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Kalpabigyan: Sketching the Astonishing World of Bengali Speculative Fiction


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Category
Articles
Publisher
The Criterion
Publishing Date
01-Jun-2025
volume
16
Issue
3
Pages
37-56

Mr. Adrish Bardhan, the celebrated author, editor, and translator of Science Fiction, coined the term Kalpabigyan to generalize the humongous variety of literary works in the Bengali Language. Kalpabigyan, which encompasses both fantasy, science fiction, and science-based writings, gained popularity through publications in various magazines, including Ramdhanu, Rangmashal, Aschorjo, Sandesh, Fantastic, Vismoy, and Kalpabiswa, among others, over the course of eighty years. This paper aims to provide a thorough overview of the intriguing and complex world of Bangla science fiction, or Kalpabigyan. The study explores the wide range of works created by various authors, following their development from their inception until the year 2016 AD. It seeks to draw attention to significant turning points, thematic investigations, and creative advancements that have influenced the genre over time. To give readers a comprehensive grasp of how Bangla science fiction has shaped a unique and vibrant literary tradition within both regional and international science fiction landscapes, the paper will analyse key contributions, recurrent themes, and the sociocultural contexts in which these narratives emerged.