The Bengali I Didn't Learn in School/Two When I was in seventh grade, I was caught reading *Anandamela* during a Bengali class. The teacher snatched the magazine from my hands and said, "If you want to read Bengali, read proper Bengali literature." Then she wrote "Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay" on the blackboard and told us to copy down the names of his major works. I had been reading *Anandamela* for three years by then. I loved the detective stories of Feluda, the adventures of Professor Shonku, the ghost stories. I had read every single issue that came to our house. But apparently, that wasn't "proper" Bengali literature. The next week, I borrowed *Durgeshnandini* from the school library. I couldn't get past the first ten pages. The language felt heavy, ornate, like wearing a silk sari to play cricket. I returned the book after a week and never tried reading Bankim again—not until I was in college. This is the tragedy of how we teach Bengali literature in schools. We create such a rigid hierarchy between "high" and "popular" literature that we end up alienating young readers from their own language. The message is clear: if it's enjoyable, it's not worthwhile. If it's accessible, it's not serious. I think about this often now, as someone who makes a living writing in Bengali. How many potential readers did we lose because we told them their taste was wrong? How many young minds did we turn away because we insisted they climb Mount Everest before they learned to walk? There's nothing wrong with Bankimchandra, of course. But there's everything wrong with the way we teach him—as a duty rather than a discovery, as medicine rather than nourishment. We forget that literature is meant to be lived, not just studied. The Bengali I learned from *Anandamela* was immediate, alive, speaking directly to my twelve-year-old heart. It taught me that language could be playful, that stories could surprise you, that reading could be an adventure. This was not lesser Bengali—it was Bengali that knew how to reach its readers. But we don't value that kind of reaching in our classrooms. We value distance, difficulty, the kind of reverence that keeps literature locked away in a museum. We teach Bengali as if it were a dead language that needs to be preserved, not a living language that needs to be celebrated. I wonder sometimes what would have happened if that teacher had asked me what I liked about the magazine instead of confiscating it. What if she had used my enthusiasm as a bridge rather than building walls? What if we taught literature the way we teach music—starting with songs children love, then gradually expanding their repertoire? But perhaps that's too radical a thought for our education system. We prefer our hierarchies neat and our boundaries clear. Popular literature belongs in one box, serious literature in another, and never shall the two meet in a classroom. The irony is that many of our greatest writers began exactly where I did—with popular fiction, with accessible stories, with the kind of Bengali that doesn't need footnotes to be understood. Ray Satyajit wrote for children before he made his films. Bibhutibhushan wrote serialized novels before he wrote *Pather Panchali*. They understood that reaching readers and touching them deeply are not contradictory goals. I eventually found my way back to Bankim, but on my own terms, in my own time. I discovered that his language, when you're ready for it, has its own music. But I also never lost my appreciation for the Bengali that first made me fall in love with reading—the direct, unpretentious, emotionally honest Bengali of stories that cared more about connecting with readers than impressing them. Maybe that's the Bengali I should have learned in school. Not just the language of literary greatness, but the language of literary generosity—the kind that opens doors instead of guarding them.

Stay today, brother. (Stay today, brother.) [When addressing someone or something, a comma must be placed before or after the words directed at them. Let's look at a few examples. 'Have a good journey, brother!' 'Father isn't home today, sir.' 'The water bottle, brother!' 'What's the news, Neela?' 'Come back, Chaka.' And so on.]
What words do I hear from you today! (What words do I hear from you today!) What, you still haven't left? (What, you still haven't left?) What have you brought? (What have you brought?) [Eki: an exclamatory particle, meaning 'what kind of/such.' On the other hand, 'e ki' means 'what is this,' as in what are you doing, do you know? Or 'is this,' as in is this true, or is it a dream? Some such particles: eki, seki, oma, boleki, boloki, etc. However, if they are not particles, they will be written separately. For example: Does he speak much anymore? What do I say, and what do you say! Will he ever come! What an incident that was!]
Yes, fellow, I had gone too. (Yes, fellow, I had gone too.) Hey, wretch, go away this instant! (Hey, wretch, go away this instant!) Alas, what ill fortune! (Alas, what ill fortune!) Mind, you don't know farming! (Mind, you don't know farming!) Child, come here, come! (Child, come here, come!) The moon weeps seeing your sorrow! (The moon weeps seeing your sorrow!) Gopal, where did you go, son! (Gopal, where did you go, son!) What words are these, father! (What words are these, father!)
Explanation: 'Re' will be written separately. In address: after 're,' not before but after the word associated with 're,' a comma will be placed.
Hey, won't you eat rice? (What hey, won't you eat rice?) What hey, you still haven't gone? (What hey, you still haven't gone?) ['Kire' is itself a particle; a comma follows it.]
