Literary Heritage of South-East Asia

About Book - 

I am grateful to the Association for Asian Studies, Inc. for the invitation to deliver the Tagore Memorial Lectures, 1967, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. This lectureship was established to commemorate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's birth and has already featured presentations at several American universities. Tagore has greatly contributed to international understanding, making it fitting that these lectures focus on various aspects of Indian life and thought for an American audience. Enhancing mutual understanding between the two largest democracies promotes peace and goodwill worldwide.

While Bengali poetry has gained recognition in global literature through Tagore's translations, the region's contributions to the novel are less well known. This is unfortunate, as stories and novels serve as powerful mediums for communication across cultures. Poetry evokes emotions through rhythm and imagery, but often resists translation. In contrast, historical and philosophical writings can influence ideas but lack the immediate emotional impact of fiction. Novels blend the suggestiveness of poetry with the reflective quality of prose, capturing attention, shaping thought, and fostering emotional connections between writer and reader.