Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee
The recent Eid and Sharad Festival Special Issue 2025 is a testament to Faruque Ahamed’s editorial mastery. With over a hundred contributors, ranging from Harvard scholars to grassroots poets, the issue is a literary constellation. Ahamed’s skill lies not just in selection but in orchestration—ensuring that each voice contributes to a larger symphony of ideas.His editorial notes are themselves miniature essays—thoughtful, evocative, and often poetic. He does not merely introduce themes; he invites readers into a dialogue, a shared journey of reflection and discovery. Faruque Ahamed is a visionary for the margins and the mainstream. What sets Faruque Ahamed apart is his commitment to inclusivity. He champions voices from the margins—rural thinkers, minority writers, emerging talents—while maintaining the highest standards of literary quality. His work is not just editorial; it is curatorial, pedagogical, and profoundly humanistic.In doing so, he has redefined what a Bengali magazine can be: not just a mirror of society, but a lamp that illuminates its hidden corners.
On August 23, 2025, the hallowed halls of Netaji Bhavan in Kolkata bore witness to a momentous literary celebration—the launch of the Eid and Sharad Festival Special Issue of Udar Akash, Vol. 24, Issue 2 (ISSN 2320-3490). Edited by the eminent literary visionary Faruque Ahamed, and published at a modest price of ₹150, this issue is nothing short of priceless in its cultural and intellectual value. The launch was graced by Professor Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of History at Harvard University and a distinguished member of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s family, whose presence lent historical gravitas to the occasion. Also present was Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee, Rabindranath Tagore Awardee, columnist, and former Affiliate Faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. His presence underscored the journal’s commitment to bridging global literary voices with Bengali heritage. The event marked a rare confluence of scholarship, creativity, and cultural pride—a day that will be etched in the annals of Bengali literature.
The journal is inclusive of the constellation of Literary Luminaries . The editorial team, including Assistant Editors Mousumi Biswas and Raisa Noor, with Editor in Chief Mr. Faruque Ahamed a researcher of History curated a rich tapestry of voices that span continents, ideologies, and genres. The contributors are a veritable who’s who of contemporary Bengali and South Asian literature: Dr. Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay, Dr. Shruti Das Chowdhury, Jayanta Ghoshal, Asoke Majumder, Biswanath Bhattacharjee, Haradhan Chowdhury, D. Partha Karmakar, Dr. Moinul Islam, Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam, Abu Raihan, Ekramul Haque, Sheikh Alauddin Khan, Mohiuddin Sarkar, Mosarraf Hossain, Rokeya Islam, Sadul Islam, Samima Mallik, Rafiq Anwar, Sonia Tasnim, Sayed Majharul Parvez, Angshuman Roy, Dr. Sheikh Abu Taher Kamruddin, Md. Mosiur Rahman, Anirban Das, Suman Bhattacharya, Puja Karmakar, and Faruque Ahamed himself.Their essays and reflections span a wide spectrum—education, society, cinema, literature, digital culture, women’s empowerment, and Islamic philosophy. The journal’s thematic richness lies in its ability to juxtapose personal memoirs with scholarly research, and poetic musings with sociopolitical critique.
Among the standout essays is Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee’s Bijayar Satyaji, a poignant exploration of Bijaya Ray’s influence on the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. It is a tribute not only to a woman behind the genius but also to the quiet strength of cultural partnership.
Jayanta Ghoshal’s memoir on journalist Suman De and the legendary Atideb Sarkar, Abhirup Sarkar is a masterclass in narrative journalism, capturing the pulse of a bygone era with warmth and insight. Meanwhile, Abu Raihan’s essay on Iranian revolutionary poet Faruq Faruqjad bridges South Asian and Middle Eastern literary activism.The journal also features rigorous Islamic scholarship, such as M. Allauddin Khan’s Manabatar Dharma Islam and Mohiuddin Sarkar’s Hadis Sahityer Kromobikash, which offer nuanced perspectives on faith, ethics, and literary evolution. Md. Samsul Alam’s essay on the Prophet Muhammad in Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poetry is a lyrical and theological gem.