'-r' or '-er'? If the word ends with a vowel sound, '-r' will be added, and if it ends with a consonant sound, '-er' will be added. Like Komaler, Shankhar, Sushantar, manusher, etc.
Haimanti lost both shores! (Haimanti lost both shores!) ['Kul' means riverbank, 'kul' means lineage.]
I've just arrived! (I've just arrived!)
The child is moving forward one step, two steps. (The child is moving forward step by step.)
Reaching the airport, I found an old friend from the Air Force. (Reaching the air port, I found an old friend from the Air-Force.) [Similarly: air hostess.]
Leave all this playing around and focus a bit on studies now. (Leave all this playing around and focus a bit on studies now.) [Similarly: sesab, seisab, se somoy, sei somoy.]
He had been standing for twenty minutes waiting for the bus. (He had been standing for twenty minutes waiting for the bus.) As soon as sir entered the class, they all had stood up. (As soon as sir entered the class, they all had stood up.) [Similarly: boseche/bose chilo, shuyeche/shuye chilo, egiye chilo, etc. Technique: To indicate duration, there will be a gap in the middle.]
What he heard, he's saying the same, so he can be trusted. (What he heard, he's saying the same, so he can be trusted. 'So' meaning 'tai,' in other cases 'ta-i'.)
In such damp weather, one doesn't feel like going outside. (In such damp weather, one doesn't feel like going outside.) [Similarly: scratchy color, sticky mud, tired body.]
What have you brought for me? (What have you brought for me?) [Similarly: using deya, nikesh, neya, modhye diye, sondhe, hisheb instead of deowa, nikash, neowa, modhyo diye, sondhya, hishab can be done. But in poetry, almost always anything goes!]
My father is an advocate. (My father is an advocate.) [Similarly: attorney, affidavit, avenue, and, assistant, additional, etc. Tomato (not tometo)]
He had no envy, anger, greed, hatred in his mind./He had no envy, anger, greed, hatred in his mind. [Here commas may or may not be used.]
To tell the truth, I was also there at that time. (To tell the truth, I was also there at that time.) [Similarly: at the beginning of sentences, after words like pokshantore, odhikonto, onnyodike, commas will be placed.]
Well, the trouble is gone! (Well, the trouble is gone!) [Similarly: even, whatever happens, etc.]
He didn't go to the invitation, not even to the evening meeting. (He didn't go to the invitation, not even to the evening meeting.)
He said that the day he comes, we should all be present. (He said that the day he comes, we should all be present.) [If 'je' works as a conjunction, a comma must be placed after it; in other cases, writing 'je-' this way is good.]
He came because he was asked to come. (He came because he was asked to come.) [Words like jehethu, kenona, karon, jemon have commas before them, not after.]
Well, if he goes, then I'll go too. (Well, if he goes, then I'll go too.)
Yes, brother, you're absolutely right! (Yes, brother, you're absolutely right!) So, Rahul, what did you finally decide? (So, Rahul, what did you finally decide?) [Besh, hyan, to, ta - when these words appear at the beginning of sentences, commas follow them. However, if these words are used in address, the comma will be placed after the person being addressed. These words are written together: sheshkale, sheshkrityo, sheshjiban, sheshtom, sheshmesh, sheshdin, sheshnidra, sheshnishshas, sheshprotijja, sheshpranto, sheshbiday, sheshyatra, sheshrakkha, sheshratriti, etc. These words are not written together: shesh kotha, shesh koshto, shesh bakyo, etc.]
In figures, the grant amount is 10,1,001,353 takas. (In figures, the grant amount is 10101353/101,001,353 takas.) [In Bengali, commas are placed at hundreds, thousands, lakhs, crores. In English, it's not three digits from the back. For example, in English it should be written as 101,001,353.]
Today's date is 2 December 2019/December 2, 2019/second December, two thousand nineteen. (Today's date is 2 December, 2019/2nd December 2019.) [Note: poyla, dosra, tesra, choutha.]
His writings always began with 'Chittagong, 5 April' - place and date like this. (His writings always began with 'Chittagong 5 April/5 April Chittagong/5 April, Chittagong' - place and date like this.)
He had a pot of sweets in his hand, and for that reason he couldn't ring the bell. (He had a pot of sweets in his hand and for that reason he couldn't ring the bell.) [When there's a clause after words like ebong, ar, etc., commas are placed before them.]
What would you like? Tea or coffee? (What would you like, tea or coffee?) Compare: Is this your decision or your father's? (Is this your decision? Or your father's?)
What should be done now? Such questions keep troubling him repeatedly. (What should be done now, such questions keep troubling him repeatedly.)
That murderer was actually once a good person. (That murderer was actually once a good person.) [Not 'oi lokta' but oi lokta; not 'oi rokom' but oi rokom. Using '?' '!' after any word means the word is actually used sarcastically.]
