Acknowledgement

First of all and foremost, I’m utmost grateful to my honorable faculty Nasrin Pervin who always
supported me throughout my research to get the information, find out the sources to make a potential
and strong research paper on this topic. Furthermore, she helped me organize my research materials
according to the instructions without her kindness helps I would not able to make perfectly my research
on the due time. I collected data through online surveys from mostly academy and educated people.
Firstly, I also thank to the people who gave me of their valuable time to get information according to the
survey. Last but not least, I have to thank my fellow friends who have spontaneously helped me to
collect potential information to make this research paper.

Abstract

Bangla Novel makes more valuable by famous authors like Rabindranath Thakur, Kazi Nazrul Islam,
Shamsur Rahman, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and etc. At present people sadly said that they are not
interested to read Bangla novel. People preferred English novel more than Bangla novel because the
new generation is going modernized which means they follow western cultures nowadays. Our
education system derived from the beginning stage of education people are growing up by English novel
and books that make a habit to read the books by foreign authors. The another reason to decline
reading Bangla novel Whenever people read Bangla novel, people cannot understand the meaning of a
few words which can impact to decline Bangla novel day by day. For the reason of social media which
influence people to read English novel according to spend their leisure period watching TV series, listen
songs, hang out with friends etc. My whole purpose of this study was to prove that reading habit is
declining especially for bangle novel. I conducted 46 surveys online and took help from the internet to
do this study.
INTRODUCTION
Bangla novels are body of Bangla language which make people to represent Bangla culture.
Journey of Bangla novels was actually started by Durgeshnandini (Bangla historical novel). The
novelists who explored Bangla’s novel in different way like Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay who
is recognized as the father of the modern Bangla novel. He explored social issues, physiological
themes and human behaviors where he delimitate ambitious woman and morally degrade man.
The famous novelist is Rabindhanath Tagore. His works explore human relationship and the
physiological working of human mind as well as analysis social issues and explain the impact of
contemporary politics on individual. The more novelists are Mukhopadhyay Probhat Kumar,
Hossain Mir Mosharraf, Bandyopadhyay Bibhutibhushan who all are represent Bangla culture to
young generation and to the world. The bangla novel by which people have found Bangla’s heart
and history that also influence youth to their culture. Nowadays, youth do not get interested to
read Bangla novel. In particular it effects on English medium curriculum because they do not
have Bangla Nobel on their curriculum where they cannot learn about Bangla culture and
history.[CITATION BANND1 \l 1033 ]
The focus of my research will be on why decline interest to read Bangla novels of English
medium’s students, how they get interest to read Bangla novel and what will be effect on their
life and our culture. I would like to involve Bangla novels in English medium’s curriculum. I
hope if the Bangla novels are involved in their curriculum. Students will be interested to read
Bangla novels and they will also know about Bangla’s history and culture. They will be able to
represent our culture to the world. I hope to find out my question’s answer through my research
work.

Background

Mohua Mouli illustrated that the emergency of Bangla language is divided into five clusters. She
said that declining interest of reading Bangla novel is started after 1947 and after dividing of the
Indian subcontinent. She also separated the evolution of Bangla language into five categories
which are Old Bangla, Middle Bangla,, Modern Bangla,, Post-Partition Bangla,, and Present Day
Bangla,[ CITATION Mou19 \l 1033 ]. These categories have immense impact on our Bangla
language and our culture. The emergence of Bangla literature actually started from the modern
era of Bangla which is from 1757 to 1946 Though there had the influence of western culture, still
the demand for Bangla Novel literature was very significant. During that time, the first
Bangla Novel and literature was published by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee named
Durgeshnandini in 1865. This actually created an important revolution in the literary side.

