solel to serious literature

$entred on t!at di$!otom #ut we $an sa9el state t!at t!is initiatiedis$ipline dualit in9orms t!e $ore

o9 (estaiko>s strateg 9or eli$iting !umour in !is tet3

/nterestingl in (estaiko>s tet t!e $it is reinstated to its glor #ut not o9 a 'talinist kind3 T!e

$it is more $onsumerist t!e glamour o9 t!e 9ilm world is a re$urrent moti9 and t!e main plot o9 t!e

se$ond noella reoles around t!e Cie 9ilm world3 A !ig! oltage 9oot#all game #etween Cie and

Mos$ow at t!e sports stadium a$ts as a piot in t!e plot o9 ;*!ori (ie *!orag!uris underground tunnels in (estaiko3 T!e ur#an

no$turnal underground not onl adds to t!e tet>s t!rill #ut also makes it multi-9a$eted 9it to #e read

against t!e grain as a $oert $ele#ration o9 t!e non-'oiet at t!e !eart o9 'oiet rule3 T!e depi$tion o9

t!e $it is not merel Bre:!neist it 9ores!adows *lasnost in a sense@ t!e tet !as an openness to an

etent t!at it !as t!e $!arm o9 t!e 9or#idden3 /n t!e 9irst noella ;A)o# Adenture< t!e main plot

reoles around t!e 'oiet $ulture o9 suspi$ion w!ere a $ertain $!ara$ter is suspe$ted to #e a 9oreign

sp and in t!e $lima !e is )ust reealed to #e a person w!o $aug!t 9is!es on t!e sl3 /ts 1"87

pu#li$ation $oin$ides wit! t!e inauguration o9 *lasnost in '' and t!at ma not #e )ust a

$oin$iden$e3 T!e tra)e$tor o9 t!e out! noels is reersed in (estaiko>s tet@ t!e )ourne now takes

pla$e 9rom t!e illage to t!e $it3 But t!is is not a 'talinist )ourne at all3 er signi9i$antl t!e

$onentional sontaneit$*ons*iousness dad dominant in all 'oiet tets sin$e t!e !edas o9 !ig!


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'talinism s!ows signs o9 #eing de$onstru$ted in (estaiko 9or t!e 9irst time3 &ael and aa remain as

t!e are tops tur and !ap!a:ard wit! t!e onl $!ange t!at t!e #e$ome writers o9 t!eir own stories

in t!e end3 T!e $ele#ration o9 ,ossa$k !eritage is done # a #un$! o9 $!ildren w!o $laim t!e ,ossa$k

in!eritan$e and taunt a rial group o9 $!ildren o9 t!e peasant sto$k3 T!is is a deiation 9rom t!e older

'oiet paradigm w!ere t!e toiling peasants represent positie 9or$es3 /n 9a$t in t!is tet t!e

protagonists do not portra positie and ideal $!ara$ters3 T!e are truant t!e tend to make a mess o9

eert!ing and et t!e are 9aoura#l drawn and not t!e toppers o9 t!eir $lass w!o go to pioneer

$amps3 urt!er t!e nationalist !eritage o9 kraine is eoked in t!is $ele#ration o9 t!e Dnieper-

,ossa$ks and also o9 t!e an$ient lega$ o9 t!e emperor ladimir Monomak! o9 Ciean us3 T!is is

not!ing less t!an a nationalist $ultural reolution and it s!ows strong signs o9 t!e o99i$ial 'oiet

ort!odoies getting dismantled in 9aour o9 traditional kraine t!e asukoka illage #eing its

$ornerstone3 T!e !umorous episode o9 Cie a$ademi$ians $oming to asukoka during t!e !unting

season and getting it all wrong in t!e a$t o9 !unting in t!e midst o9 t!e great mars! near t!e illage $an

#e read as an interesting allegor o9 'oiet dis$ourse getting under$ut # traditional kraine3

T!us we ma diagnose a 'oiet ersus ussia $on9li$t or a so$ialism ersus nationalism

diale$ti$ working out o9 t!e pages o9 t!e #ooks o9 aduga and &rogress t!oug! t!ese opposing $urrents

mostl tended to oerlap3 But one ma wonder w!at our reading s!ould #e o9 t!e t!ird pu#lis!ing!ouse Mir t!at $ontinued to operate een a9ter t!e $ollapse o9 'oiet nion unlike aduga and

