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Banglapedia
National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh
Editor
Original titleবাংলাপিডিয়া
TranslatorVarious
LanguageBengali,English
SubjectVarious
GenreEncyclopedia
PublisherBanglapedia Trust,Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
Publication date
January 2003
Publication placeBangladesh
Media typePrint (hardcover), CD-ROM, Online
Pages14 Volumes
ISBN984-32-0576-6
OCLC52727562
Original text
বাংলাপিডিয়াonline
Websiteen.banglapedia.org

Banglapedia:theNational Encyclopedia of Bangladeshis the firstBangladeshiencyclopedia.[1]It is available in print,CD-ROMformat and online,[2]in bothBengaliand English.[3]The print version comprises fourteen 500-page volumes. The first edition was published in January 2003 in ten volumes by theAsiatic Society of Bangladesh.[4]with a plan to update it every two years.[5]The second edition was issued in 2012 in fourteen volumes.[6]

Banglapediawas not designed as a general encyclopedia but as a specialized encyclopedia on Bangladesh-related topics.[7]For the encyclopedia's purposes,Bangladeshis defined as the territory comprising ancient Eastern India,Bengal Sultanate,Bengal Subah,Bengal Presidency,East Bengal,East Pakistan,and the independent Bangladesh, in historical succession.[5][8]

The encyclopedia's chief editor isSirajul Islam.[9]Over 1450 writers and specialists in Bangladesh and abroad helped create the entries.[4][5]Banglapediahas over 5,700 entries in six editorial categories,[2]each of which is overseen by an expert editor,[4][5][8]as well as over 2,000 single and four-colourillustrationsand 2,100 cross-references.[4][5]

The project was funded by theGovernment of Bangladesh,private sector organizations, academic institutes andUNESCO.[4][7]Though its original budget was 800,000taka(roughly US$10,000), the Asiatic Society eventually spent 80 million taka (roughly US$1 million) on the project.[1][4][9]Despite controversies over entries on theBangladesh Liberation Warandindigenous people,both the Bengali and English versions became popular upon publication.[5]

Development[edit]

TheBanglapediaproject originated when the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh was working on a three-volume study titledHistory of Bangladesh, 1704-1971in 1991. The editors felt the need for a standard desk reference, as that project progressed laboriously, culling facts from various libraries. The idea finally led to a concept paper prepared by Sirajul Islam and his colleagues and submitted to the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in early 1994. TheBanglapediaproject was formally adopted on 19 February 1997, and Islam was appointed project director and chief editor. As the head of the Project Implementation Committee, his task was to plan and manage the project funding.[7]In 1996, some three dozen committees were formed with three to four people in each committee to recommend the entries. Twenty-seven thousand entries were proposed, requiring a 20-volume compendium. Because of financial constraints, the number of entries was cut down to around 6,000.[9]The project officially took off in 1998.[7]

When the project began, the Society had only eight hundred thousandtakain its coffers for the project.Banglapediaraised further contributions from universities, banks, multinational companies, international organisations and even private individuals.[9]A pool of agencies, includingUNESCO,theUniversity Grants Commission,universities, financial institutions and NGOs initially financed the project, which was completed at a cost of taka 80 million.[1][4]Education Ministry funded about 74% of the cost,[4]while 26% of the fund came mostly from universities and banks.[7]Before direct sales started on 3 January 2003, 4,000 copies of the English version and all but 250 copies of the Bengali version were sold in advance out of the initial print of 5,000 copies for each versions.[5]For an additional run of 10,000 prints people waited in queues outside the Asiatic Society office on the day of the release, and sales continued until 9:30 in the evening. A total of 4,500 sets of theBengaliversion and 2,500 of the English version were sold on the day of release.[7]

History of Bengali-language encyclopedias[edit]

The first attempt to compile a Bengali encyclopedia was undertaken byFelix Carey(1786–1822), who was the son of ReverendWilliam Carey(1761–1834) ofSeramporeand the firstlexicographerof the Burmese language. In 1819, he began the translation of the fifth edition ofEncyclopædia Britannica,naming itVidyarthabali.From October 1819 till November 1820 the book was printed by Felix Carey every month in 48-page installments. Thus completed, the first part ofVidyarthabaliwas compiled into the 638-pageVyabachchedvidya,the first book on anatomy and surgery in Bengali. Work on the second part,Smritishastra,which was largely on jurisprudence, then began. But Carey died after only two 40-page installments were printed in February and March 1821.[10]