The country with increasing population declines ineptest habit of reading Bangla novels
comparably to large population. Students in school, college, university are guided to academic
career to a specific curriculum approached. Consequently Students are discouraged to read
Bangla novel books due to lack of academy systems. They read text books for class works and
examinations. Another reason is internet by using smart phone which make addicted students and
teachers in digital world to reduce interest of reading books. Many people access to read books
by using internet and e-books which slowly increase interest to read book and parents and
teachers are main way to inspire them to develop interest in reading book. Thus a change in the
habit of reading book is also taking place slowly.[ CITATION Kib19 \l 1033 ]

The reason of reading habit is declined because of browsing the Net, TV and the silver screen
filling the minds of the modern youth, taking majority of their free time and playing the game.
People give attention on them consequently, their habits capture with technology. He also said
that acquire the habit of reading is to construct to for tour self a refuse from all miseries of life.
Reading is begun disappear from our culture because people are adopting to modern world
culture. Reading power can grow if we want to increase academy capacity of the people it is the
very important that we bring our people toward reading. Government also needs to take
responsibility to ensure basic facilities for people that they can develop the reading habits. We
also have to think about growing generation how they find time to spend on reading books.
[CITATION Mau11 \l 1033 ]

Bangla literature of Modernism was adopted from Europe, as firstly we were the part of
inhabited culture, and international Bangla novels came through the novelist’s hand of
Rabindranath Tagore. Writers are moved to modernism and internationalism that does not mean
Bangla literature is being grown. It basically lost writers’ main traditional writing structure. The
significant of Bangla novel and literature itself as different to modernism and internationalism
and philosophy of modernism and internationalism lies to the extent of which we can be related
ourselves to our culture, being encouragement from our 1952 Language Movement and the 1971
Liberation War. However the article highlights that the number of original novelists and
contemporary writers in our country has been decreased as the world is being moved towards the
fast pace growth of the modern world, globalization and corporate world. Parents in today’s
generation nurture their children’s individual life to become a good graduate and executives but
nowadays no modern writers are not being produced.[CITATION Sha13 \l 1033 ]

Our Prime Minister wants extensive and quality translation of Bangla literature into other
language because of reaching our literature to the world and increasing value of Bangla culture.
She is also greeting the Bangla Academy Literary Award recipients, she said her government has
taken long-term initiatives for advancement of education, literature and culture .As reading of
Bangla novels is gradually losing its sight which it used to be, our government, as a result, is
thinking to translate Bangla literature into a foreign language to the world to get the taste of
Bangla literature in their own tongue and encourage students to read. It also focus on academy

curriculum to grow the value of Bangla novels.[CITATION Unb16 \l 1033 ]

RESEARCH QUESTION
In my research. I plan to explore the declining interest of reading Bangla novels of English
medium’s students. My research will conduct following research question.

 What is the perception of people about Bangla novels?

 How often do people read Bangla literature now a days?
 Why do people think the significance of Classical Bangla Novels is currently going
down?
 How much significance people actually have for Bangla nobles at present?
 Are people interested to involve Bangla novels in academy curriculum? Why
 What will be impact on after involving Bangla novels in academy curriculum?
HYPOTHESIS
I hope that Bangla novels are expected to add in academy curriculum of English medium so that
students grow up with Bangla culture and they can interest to read Bangla novel. Although at
present Reading of Bangla novel is declined because people are influenced to other culture,
lacking of academy system. Consequently, their thoughts and behaviors are fluctuating
variability by following other culture. People’s interest for Bangla novels is getting latent
gradually. I hope to find out the reasons declining of reading Bangla novels like lacking of our
academy curriculum’s system and people are more interested to read English novels journal and
article. I hope, most of the people want to keep Bangla novel’s value by adding Bangla novel
books, journal and article in academy curriculum. In this situation, I want to involve Bangla
novels in academy curriculums so that they can represent Bangla’s culture and keep value of
Bangla history.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
For my primary research, I will design a questionnaire to survey among targeting academician’s
people as well as my surrounding to identify what is their perception about Bangla novels and
why decline interest of Bangla novel.
For my secondary research, I plan to get information by using resources of few numbers of
books, news, articles and journals. I will also use Google to find out information through several
internet sites according to my research questions.
Data Presentation and Analysis
Collect data regarding my survey from 46 people. According to the responses from this survey
80.4% people were male and 19.6% were female. My survey was completed mostly by the
student of NSU and my fellows.

