AKASHLEENA Poems, Essays & Short Stories: A Bilingual Anthology of Bangladeshi Diaspora (Paperback)

For the very first time the 'Akashleena - Diaspora' is being published as a bilingual (Bengali & English) anthology this year. Not only that, for the first time a new section has also been added wherein we have writings of our new generation, who mainly pens in English. The 'Akashleena' organization has plans to work more extensively in this area in future. To be honest, on reading some of the stories of the new generation I am convinced that, with our encouragement and inspiration, from them will emerge the bright representatives of Bangladeshi Diasporas' writers. And I am very hopeful that the day is not far.'Akashleena' is the only Bengali literary and cultural organization in the state of Louisiana in North America. This organization received financial grant from the Hon'ble Thomas B. Coleman, Honorary Consul General of Bangladesh in the State of Louisiana in the United States of America. The Hon'ble Thomas B. Coleman's love and respect for Bangladesh, the people of Bangladesh and Bengali culture has always encouraged us to take the organization forward and increase the ambit of its work. My heartfelt thanks, gratitude and respect for the noble and honorable Thomas B. Coleman for his persistent co-operation.In the outer world today, there are many Bengali residents. Bengalis are spanned out in different parts and different countries of this world. For this spanning out, both the pull from the front as well as the push from behind worked in cohesion. It is for better understanding, for betterment or for a better living the nonresident people of Bangladesh have built their nests in a foreign land some on a temporary basis but most of them permanently.Bengalis are not only overcoming the hurdles of an immigrant life but also competing in full swing. In this amazing age of technical innovations, the world has shrunk all of a sudden. Distance no longer is distance anymore; geographical boundaries have now turned into mere formalities.Something that could not be imagined a decade or two back is now becoming a reality. Especially after the nineties, immigration has started to be seen in a modern outlook through globalization. Regarding the study of immigration, this outlook acclaiming the greatness of all previous viewpoints wants to comprehend immigration as a global situation. Under the influence of globalization in the present times, centering on immigration, due to the network of financial and social relations that has been created between the villages and towns and between different countries prevents the study of immigration within the precincts of a linear phase.Hence today's world is called a world of Diaspora, a world of multinational culture and a world of excessive transits.The reality is that, today in the outer world a literary and cultural environment of the Bengalis has already grown in the meantime and is gradually gaining strength. There is a conscious increase in the continuous effort to keep abreast with the culture of the origin that we have. And with this the Bengalis are keeping their flourishing culture alive in foreign lands - in the outer world. Though they are living overseas for a long time they carry day and night in their memories and in their consciousness their homeland. The immigrant Bengali in their heart and soul turns all the more a Bengali. This trend of literary pursuit of the immigrant writers in the outer world is just not a fancy behavior; in fact, most of them are literally setting examples of their deep and sharp observation capabilities. In some instances, the immigrant Bengali in the international arena is introducing the world to the Bengali literature and Bengali culture through their writings, literature, translations and various cultural events. The bilingual 'Akashleena' literary compilation, a demand and realization of life and time, in its new edition will present itself in its own standard. This is what I think. My continual love and greetings to all of you.