&rogress w!i$! stopped t!eir operations in 1""13 Mir .in ussian language t!e word $an mean pea$e

world or illage depending on t!e $ontet0 in 9a$t $ontinues to 9un$tion to t!is da3 /t spe$ialised .and it

still does0 in s$ien$e and te$!nolog related pu#li$ations3 /t too o99ered $!eap pri$e and e$ellent

p!si$al Fualit o9 #ooks w!i$! t!e 'oiet #ooks were known 9or3 Mir was renowned 9or its popular

s$ien$e #ooks in Bengali translation in t!e 9ields o9 p!si$s $!emistr #iolog et$3 =!ile su$! #ooks

$atered to and were popular wit! students and general readers alike almost no $ultural stud !as et

#een undertaken to analse t!e politi$al stru$ture o9 'oiet popular s$ien$e #ooks or !ow t!e !ae

9un$tioned as /'A or t!eir general role in 9ostering a sense o9 ussop!ilia or loe 9or 'oiet nion3

Howeer a 9ew o#serations $an #e made3 T!ese #ooks $ir$ulated t!e 'oiet grand narratie o9

materialist $on$eption o9 !istor and t!e deterministi$ ersion o9 t!e world3 T!e under$ut t!e role

plaed # geneti$s and promoted so$ial $onditioning as t!e determinant 9or$e in t!e $reation o9 ideal

su#)e$ts3 T!us our stud o9 t!e parenting manual earlier in t!is arti$le sums up t!e spirit o9 'oiet


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popular s$ien$e #ooks3 T!e !ad a triump!ant up#eat deterministi$ teleologi$al stor o9 s$ien$e to

tell and t!e did it in a $aptiating manner3 T!e present resear$!er w!ile in !ig! s$!ool 9ell in loe

wit! t!e su#)e$t o9 animal p!siolog a9ter reading t!e #ook 7hsiolog for +verone a 1"78

pu#li$ation 9rom Mir .t!e Bengali title was ;'!arirtottwo '!o#ai &oro< t!e 9ar / $an remem#er03

Bengalis !ae ariousl responded to t!e 9all o9 'oiet nion in 1""13 /t $an #e s!own t!at

(a#arun B!atta$!ara>s >ers state-sponsored pu#lis!ing industr $ontinued to produ$e good Fualit $!ildren>s

literature w!ateer ma #e its draw#a$ks3 T!e $!ildren>s #ooks in t!e post-'oiet ussia are in a

dismal state as !ussian Children3s .iterature and Culture # Marina Balina et al notes@

T!e state dispensed lais! 9unds on supporting $!ildren>s literature and $ulture in t!e 'oiet

period #ut w!en t!ese su#sidies ended wit! t!e $rum#ling o9 t!e 'oiet sstem in 1""1 t!e

institutions o9 state-sponsored $!ildren>s $ulture anis!ed leaing t!e produ$tion and

distri#ution o9 $!ildren>s literature to t!e 9ree pu#lis!ing market3

T!e 9a$t t!at $!ildren>s literature is no longer a power9ul institution is !ard 9or most ussian

parents to a$$ept3 ?du$ators and literar $riti$s are alarmed # t!e low intelle$tual Fualit o9

new #ooks 9or $!ildren and periodi$all address t!is issue in t!e popular press and pro9essional

)ournals3 .-i0

ig3 %1@ An image 9rom t!e ;'oiet #ooks in Bengali< #log


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/t is per!aps too earl to sa t!at t!e tremendous popularit t!e lasting appeal o9 t!e 'oiet

#ooks !ae wit!stood t!e test o9 time3 But t!e inno$ent loe epressed # t!e $ommon readers at t!e

;'oiet #ooks in Bengali< #log is a testimon to t!e sustained $!arm t!at t!ese #ooks $ast oer

multiple generations o9 Bengali reading pu#li$3 /t is noti$ed t!at t!ere are sites w!o now poa$! #ooks

9rom t!is #log into t!eir own domain to in$rease t!eir popularit3

ig %2@ An image 9rom a >rial site> t!at allegedl poa$!es t!e e#ooks uploaded # t!e original #log

T!e present resear$!er remem#ers t!at a9ter !e !ad internet $onne$tion at !ome 9or t!e 9irst

time in li9e .was a uniersit student0 t!e 9irst google sear$! t!at !e did was on seolod (estaiko3 /t

was #a$

Journal of Bengali Studies Vol.5 No.1

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Transcript of Journal of Bengali Studies Vol.5 No.1