How oft en do you read Bangla novel?

60.00%
Hardly; 50.00%
50.00%
40.00% Sometimes ;
28.40%
30.00%
Not at all;
20.00% Almost Everyday 17.40%
; 9.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Almost Sometimes Hardly Not at all
Everyday

Column1

Interpretation: From this questionnaire, we can see that the majority of my respondents who
are hardly read Bangla Novel which is 50% whereas 28.3% of my respondents have said that
they read Bangla Novel a few times in a month. In short, we can say that majority of
respondents nowadays hardly read Bangla Novel and there has been a significant effect of
change in trend among them. So it matches with my hypothesis.
Interpretation: From this graph, we can see that the majority of my respondents have said
that they think above all option their perception in Bangla novel which is 32.6% whereas 23.9%
of my respondents who think same with a source to know about our history and a bridge that
connect our society and novel about the Bengali language in Bangla novel. After the analysis, the
majority of my respondents have chosen for the last option in this graph, it is not matched my
hypothesis.

What do you think the biggest barrier while you read Bangla novel?
Languag
All of e
them structur
e
Bored 9% 26%
story
15%
Unknow
n words
18%
Underst
anding
the
concept
of
meaning
32%
Interpretation: From this bar chart, we can see that the majority of respondents have faced
the biggest barrier during read that is understanding the concept of meaning of Bangla novel
which is 31.1% whereas 26.7% of my respondents have said the language structure is the biggest
barrier to read Bangla novel. In short, we see that the majority of my respondents have gone for
the second option in this graph, it is matched with my hypothesis.

Pleas e s h are y o u r o p in io n o n t h is fa ct – at p r es en t W r it ers h av e a

lac k o f d ig n it y in t h eir writi n g "

Disagree

Strong disagree

Agree

Strong agree

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00%

Column2

Interpretation: From this questionnaire, we can see that the majority of my respondents have
said that they agree writers at present have a lack of dignity in their writing which is 51.1%
whereas 33.3% of the respondents are strong agree that writers in today's era have a lack of
dignity in their writing. As the majority of my respondents have gone for the second option in
this graph, it n is matched with my hypothesis.
 What do you think is the biggest reason of decaling
interest of reading of Bangla novels from people?
Social media ;
45.00% 41% Lack of academy
40.00% curriculums; 37%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00% Not enough Above all; 15%
Other culture; qualified writers ;
15.00% 11% 9%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Social media Lack of academy Other culture Not enough Above all
curriculums qualified writers

Column2

Interpretation: From this bar chart, we can see that the majority of my respondents said that
Social Media is the biggest reason of the declining interest of people for Bangla Novel which
41.3% whereas 37% of my respondents have said that lack of academy curriculum system is the
biggest reason of the declining interest of people for Bangla novel. As a result, the majority of
my respondents have gone for the second option in this graph, it is not matched with my
hypothesis.

Do y o u t h in k t h at n ew g en er ati o n s in o u r cu lt u r e h av e lo st
t h eir in t er est in Ban g la n o v el?

7%

12%

15%

67%

Yes, a lot Yes, but insignificantly May be Not at all

Interpretation: From this bar chart, the majority of my respondents think that yes, a lot that
people in our culture have lost their interest in Bangla novel which is 69.6% whereas 15.2% of
the respondents have said yes, but insignificantly that people in our culture have lost their
interest in Bangla novel.

So in this question we can see that the majority of my respondents have gone for the first option
in this graph, it is matched with my hypothesis.

Do y o u t h in k t h at n ew g en er ati o n s in o u r cu lt u r e h av e lo st
t h eir in t er est in Ban g la n o v el?

