What is a little magazine and why is it there? What is its history and who first brought it out? Before getting into the answers let us first see the definition of little magazines.
A little magazine is a periodical, usually not published for profit, that prints reviews, essays, fiction, or poetry, supposedly devoted to high literary standards. Little magazines often run innovative or experimental works. Some are widely influential, but others are virtually unknown except to the editors and contributors.
The publicity and expansion of little magazines began mainly at the turn of the twentieth century. But its real journey started in the mid-nineteenth century. The Dial, (Boston, 1840-1844), jointly edited by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, is considered as the original model. At the end of the nineteenth century and in the beginning of the twentieth, little magazines became popular in England, France and America through the imagist, symbolist and other movements. In Bengali literature, Promoth Chowdhury's Sobujpatra (1914) is thought to be the original model for little magazines. Other than that, Bankim Chatterjee's Bangodarshan (1872) is also a point of reference.
Mizan Rahman, a young promising poet, researcher and editor of a little magazine, has edited two books regarding little magazines in Bangladesh and thoughts around little magazines in the two Bengals. Undoubtedly, this is a pioneer work and these books are first in linking the two Bengals. Bangladeshey Little Magazine Chorcha, Otit O Bartoman (Little Magazine Practice in Bangladesh, Past and Present) is divided mainly into three parts. In the first part of the book come write-ups on the subject of little magazine practice, in the past and present, in Bangladesh. Ahmaad Majhar has written about Dhaka-based little magazine practice and activities. We come to know from his write-up that the little magazine wave came up in Bangladesh strongly in the 1960s.
Saptak (1962), Baktabbya (1963), Swakkhor (1963), Sad Generation (1963), Samprotik (1964), Kanthoswor (1965), Chhotogalpo (1966) and several other little magazines caused a big movement in the field of little magazines in Dhaka. And it is to be noted that Abdullah Abu Sayeed's Kanthoswor played a vital role then. The magazine was published continuously for twelve years. Kanthoswor was a strong voice of the emerging litterateurs of our country, most of whom are well-known names in Bengali literature today. The second part, named as a supplement, includes several renowned litterateurs' write-ups on little magazines. The writers include Buddhadev Bose, Shibnarayan Roy, Subimol Mishra, Robin Ghosh and so on. And in the third part is a list of nearly all little magazines published throughout Bangladesh.
Dui Banglar Little Magazine Bhabna (little magazine thinking in two Bengals) is a compilation of write-ups regarding little magazine thoughts of several litterateurs from the two Bengals, eleven from each. In the writers' list there are not only renowned litterateurs but young emerging litterateurs as well.
From these books it becomes clear that the little magazine is the real ground for rearing future writers. It is the best territory for all kinds of experiments in literature. Newspapers, magazines are nothing but institutions. They do not build up a writer. Moreover, like taking the cream from the milk, they collect good writers from little magazines.
We also come to know of the significant characteristics of little magazines. For instance, little magazines are not traditional and popular. Most writers in little magazines are young and newcomers in literature. Loss is the common word in the dictionary of little magazines. Anyone who wants to publish a little magazine does so at risk of financial loss. On the other hand, if a little magazine becomes profitable, it soon loses its characteristics.
RAHAD ABIR is a short story writer and translator from Bangladesh. He has three published books: Aamar Dui Prenika Ebong Tiktiki’ (2007, Oiitijho), Mirza Sahiban (Translation, Oitijjho, 2007), and Bhalo Bou (Translation, Kothaprokash, 2008). This article was first published in The Daily Star.
A little magazine is a periodical, usually not published for profit, that prints reviews, essays, fiction, or poetry, supposedly devoted to high literary standards. Little magazines often run innovative or experimental works. Some are widely influential, but others are virtually unknown except to the editors and contributors.
The publicity and expansion of little magazines began mainly at the turn of the twentieth century. But its real journey started in the mid-nineteenth century. The Dial, (Boston, 1840-1844), jointly edited by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, is considered as the original model. At the end of the nineteenth century and in the beginning of the twentieth, little magazines became popular in England, France and America through the imagist, symbolist and other movements. In Bengali literature, Promoth Chowdhury's Sobujpatra (1914) is thought to be the original model for little magazines. Other than that, Bankim Chatterjee's Bangodarshan (1872) is also a point of reference.
Mizan Rahman, a young promising poet, researcher and editor of a little magazine, has edited two books regarding little magazines in Bangladesh and thoughts around little magazines in the two Bengals. Undoubtedly, this is a pioneer work and these books are first in linking the two Bengals. Bangladeshey Little Magazine Chorcha, Otit O Bartoman (Little Magazine Practice in Bangladesh, Past and Present) is divided mainly into three parts. In the first part of the book come write-ups on the subject of little magazine practice, in the past and present, in Bangladesh. Ahmaad Majhar has written about Dhaka-based little magazine practice and activities. We come to know from his write-up that the little magazine wave came up in Bangladesh strongly in the 1960s.
Saptak (1962), Baktabbya (1963), Swakkhor (1963), Sad Generation (1963), Samprotik (1964), Kanthoswor (1965), Chhotogalpo (1966) and several other little magazines caused a big movement in the field of little magazines in Dhaka. And it is to be noted that Abdullah Abu Sayeed's Kanthoswor played a vital role then. The magazine was published continuously for twelve years. Kanthoswor was a strong voice of the emerging litterateurs of our country, most of whom are well-known names in Bengali literature today. The second part, named as a supplement, includes several renowned litterateurs' write-ups on little magazines. The writers include Buddhadev Bose, Shibnarayan Roy, Subimol Mishra, Robin Ghosh and so on. And in the third part is a list of nearly all little magazines published throughout Bangladesh.
Dui Banglar Little Magazine Bhabna (little magazine thinking in two Bengals) is a compilation of write-ups regarding little magazine thoughts of several litterateurs from the two Bengals, eleven from each. In the writers' list there are not only renowned litterateurs but young emerging litterateurs as well.
From these books it becomes clear that the little magazine is the real ground for rearing future writers. It is the best territory for all kinds of experiments in literature. Newspapers, magazines are nothing but institutions. They do not build up a writer. Moreover, like taking the cream from the milk, they collect good writers from little magazines.
We also come to know of the significant characteristics of little magazines. For instance, little magazines are not traditional and popular. Most writers in little magazines are young and newcomers in literature. Loss is the common word in the dictionary of little magazines. Anyone who wants to publish a little magazine does so at risk of financial loss. On the other hand, if a little magazine becomes profitable, it soon loses its characteristics.
RAHAD ABIR is a short story writer and translator from Bangladesh. He has three published books: Aamar Dui Prenika Ebong Tiktiki’ (2007, Oiitijho), Mirza Sahiban (Translation, Oitijjho, 2007), and Bhalo Bou (Translation, Kothaprokash, 2008). This article was first published in The Daily Star.