It was followed by Maharaja Kalikirshna Dev Bahadur's (1808–1974)Sankshipta Sadvidyabali(1833), a concise encyclopedia. Then came Raja Radhakanta Deb'sSabdakalpadrum(1822–1858), aSanskritencyclopedic dictionary in eight parts. Next was Rajkrishna Ray (1849–1894) and Saratchandra Dev's (1858-unknown) joint workBharatkosh,the first Bengali encyclopedia laid-out in alphabetical order (1880–1892) published in three volumes. ReverendKrishna Mohan Banerjee's (1813–1885) adaptation ofEncyclopædia Britannica,VidyakalpadrumaorEncyclopædia Bengalensis(1846–51), and the 22-volumeBangla Visvakosh(1886–1911), edited byNagendranath Basu(1866–1938) with contributions from many major personalities of contemporary Bengal, were published next.[8][10]

After the independence ofPakistanand thepartition of Bengalin 1947, there have been more attempts to compile and publish an encyclopedia. The first was a project to produce a Bengali adaptation ofColumbia Viking Desk Encyclopediaby Franklin Book Programs Inc., undertaken in 1959 and aborted ten years later. The unfinished papers were compiled into four unequal volumes asBangla Vishvakosh(1972) with Khan Bahadur Abdul Hakim as the chief editor.[8]After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, three specialized encyclopedias were published - the multi-volumeIslami Bishwakosh(Encyclopedia of Islam, 1986) byIslamic Foundation Bangladesh,[11]5-volumeShishu-Biswakosh(Encyclopedia for Children,1995) byBangladesh Shishu Academy,and 4-volumeVijnan Biswakosh(Encyclopedia of Science,1998) byBangla Academy.[12]

Content[edit]

Vidyakalpadruma:an encyclopedic work in 13 parts by Reverend Krishna Mohan Banerjee, based on various English and Sanskrit anthologies and other source books. As it was written in Bengali and English, it was namedEncyclopedia Bengaliansis.Articles on history, geography, mathematics and ethics related to Asia, Europe and America are included. The first volume of theVidyakalpadruma(1845) wasRoman Rajyer Purabritta(History of the Roman Empire). The third volume wasPurabritta O Itihas Sar(Historical Antiquities), and it contained tales of ancient Egyptian heroes. The fourth volume (1846) was a history of Rome and the sixth volume (1847) a history of Egypt. The eighth volume,Bhugol Brittanta(Geographical Narratives), contained the geography of Asia and Europe. Krishna Mohan hoped to write the history of India, but was unable to do so.
Sample text (excerpt) from Banglapedia:entry on Vidyakalpadruma

Banglapediacontains over 5,700 entries,[2]which are divided into six categories: arts and humanities, history and heritage, state and governance, society and economy, natural sciences, and biological sciences. The writing of each article was overseen by an expert editor.[4][5]

Banglapediawas not designed as a general encyclopedia. Its purpose is to provide a standard desk reference for Bangladeshis, as well as for people interested in Bangladesh, Bengali-speaking people, and related political, cultural and geographical contexts.[7]

The encyclopedia's editors intended to cover the rise of theBengalDeltaon the physical plane, and its evolution to date, and the changing features of the formation of the delta'sjanapadaor human settlements on the human plane. The latter includes the rise and fall of kingdoms, invasions from within and beyond and their implications,dynasticrules and administration, as well as other aspects of Bangladesh's past and present.[8]Entries on topics after 1947 are restricted to the geographical region of Bangladesh. However, for biographical entries, the linguistic identity prevails.[7]

The range of topics covered byBanglapediaincludes political geography, religion, literature, art and architecture, folk practices and institutions, indigenous and colonial administration, politics, society, economy, ethnicity, and the sciences.[7][13]All 64districts of Bangladesh,as well as 451upazilas,have been described in details ranging from topographical accounts to the number of dairy farms and hatcheries.[7]Over 2,000 single and four-colour illustrations depict Bangladeshi art and architecture, everyday life, cities and villages and personages.[4]It has about 2,100 cross-references,cartographicinformation, tables and statistics.[5]It is laid out in alphabetical order and is prefaced by an essay by the chief editor. There is a section explaining how to use theBanglapedia,which clarifies issues such as date systems, contributors, cross references, and headings.[8][14]

Operational definition of Bangladesh[edit]

