Published: 11:16 PM, 11 September 2026
Bridging Imagination, History and Modern Realities for Next Generation Readers
Benoy Dutta
When we look at the literary landscape of our country, one alarming truth becomes immediately apparent: the acute scarcity of dedicated children's literature. Among the few writers currently working in this genre, a significant number display a noticeable lack of true sincerity, while publishers frequently treat the matter with casual indifference.
Yet, of all literary domains, children's literature demands our utmost focus, responsibility, and emotional investment. We often fail to realize a fundamental reality—if we can successfully draw children toward literature and foster a genuine habit of reading within them, they will naturally channel their energy into more imaginative and creative pursuits.
It is this strong inner drive and sense of social responsibility that inspired me to focus deeply on writing for children. Recently, my new children's book titled Noyon Jora has been published by Panjeree, marking another step in this vital journey.
Beyond nurturing young minds, the challenges of contemporary writing extend into other genres as well. In modern non-fiction essays, a wide gap has emerged between so-called theoretical complexity and mass appeal, largely driven by widespread technological addiction. Readers have drifted away from literature altogether, and the hope of books reclaiming their prominent space seems increasingly slim.
However, in my essays, columns, and contemporary commentary books—such as Ei Shohor Subodhder (2019), Aropito Ei Nogore (2020), Orbachiner Anhik (2022), Prohosoner Ek Rattir (2023), and Bhalo Ranger Manush Chai (2024)—I have consistently endeavored to present complex themes through simple, intelligible sentences and engaging storytelling, proving that there is ample room to make serious writing reader-friendly.
History-dependent literature is equally indispensable. Writers must prioritize the Liberation War, alongside the Partition of 1947 and communal riots, to ensure that history is not only understood but truly felt within the heart. Having researched the Partition for years through documents and interviews with refugees, I am currently working on a manuscript titled Deshbhager Golpo, Dangar Golpo to capture the profound agony of displacement.
Alongside history, capturing everyday realities is crucial; my 2025 micro-fiction collection Daser Boli Taser Deshe reflects daily societal scenes to make readers pause, think, and question the status quo.
Finally, while many fear that artificial intelligence is destroying human creativity, I view AI simply as a tool. The danger lies not in the technology, but in how we use it. If people willingly surrender their imagination by letting AI write books or handle research, the fault rests entirely with them. In this age of artificial intelligence, we must turn back to books, dividing our time wisely between digital life and regular reading so that our creative faculties remain unhindered.
Benoy Dutta is a distinguished journalist, researcher
and author.
