Scarborough gathering celebrates Bengali and Canadian literature
By ARPITA BARUA
A celebration of Bengali and Canadian literature, organized by Canada Journal, took place earlier this month at St. Paul’s United Church in southwest Scarborough.
The May 1 event brought together writers, poets, and community members to honour the literary contributions of both Bengali and Canadian authors.
The program opened with remarks by Subrata Kumar Das, the founder of Canada Journal and event organizer, on the importance of inclusive spaces that elevate diverse literary voices.
Former and current poets laureate George Elliott Clarke, Anne Michaels, A. F. Moritz, and Lillian Allen contributed to the program, highlighting intersections between Canadian literature and diasporic narratives. Also present was Dr. Ikhtyar Omar, educator and Bengali cultural exponent, underscoring the role of community leadership in cultural engagement.
A highlight was the launch of three publications coordinated by Das: Canadai Ekattor Bangalir Oviggota (Experiences of Seventy One Bengalis in Canada), documenting the experiences of Bengali Canadians; an issue of Sahitya Ekhaan, a Kolkata journal on Canadian literature; and Poetry Out Loud, a London, UK, journal, featuring Canadian works.
Together, these publications showcased diverse voices and perspectives rooted in cultural heritage and contemporary Canadian experiences.
The event, addressed by Shahidul Islam Mintu, the editor of popular Bangla weekly BanglaMail, was emceed by Tasmina Khan and Mahbub Osmani.
Poet Moritz reflected on the significance of such gatherings, noting that “it is a tremendous creative challenge to preserve cultural identity, surrounded by different cultures, and then finding a way to emerge and adapt, not just preserve. English has become a language of business,government and technology which is a non-poetic language, hence it becomes a battle for the soul and sometimes, encountering other languages allows us to hang onto the soul like we say in African-American culture.”
Reflecting on the broader purpose of these initiatives, Das stated, “Since my arrival in Canada in 2013 as an immigrant from Bangladesh, I have realized the lack of literary bridging between mainstream writers and the Bengali community. So, I started working on it – reading CanLit, connecting Canadian writers, and encouraging Bengali writers to learn about CanLit. After a decade, I now feel good to see that a true bridge has been created. An example is the May 1 publication event where we have four Toronto poets laureate present on the stage. Another example is the April 25 event on Anglo-Bangla Canadian Canticles, where Canadian English poems were transformed into Bangla songs.”
Supported by Barrister Surya Chakrabarti, immigration consultant Manish Paul, Murshed Nizam CPA and mortgage agent Bazlur Maruf, the May 1 event stood as a celebration of cultural identity and literary collaboration. Ultimately, it highlighted the richness of both traditions while reinforcing the role of multiculturalism in shaping Canada’s literary and social landscape.
