বাংলা ভাষা এবং সাহিত্যের বিশ্বকোষ
The “বাংলা ভাষা এবং সাহিত্যের বিশ্বকোষ” (Encyclopedia of Bengali Language and Literature) is a comprehensive alphabetical reference work edited by Tanmoy Bhattacharya (Advocate) that covers the entirety of Bengali language and literature. It includes every vowel (স্বরবর্ণ) and consonant (ব্যঞ্জনবর্ণ) letter of the Bengali alphabet, reflecting the full phonetic and script inventory of the language. The encyclopedia provides scholarly entries on literary figures, linguistic terms, and cultural history related to Bengali.
It features detailed explanations of classical and modern Bengali language elements, literary movements, folklore, poetry, prose, and historical linguistics. For example, it includes a passage in the Prakrit-derived Pishachi language, with a parallel Bengali translation highlighting the rich linguistic heritage from ancient Hindu scriptures, rituals, and nature imagery all the way to medieval sage gatherings and cosmic sound symbolism.
The work is designed both as a linguistic and literary compendium, bridging the traditional oral and written culture of Bengal with modern literary analysis and language documentation. It aims to serve as an authoritative tool for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the depth and breadth of Bengali language and literature.
In summary, this encyclopedia is a critical resource documenting the alphabet, phonetics, classical texts, and evolution of Bengali language and literary traditions, combining historical insight with linguistic detail in an accessible, alphabetical format. It reflects over a millennium of Bengali linguistic and literary development from ancient sacred texts to contemporary usage.