Young Wordsmiths of Boi Mela, a TBS Graduates exclusive series, follows the journey of some of the young authors of Boi Mela. This time we explore ‘Amake Ekti Gobhir Raater Golpo Likhte Dewa Hoyechilo’, a short story compilation book that discusses the themes of love and life as framed by the author’s philosophies.
We’ve all yearned to witness the everyday – the routine, the mundane – through fresh eyes, to savour the small moments, reassess relationships, and grapple with evolving philosophies. For MBBS student Pradipta Dey Chowdhury, this sentiment resonates deeply. Questions like ‘Just how boundless can love truly be?’ and ‘Can love be reignited repeatedly in a single lifetime?’ swirled in Pradipta’s mind alongside deeper musings like ‘Do we craft stories, or do they emerge from within us?’ The culmination of these reflections is evident in his modest endeavour, the short story compilation “Amake ekti gobhir raater golpo likhte dewa hoyechilo”. It can be found at A.H Prokashoni (Stall no. 145) at the Amor Ekushey Boi Mela. In today’s chapter of “Young Wordsmiths of Boi Mela”, Pradipta expounds the journey behind the culmination.
The overarching theme of the book revolves around the journey of life itself. This marks his second venture into the realm of published works, following his initial foray into story compilation. Recognising the praise garnered by the stories he shared with those around him, Pradipta felt compelled to preserve them within the pages of a book. However, the demands of his medical education at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, juxtaposed with the incessant buzzing of thoughts within his mind, often hindered this pursuit. Reflecting on this, he remarked, “Living and breathing literature while navigating the rigours of such a demanding course may seem like a form of madness to some, but for those dedicated to the literary arts, it’s a passion that transcends exhaustion. Let fatigue be vanquished by the rhythm of our words!”
With two books now under his belt, Pradipta advocates for aspiring writers to nurture the dream of immersing themselves in the world of literature, using it as a means to discover their own identities. He emphasises the importance of hunger – the relentless desire to explore possibilities such as ‘How could I have depicted this scene in such a manner?’ – as the driving force behind creative expression. Addressing the challenges faced by promising authors, he laments the lack of support systems facilitating easier publication.
Despite his admiration for literary giants like Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay and Jibanananda Das, Pradipta remains steadfast in his commitment to crafting narratives free from external influence. As he continues to hone his craft through short stories, his ultimate ambition remains the creation of novels, regardless of the time it may take to achieve this goal. As Pradipta weaves his ambitions, we get to the inner workings of another budding author, Ren, and her debut book ‘Under The Veil of Metaphors’, in the next chapter of “Young Wordsmiths of Boi Mela.”