According to the publisher, the goal of this reference tool is to inquire, interpret and integrate the lived experiences and achievements of the people of Bangladesh from ancient times to the present.[8]The project, conceptually and territorially, interprets the term "Bangladesh" to mean successively ancient Eastern India, theBengal Sultanate,Bengal Subah,Bengal Presidency,East Bengal,East Pakistan,andBangladesh.[4][5]The editor's preface states:

From ancient times to 1971, the political geography of the region has changed often, and with that its name has also undergone changes. The cognates of Vanga, Bangalah, Vangla, Bengal, Vangadesh, Vangladesh, etc. have the closest affinity both territorially and linguistically with the termBangla.With the rise of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation state, the term has no doubt obtained a specific meaning. It may be noted here that the termBangalahorBengala,from whichBanglaandBengaloriginated, was coined and circulated by Muslim rulers whose seats of administration were located mostly within the present territory of Bangladesh.[8]

Working team[edit]

Over 1,200 writers and specialists contributed to the encyclopedia, one fifth of whom were foreign experts in Bangladesh or experts working abroad.[5][7]They are mostly academics, as well as specialists in districts and upazilas for locality inputs and people from professions and occupations. District and upazila cartography has been processed at theGeographic information system(GIS) andcartographiclaboratory set up for the Banglapedia.[15]Agazetteergroup was created to focus on districts and upazilas. The fact that around 400 local intellectuals were charged with writing about their respective zilas and upazilas was described as a unique approach to information gathering.[7]In addition, 250 people worked in research management for seven years.[15]A total of 2,000 scholars and technicians were involved.[4]There were 270 full-time personnel on the project in all, with 35 to 40 people employed at any given time.[7]

Sirajul Islam is the chairman of the Board of Editors ofBanglapedia,and the editor of the Journal of theAsiatic Society of Bangladesh.A professor of history at theUniversity of Dhaka,the oldest and largest university in Bangladesh, Islam gave up his day job five years before the formal date for retirement, to make time forBanglapedia.[9]He also edited the 3 volumes of theHistory of Bangladesh(political, economic and socio-cultural), published by the Asiatic Society In 1991.[9][16]He is now working on theChildren's Banglapediaand theCultural Survey of Bangladesh,and is also in charge of theNational Online Biographyproject of the Society and the Banglapedia Trust.[9]

The encyclopedia was prepared by a board of editors that included Professor Sirajul Islam of the Department of History, Dhaka University, as the chairman and chief editor, Professor Sajahan Miah of the Department of Philosophy, Dhaka University, as the convenor and managing editor, Professor M. Aminul Islam as the chairman of Project Implementation Committee, the chairman of Fund Management Committee, and the chairman of Cartography Committee, Professor Abdul Momin Chowdhury as the chairman of Publication Committee, Professor S M Mahfuzur Rahman as the convenor of Purchase and Procurement Committee, Shahida Alam as the convenor of Public Relations and Communication Committee, and Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury as the chairman of Multimedia Committee.[17]

The management structure includes a total of sixty members, divided into six different sub-committees headed by six subject editors. Each sub-committee covered a particular discipline. There were six consulting editors, four language editors, and three translation editors. Each subject editor received assistance from six assistant and associate editors.[7]Banglapedias subject editors were: Professor Abdul Momin Chowdhury (History and Heritage), Professor Wakil Ahmed (Arts, Humanities, Religion), Professor Mahfuzur Rahman (Society and Economy), Dr Kamal Siddiqui (State and Governance), and Professor S M H Kabir (Science and Technology).[4]

Electronic versions[edit]

TheCD-ROMversion ofBanglapediahas more entries than the print version, along with 65 video clips, 49 audio clips, 2,714 images and thumbnails, and 647 maps.[2]The audio clips include songs byRabindranath TagoreandKazi Nazrul Islam,while the video clips includeSheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech on 7 March 1971. Some images that appear inblack and whitein the print version are in color in the CD-ROM version.[18]Designed to run onWindows 98,Windows ME,Windows 2000andWindows NT,[2]the CD-ROM version includes about 70,000 links and an option to create a personal "favorite list".[18]

Banglapediahas had several online addresses, some are no longer authorised by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

Controversy[edit]