The sweets here are famous! (The sweets here are famous!) [Okhankaar, jekhankaar, sekhankaar; not okhaneer, jekhaneer, sekhaneer.]
Can you also speak in Odia/Odisha language? (Can you also speak in Odia/Odisha language?)
Really, he's also speaking like that! (Really, he's also speaking like that!) [Note: amiyo, tumiyo, seyo, tarayu, tomrayo, amrayu, etc. But ta-o, na-o, e-o, etc. For example: I might not come tomorrow either. Even this one doesn't know, sir!]
Wonderful, great! (Wonderful, great!) Thank goodness, saved! (Thank goodness, saved!)
As much as the poor man's book sells in the market; bugs eat much more. (As much as the poor man's book sells in the market, bugs eat much more.) [Between two comparative or contrasting sentences, not a comma but a semicolon is placed.]
In his bag were books, pens; fish, vegetables; rice, lentils. (In his bag were books, pens, fish, vegetables, rice, lentils.) He has advantages in three ways---one, his home is close from there; two, he's been wanting to go there for a long time; three, his old friends also live around there. (He has advantages in three ways, one, his home is close from there, two, he's been wanting to go there for a long time, three, his old friends also live around there.)
Not everyone has the same taste; some like fish, some vegetables, some meat. (Not everyone has the same taste, some like fish, some vegetables, some meat.)
The mother spends her days with her returned son. (The mother spends her days with her returned son.) [Similarly: school-skipping student, child-beguiling rhyme, found jewel, backward nation, car standing at the street corner, newly awakened child. Some more words with hyphens: smiling face, tearful mood, keep eye to eye, tired of talking, debt, cattle, Hindu-Muslim, romantic mood, soft soil, whoever came, whoever needs, ultra-modern, admission-seeking, counter-attack]
There's no one who doesn't know about this matter. (There's no one who doesn't know about this matter.) [Similarly: je-keu, ja-kichu, temon-kichu, jemon-temon, je-keu, je-kotha, etc.]
Two or three people had come there. (Two or three people had come there.) [Similarly: same name or address bearing, the word is rule or custom sanctioned, etc. I discussed this matter more at the beginning of this writing.]

How '-r/-er', '-te/-y/-e' are added after names:
Have you heard about Facebook's cover? (Have you heard about Facebook's cover?)
Please send me a copy of 'In the Land of Pictures, in the Land of Poetry'. (Please send me a copy of 'In the Land of Pictures, in the Land of Poetry'.) [Because it ends with a vowel, '-r' will be used, not '-er'.]
You'll find this story in Galpoguchchho. (You'll find this story in Galpoguchchho.)
In 'Charulata,' Satyajit's deviation from Rabindranath's story was necessary. (In 'Charulata,' Satyajit's deviation from Rabindranath's story was necessary.)
Do you remember the last scene of 'Belasheshe'? (Do you remember the last scene of 'Bela Seshe'?) [The movie name should be written as it's written.]
Tomorrow there's a program by the Anti-Corruption Commission. (Tomorrow there's a program by the Anti-Corruption Commission.) [When '-e/-er' is added to the end of any institution's name, it should be written with a hyphen.]
Wealth doesn't stay with anyone forever. (Wealth doesn't stay with anyone forever.) [Similarly: kings and emperors, eating and drinking, papers, utensils, etc. In such compound words, both words express the same meaning.]
A question arises in the mind: did she really love me? Let me put it more simply: was it all acting on her part? Then why did she become so intimate? (A question arises in the mind, did she really love me? Let me put it more simply, was it all acting on her part? Then why did she become so intimate?)
It's now 5:30/5.30 p.m. in the evening. (It's now 5-30 p.m. in the evening.)
He finishes his office work with great difficulty. (He finishes his office work with great difficulty.) Finish the work and go. (Finish the work and go.) [In modern rules, the use of the apostrophe has almost disappeared, but if the same verb in the same sentence is finite in one case and non-finite in the other, the apostrophe should be kept before the non-finite verb.]
I last saw him in '13. (I last saw him in 13.) In the winter of '99, I was in Rangpur. (In the winter of 99, I was in Rangpur.)
Two of them had come. (Two of them had come.) What time does the nine o'clock car leave?
(What time does the nine o'clock train leave?) [The use of apostrophes for numerical abbreviations has been discontinued. If it must be used at all, a hyphen can be placed after the abbreviated form. For example, nbar/n-bar, chsho/chh-sho, dumas/du-mas, etc.]
Rules for using quotation marks: When quoting multiple paragraphs, the first paragraph begins with ('), with nothing at the end. The second paragraph begins again with ('), and if there are no more paragraphs, the second paragraph ends with (').
He said, "I went there and saw Roy saying, 'Why have you come?'"
He said, 'I went there and saw Roy saying, "Why have you come?"'
He said, 'I went there and saw Roy saying, "I won't go anywhere today."'