Fiction and Travelogue transcend borders in this wonderful magazine. The fiction section is a celebration of narrative diversity.Mosarraf Hossain’s Nishikanya is a haunting tale of longing and mystery.Rokeya Islam’s Meghla Mone Omimangshito Akash explores emotional ambiguity with poetic finesse.Saadul Islam’s Sristi Sukh and Samima Mallik’s Mohabbat delve into the complexities of love and identity.Sonia Tasnim’s travelogue Jukta Rashtre Jhorapata Dingulo offers a diasporic lens on seasonal change and cultural reflection in the United States.These stories are not just literary artifacts—they are emotional cartographies that map the inner worlds of their authors and the societies they inhabit. The issue also pays homage to the legendary Mustak Hossain, whose contributions to education and social activism are explored in essays by Jayanta Singha and Dr. Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay. Their writings portray Hossain as a Renaissance figure for rural Bengal—a visionary whose legacy continues to inspire.
In this magazine we get a symphony of poetic voices. The poetry section is a kaleidoscope of emotion, imagery, and rhythm. From the philosophical to the romantic, the spiritual to the political, the poets featured in this issue represent a vibrant cross-section of contemporary verse. Notable contributors include: Binayak Bandyopadhyay, Golam Rosul, Hannan Ahsan, Tirthankar Sumit, Ajit Trivedi, Ayesha Siddique Kanak, Samjida Khatun, Dalia Dali, Supriya Ghosh, Liton Rakib, Anirban Sadhu, Subrata Ghosh Roy, Lalmiya Molla, Soumitra Majumder, Abdul Rahman, Jyotirmoy Sardar, Ajit Bairi, Prabir Ghosh Roy, Shrabanti, Santa Chakraborty, Upasana Banerjee, Mahmud Kamal, Tamojit Saha, Alamgir Rahman, Hirak Bandyopadhyay, Milan Mannan, Parna Sarkar, Tasmina Ahmed, Oishik Karmakar, Debanshu Chakraborty, Jolly Mitra, Maksuda Bibi, Faiz Islam Fahim, Neelufer Yasmin, Habibur Rahman, Asoka Mondal, Banya Banerjee, Partha Sarthi Guha, Aminur Islam, Tamal Biswas, Mithun Mondal, Julekha Sultana, Md. Hasanujjaman, Saleha Khatun, Jahangir Midhye, Nazma Sultana, and Faruque Ahamed.Their verses echo themes of longing, resistance, spirituality, and celebration—perfectly aligned with the festive spirit of Eid and Sharad.
At the heart of this literary marvel is Faruque Ahamed, whose editorial acumen and cultural sensitivity have shaped Udar Akash into a journal of enduring relevance. His ability to harmonize diverse voices, maintain scholarly rigor, and celebrate literary beauty is evident on every page.The design and presentation of the issue reflect a deep respect for the reader’s experience. From typography to layout, from cover art to content curation, the journal is a testament to the power of thoughtful publishing. The Eid and Sharad Festival Special Issue 2025 of Udar Akash is more than a seasonal publication—it is a cultural milestone. It captures the pulse of Bengali literature today while honoring its historical and spiritual roots. Launched at Netaji Bhavan, blessed by the presence of Professor Sugata Bose and Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee, and enriched by the contributions of over a hundred writers and poets, this issue is a celebration of thought, identity, and artistic excellence. It is not just a journal—it is a legacy in motion.
In the ever-evolving landscape of Bengali literature, where digital noise often threatens to drown out the quiet brilliance of printed thought, Faruque Ahamedstands as a beacon of editorial excellence. As the editor of Udar Akash, he has not only curated a magazine but cultivated a movement—one that reaffirms the power of the written word to shape culture, conscience, and community.
The writer of this article International Tagore Awardee Multilingual Poet Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee a former Affiliate Faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University USA .Email.profratanbhattacharjee@gmail.com