Controversy overBanglapediabroke out even before publication, when theInqilab group,a major Bangladeshi newspaper publishing house, got hold of a few entries on religion and related issues.[7]There have also been complaints about an omission ofJamaat-e-Islami's activities during theBangladesh Liberation War.[7]A study byBdnews24.com,a news portal, claimed thatBanglapediais biased and inaccurate about Bangladesh's indigenous population.[19]The encyclopedia is also reported to have used derogatory coinage such asMoghforMarmaandRakhine,TipraforTripuriandMurangforMros,as well asupajati(literally "sub-nation", used to mean "tribal" ) to define them all.[20]Leaders of the indigenous community, includingChittagong Hill Tracts Regional Councilmember andParbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samitileader Rupayan Dewan and general secretary ofAdivasi ForumSanjib Drong, have endorsed the study's findings.[20]Chief editor Islam acknowledged the complaint and promised to amend the second edition accordingly.[20]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abc"Banglapedia".Bangladesh.Asia Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO.Archivedfrom the original on 7 June 2007.Retrieved2007-06-07.
  2. ^abcde"Banglapedia on CD-Rom to hit market by February".The New Age. 2004-01-02. Archived fromthe originalon 2005-02-07.Retrieved2007-07-23.
  3. ^Iqbal, Iftekhar (2006-11-16)."The case for Bangladesh Studies".The Daily Star.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-02-07.Retrieved2007-06-07.
  4. ^abcdefghijklmUNB (2003-03-24)."Compilation of Banglapedia completed".General news.Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP).Archivedfrom the original on 2012-03-03.Retrieved2008-01-19.
  5. ^abcdefghijkAkkas, Abu Jar M (2004-05-23)."Banglapedia edition every 2 years".The Weekly Holiday. Archived fromthe originalon 2005-12-13.Retrieved2007-06-07.
  6. ^Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal, ed. (2012),"Welcome to Banglapedia",Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.),Asiatic Society of Bangladesh,archivedfrom the original on 2020-05-15,retrieved2015-05-12
  7. ^abcdefghijklmnopZaman, Mustafa; Ahsan, Shamim (2003-09-02)."The Banglapedia and its Making".Star Magazine.The Daily Star. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-05-18.Retrieved2015-05-12.
  8. ^abcdefghIslam, Sirajul (January 2003).Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh.Dhaka, Bangladesh: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.ISBN978-984-32-0576-6.
  9. ^abcdefgKhan, Mubin S (2006-01-01)."Professor Sirajul Islam: Making history".New Age New Year Special 2006.The New Age. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-05-11.Retrieved2007-06-07.
  10. ^abDatta, Amaresh (1988).Encyclopaedia of Indian literature.Vol. 2. Delhi: South Asia Books. pp. 1162–1163.ISBN978-81-7201-649-4.
  11. ^"Islami Bishwakosh"ইসলামী বিশ্বকোষ[Encyclopedia of Islam].Islamic Foundation Bangladesh(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 2016-02-11.Retrieved2016-04-29.
  12. ^Akkas, Abu Jar M (2003-09-02)."The making of an academy".The New Age. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-11.Retrieved2008-01-17.
  13. ^BanglapediaArchived2006-02-09 at theWayback Machine,Columbia University Libraries Databases; Retrieved: 19 January 2008
  14. ^BanglapediaArchived2009-04-15 at theWayback Machine,Arts and Humanities, Intute,Joint Information Systems Committee;Retrieved: 19 January 2008
  15. ^abStaff Correspondent (2004-01-02)."Asiatic Society to celebrate journal's golden jubilee Feb 11".The New Age. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-04-15.Retrieved2008-01-19.
  16. ^"Sirajul Islam (Dhaka University)".International Directory of South Asia Scholars (IDSAS).Columbia University. 2004-04-21.Archivedfrom the original on 2007-09-11.Retrieved2007-07-23.
  17. ^Islam, Sirajul (January 2003). "Contributors".Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh.Dhaka, Bangladesh: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.ISBN978-984-32-0576-6.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-07-01.Retrieved2015-07-01.
  18. ^abZaman, Mustafa; Ahsan, Shamim (2003-09-02)."The Electronic version of Banglapedia".Star Magazine.The Daily Star.Archivedfrom the original on 2008-04-15.Retrieved2008-01-17.
  19. ^"Respect the languages and cultures of ethnic minorities"(Editorial). The New Age. 2007-02-25. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-04-15.Retrieved2007-09-10.
  20. ^abcBDNews24 (2007-02-24)."Wrong info on ethnic groups in Banglapedia".The New Age. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-04-16.Retrieved2007-06-07.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links[edit]

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