প্রত্নভাস্কর্যে দেবদেবী, প্রসেনজিৎ দাশগুপ্ত

Not often I do review books hence it will be little abridged.

Speaking of Historical Non-fiction, there are only few readers, if in case the book is not dealing with hackneyed subjects like Egypt or Inca. And this book definitely crosses this periphery, deals with Idols in Indian tradition. Me having completed my Art Criticism course, had a huge interest on this book since it was published. However I faced a "meet cute" only in this IKBF 22.

Characteristics:

First: Great informative pictures explaining the symbolism, possibly taken by the author himself, are inserted within the book, along with the texts, in relevant sections.

Second: Excellent text-layout whoever have done it, has exposure to good design.

Third: Good editing, in superlative terms, sometimes more inclined toward subject editing than general editing, which means ample references.

Fourth: I have nothing to do with it's publisher, hence I would not mention.

Fifth: Binding boards and gelling process could be better. Good stitching, no cloth or book mark, good pustani.

Now why have I suddenly taken up this subject for review, because Delhi has William Dalrymple, Windey Doniger, or even Devdutt Pattnaik, if I do not drag up on Amish whom I might be more comfortable toward assigning in comparison with someone else in Kolkata, however till date we--in Kolkata; had none who would be proficient in bridging Academics with popular Art/ Archeology/ Museology in the category of Mass Market--Mr. Dasgupta is definitely filling this gap.

You will be surprised by the extent of research that has gone into this book, which is definitely a rare commitment in contemporary Bangla literary pursuits, and yet it is not from Mr. Bhaduri or Mr. Ahmed . This book definitely projects faith on it's readers, leaves them to make up their own mind without drawing any conclusion which is a great mark of literary pragmatism, sometimes missing even in the writings of Mr. Bhaduri, who however deals with a bit different subject-matter.

It is actually a very satisfactory take on the ontology of modern imagery and its chronological connection with Indian, sometimes even local/ isolated/ foreign histories and geography, as one might find in this book, let alone exploring the connection between Culture and Images which is the lynch-pin of Pratnabhaskarje Debdebee. Another absolute merit of this book is to constantly push its readers toward more reference works. It has, probably for the very first time, exposed erstwhile works of reputed Bengali Historians, Bengali Archeologists, Bengali Purana Enthusiasts, and 19th century cultural studies at one go for "popular" section e.g. popular archeology, popular history etc. At some level it even deals with 'Myths and Mythyas' as curved on stones--explanation for this particular statement might be deciphered from the text itself... In my opinion and exposure, this book could have been a larger body of texts in volumes, connecting lose ends between different cultures and respective histories, however at present, it is definitely a path-braking work in Bangla Language to begin with--unparalleled!

So, we have got our own Dalrymple/ Doniger.

Price: Price probably 500/- @2022