Not at all
7% Yes, I do
Hardly 22%
15%

Hardly
22%
Sometim
es
35%

Yes, I do Sometimes Hardly Hardly Not at all

Interpretation: In this question, we can see that the majority of my respondents sometimes
prefer spending time on reading Bangla novel which is 34.8% whereas 21.7% the respondents
are same yes, I do and hardly by preferring spending time on reading Bangla novel that they
sometimes. Since, he majority of my respondents have gone for the second option in this graph,
it is not matched with my hypothesis.
 To what extent do you think that the value of Bangla novels is losing its
value from our culture and students?
70.00%

60.00% 57.70%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%
22.20%
20.00% 15.40%

10.00%
4.50%
0.00%
Significantly Moderately A bit Insignificantly

Interpretation: From this bar chart, we can see that the majority of my respondents have said that
the value of Bangla novels is significantly losing its value from the culture and students which is 57.8%
whereas 22.2% of the respondents a bit that the losing value of Bangla novel is losing its attraction from
our culture and the students. Therefore, the majority of the respondents have thought the first option in
this graph the reason losing its value, it is matched with my hypothesis.
 T o w hat extant do you agree or disagree that education
people w ill be interested to read B angla novels if it involves
in academy curriculums?
45.00% 41.30%
40.00% 37.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
19.60%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00% 2.50%
0.00%
Strong agree Agree Neutral Strong disagree Disagree

Interpretation: I analyzed educated people whether they are interested to read Bangla novel
or not. According to this questionnaire, we can see that the majority of my respondents strong
agree that children will become interested to read Bangla novel if it is involved in their
educational curriculums which is 41.3% whereas 37% of my respondents have said agree to
involve in their educational curriculums that people will become interested to read Bangla novel
if it is involved in their educational curriculums. So, the majority of my respondents have gone
for the first option in this graph, it goes to my hypothesis.
 T o w ha t e x t a nt do y o u a g r e e o r dis a g r e e t ha t e duc a t io n
pe o ple w ill be inte r e ste d to r e a d Ba ng la no v e ls if it inv o lv e s
i n a c a de my c ur r ic ulums ?
40.00% 34.80%
30.00% 21.60% 23.90%
19.60%
20.00% 10.90%
10.00%
0.00%
0.00%

Interpretation: After getting the answer from this graph, we can see that 34.8% respondents
think that it will remain at a certain corner of our culture will be the sustainable of Bangla novel
and stand in the future whereas 23.9% of my respondents have said that people will somehow
realize the significance of Bangla novel will be the sustainable of Bangla novel and stand in the
future. Another lowest responses of this questionnaire, 10.9% respondents think that it will be all
options to sustainable in our culture.

So, based on the response of my respondents, I have found that the majority of my respondents
have gone for first option from this questionnaire. Hence, it proves my hypothesis.

Summary of Research Findings

After the primary research, I have found that day by day Bangla literature is fading away.
Especially, from youth they hardly read Bangla literature nowadays. Because they don’t
understand the meaning of words in the Bangla literature as they are mostly published in the old
traditional manner. Nowadays, our education system is day by day getting modernized which
means from the early stage of education people focused on the language of English. However,
the paper quality of Bangla literature significantly lower than other literature. Nowadays, people
are focusing more on the western culture that’s of one the reason declining Bangla literature day
by day.
In my research, I have also found that because of social media such as Netflix, Amazon Prime,
HBO, etc., Bangla literature is gradually declining. Nowadays, People spend their leisure period
by watching TV series, listening to audiobooks, etc.

Also, people prefer English books more than Bangla literature because people want to know
more about the cultures of other countries. From the survey, I have also found that people are
hardly interested in buying Bangla literature. Another reason which is assuming that the length
of the story is huge.

Finally, I think all of these reasons day by day is progressing our Bangla literature from our
culture in the declining stage.