Bangla Science Fiction is a rich part of Bengali literature.Although it is not as established as other topics in Bengali literature, it is gaining popularity among Bengali readers,especially in Bangladesh. It has been suggested that History of Bengali literature be merged into this article or section. ...

The Father

In 1896, Jagadish Chandra Bose wrote "Niruddesher Kahini", the first Bangla science fiction work. Later, he submitted the story to Obbakto as "Polatok Tufan" ("Run Away Cyclone"). It was a tale of getting rid of a cyclone using a little bottle of hair oil (Kuntol Keshori). He's considered as the father of Bangla science fiction. Jagdish Chandra Bose (November 30, 1858–November 23, 1937) was a leading physicist of his age. ... This article is about the Bengali language. ...

Other Writers

Some specialists want to give the credit to Hemlal Dutta for his "Rohosso" ("The Mystery"). This story was published in two installments in 1882 in the pictorial magazine Bigyan Dorpon ("Mirror of Science").

Some argue that Begum Rokeya should be credited for her "Sultana's Dream". Though some say that this story is more inclined to raise awareness among women. Sultana's Dream was first published in a Madras-based, English language periodical the Indian Ladies Magazine in 1905. In 1908 it appeared as a book. Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain, often known as Begum Rokeya, was a writer and social worker in Bengal in early 20th century. ...

Premendra Mitra wrote the first novel, Kuhoker Deshe ("In the Land of Mystery"). Premendra Mitra (1904), a renowned Bengali poet, novelist, later, a thriller and science fiction writer. ...

Jagadananda Ray, a teacher of Shantiniketan wrote Shukro Bhraman ("Journey to Venus"). Santiniketan is a small town in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, and approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). ...

Hemendra Kumar Ray wrote Meghduter Morte Agomon. Hemendrakumar Roy (Bengali: ) (1888-1963) was a Bengali writer noted for his contribution to the early development of the genre of childrens literature in the language. ...

A short story by Satyajit Ray about an alien named "Mr. Ang" also gained popularity among Bengalis. He virtually pioneered, the genre of Indian Science Fiction.It is alleged that the script for Steven Spielberg’s film E.T. was based on a script for "Mr. Ang" that Ray had sent to him many years ago[1].   (Bengali: সত্যজিত্ রায় Shottojit Rae) (May 2, 1921–April 23, 1992) was an Indian filmmaker who is widely regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946), more commonly known as Steven Spielberg, is a highly famous, highly influential, three-time Academy Award winning American film director and producer who is regarded by many as the greatest filmmaker of all time and whose very name has become synonymous with the... ET (or et) is Latin for and; it can also refer to: Estonian language (ISO 639 alpha-2, et) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the 1982 film, or the related video game extraterrestrials in general Eastern Time, both in standard time and daylight time Entertainment Tonight engineering technology elapsed time...

SF in Bangladesh

After Qazi Abdul Halim's Mohasunner Kanna ("Tears of the Cosmos"), Humayun Ahmed wrote the first modern Bangla SF novel, Tomader Jonno Valobasa ("Love For You All"). It was published in 1973. This book is treated as the first full-fledged Bangladeshi science fiction novel. Then he wrote Fiha Somikoron ("Fiha Equation"), Irina, Anonto Nakshatra Bithi ("Endless Galaxy"), etc. Humayun Ahmed (Bangla:হুমায়ুন আহমেদ) is one of the most popular novelists and dramatists in Bangladesh. ... This article is about the Bengali language. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

But Bangla science fiction leaves its cocoon phase holding the hands of Muhammed Zafar Iqbal. Mr. Iqbal wrote a story named "Copotronic Sukh Dukho" when he was a student of Dhaka University. This story was later included in a compilation of Iqbal's work in a book by the same name. Muktodhara, a famous publishing house of Dhaka was the publisher of this book. This collection of sci-fi stories gained huge popularity and the new trend of science fiction emerged among Bangla writers and readers. After his first collection, Mr. Iqbal transformed his own science fiction cartoon strip "Mohakashe Mohatrash" ("Panic in the Cosmos") into a novel. All told, Muhammed Zafar Iqbal has written the greatest number of science fiction works in Bangla sci-fi. Zafar Iqbal 1st used the word 'copotron' in his 1st science fiction 'Copotronic Shukh Dukho'. He became so popular that everyone started believing it as a real robot brain. some poets used this word 'copotron' in their poems. The popular science fictions by him - Muhammed Zafar Iqbal on a picnic day in 2001 with his students. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Đhaka; IPA: ) is the capital of Bangladesh and the Dhaka District. ...

1. Tukunzil 2. Bigyani Shafdar Alir Moha Moha Abishkar 3. Bigyani Anik Lumba 4. Saira Scientist 5. Jalmanob 6. Ekjon Atimanabi 7. Omicronic Rupantar 8. Jara Biobot 9. Iron 10. Metsis 11. Project Nebula 13. Cromium Aronnyo 14. Pri 15. Fobianer Yaatri 16. Ruhan,Ruhan 17. Tratuler jogot 18. Shuhaner Shapno 19. Abonil 20. Noy Noy Shunna Tin 21. Phynix 22. Jalaj

To know about him from himself, write him at-

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Chairman, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.

Following the footsteps of the ancestors, more and more writers, especially young writers started writing Science Fiction and a new era started in Bangla literature.

Moulik, the first and longest-running Bangladeshi science fiction magazine, was first published in 1997, with famous cartoonist Ahsan Habib as the editor. This monthly magazine plays an important role in the development of Bangla science fiction in Bangladesh. A number of new and very promising sci-fi writers like Anik Khan, Asrar Masud, Sajjad Kabir, Russel Ahmed, Rabiul Hasan Obhi and Mizanur Rahman Kallol came of age while working with the magazine.

Other Writers of Bangladesh

Other notable writers in the genre include: Ali Imam, Qazi Anwar Hussain, Ahsanul Habib, Kamal Arsalan, Dr. Ahmed Mujibar Rahman, Moinul Ahsan Saber, Swapan Kumar Gayen, Anirudho Alam, Mostafa Tanim, Vobdesh Ray, Jubaida Gulshan Ara Hena, Amirul Islam, Touhidur Rahman, Nipun Alam, Zakaria Swapan and Qazi Shahnur Hussain. Ali Imam is a Bangladeshi childrens writer and audio-visual organizer. ... Qazi Anwar Husain or Vidyut Mitra (pen Name) is an author, publisher and translator from Bangladesh. ... Moinul Ahsan Saber (born 1958) is a mainstream classical novelist of Bangladesh. ...

Writers from West Bengal

A number of writers from West Bengal, India have written science fiction, as well. But almost all of the writers of West Bengal (excepting Premendra Mitra) actually wrote science fantasy rather than science fiction. West Bengal   (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... Premendra Mitra (1904), a renowned Bengali poet, novelist, later, a thriller and science fiction writer. ...

Adrish Bardhan is the most notable name among West Bengal's sci-fi writers. He also was the editor of Ashchorjo, the first Bangla science fiction magazine. After a six month run, this magazine ceased publishing. Later, Mr. Bardhan became editor of two magazines Bishshoy Science Fiction and Fantastic, but neither of these two magazines lasted long.

Other notable science fiction writers of West Bengal include: Satyajit Ray, Lila Majumdar, Sunil Ganguly, Kinnor Ray, Shirshendu Mukherjee, Said Mustafa Siraj, Samarjit Kor, Swapan Banarjee and Somoresh Majumder.   (Bengali: সত্যজিত্ রায় Shottojit Rae) (May 2, 1921–April 23, 1992) was an Indian filmmaker who is widely regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. ...

Portraying of Characters in Bangla Science Fiction

Most Bangla science fiction authors use different characters for different stories, building them up in different forms according to the theme of the story. The stories by Muhammed Zafar Iqbal sometimes repeat names but never used the same character in more than one story.

Qazi Shahnur Hussain, the elder son of Qazi Anwar Hussain and grand-son of Qazi Motahar Hussain, wrote a science fiction series named "Chotomama Series". These are the adventures of a young Bangladeshi scientist Rumi Chotomama and his nephew.

Satyajit Ray, on the contrary, wrote most of his science fiction works with the participation of the fictional character Professor Shanku or Trilokeshwar Shanku. Shanku is portrayed as an aged man with proficiency in 72 different languages who has invented quite a number of useful things. Shanku used to be regularly accompanied by other fictional characters like scientists Jeremy Saunders and Hermann Krol, the completely non-scientific neighbour Mr. Abinash, the servant Prahlad and the beloved cat Newton. Professor Shonku(in the middle) Professor Shanku(Professor Shonku) is a fictional scientist created by Satyajit Ray in a sereis of science-fictions. ...

Among the emerging science fiction writers Abhijnan Roychowdhury is another notable name.

References

• Science Fiction: Ek Osadharan Jagat.
• Preface of Science Fiction Collection edited by Ali Imam and Anirudho Alam.
• Some different issues of Rohosso Potrika

External links

• An Interview with Hasan Khurshid Rumi
• An online reprint of Sultana's Dream