By observing the examples above, one can learn how quotation marks sit within quotation marks.
Gariyasi, patiyasi, mahiyasi, samichin, haritaki—these spellings are often wrong. ['Anek samay' not 'aneksamay'. There should be a gap after 'anek'.]
They lacked that knowledge (understanding?) among themselves. [The more appropriate or correct word is written within the first bracket with a question mark.]
He is hardworking, honest and, in my opinion, diligent. (He is hardworking, honest and in my opinion diligent.)
Sometimes, as far as I remember, he has said such things too. (Sometimes as far as I remember, he has said such things too.)
Mr. Sen doesn't put Dr. before his name. (Mr./Mr Sen doesn't put Dr./Dr. before his name.)
I know you agree, but still... (I know you agree, but still...) He had come to me, not to you. (He had come to me...not to you.) [There should be three dots, no more. If there are any quotation marks or other punctuation marks before or after these three dots, they will be placed in their proper positions.]
They came here in the eighteenth century. (They came here in the 18th century.)
Today's date is 3/12/2019. Today's date is 3.12.2019. Today's date is 3/12/19. Today's date is 3.12.19. (Today's date is 03-12-19. Today's date is 03-12-'19.) [Oblique or dot will be placed between day, month, year in dates, not hyphen. Even when abbreviating the year to just the last two digits, no apostrophe should be placed before it.]
What skill he has in both work and non-work! (What skill he has in work, in non-work!)
Put sour yogurt on the plate. (Put sour dai on the plate.) [Similarly: write koi, bou, khoi, doi, thoi thoi, athoi, hoichoi, don't write kai, khai, bau, dai, thai thai, athai, haichai. However, write 'mou' as 'mau'.]
The pond seems brimming with water! (The pond seems brimming/tuitumbur/tuitumbor with water!)
Some words end with o-kar—should we give it or not?
Dark girls aren't good, such opinions are held only by fools like you. 'Hal' means plough, this you have come to know. (Kal girls aren't good, such opinions are held only by fools like you. 'Hal' means plough, this you have come to know.) [Words like kal, bhal, mat, hat, hal, jan, khat (person), deb, chen, rob etc. should have o-kar at the end where applicable. Why? Because these words have different meanings too. Kal means yesterday, bhal means forehead, mat means opinion, hat means killed, hal means plough, jan means life, khat means a place to sleep, deb means god, chen means neck chain, rob means protector. In short, if not adding the o-kar at the end brings another meaning-bearing word to mind, then add the o-kar.]
I haven't thought about it that way. (I haven't thought about it in that way.) [Don't write -bhabe, -kal, -sab separately. Like ekal, sekal, jebhabe, ebhabe, esab, sesab, jesab etc.]
All the listeners have come. Tell the listeners to sit. Please put the flowers on the table with a little effort. (All the listeners have come. Tell the listeners to sit. Please put the flowers on the table with a little effort.)
Maybe he didn't notice, otherwise he wouldn't have spoken like this. (Maybe he didn't notice, otherwise he wouldn't have spoken like this.)
Not thousands and thousands/thousands, there's a crowd of lakhs and lakhs/lakhs of people! (Not thousands upon thousands, lakhs upon lakhs of people crowd there!)
He lives in Greece, not Greenland. (He lives in Greece, not Greenland.) [Long i-kar is unnecessary in foreign words. Exception: China, Kashmir.]
There's a lot of difference between that me and this me. (There's a lot of difference between that me and this me.) [Similarly: bahut (not bahut), uchit (not uchit), etc. However, the khand-ta of tatsama words will remain unchanged, and the khand-ta at the end of words formed with suffixes ending in khand-ta won't become 'ta'. Like bidyut, jagat, hathato, tadit, tatkhanato, tabat, paschat, sarat, hrit (hritpindo), abhijit, satyajit, mahat, kbachit, kinchit etc. But when 'e' or 'er' follows these words, 't' changes to 'ta'. Like bhabishyate, satyajiter, bidyuter etc.]
Will you bring my pair of shoes from the next room? (Will you bring my two shoes/pair of shoes from the next room?)
A team was formed comprising officers from Sub-Commissioner level and above. (A team was formed comprising officers from Sub Commissioner level and above.) [Words after upa, saha- sit together, words after yugma- sit separately. Like upasampadak, sahasabhapati, yugma sachib etc. At the same time, note the spellings tadurdhba, anurdhba.]
The District Magistrate was present there. (The District Magistrate was present there.) [Compound words sit together.]
Who's standing there with a lantern in hand? (Who's standing there with a lantern in hand?)
How do you put chandrabindu on the keyboard? (How do you put chandrabindu on the keyboard?)
We all went to the reception for distinguished persons. (We all went to the reception for distinguished persons.) [sambit (not sambit), samvaran (not sambaran), swayambor (not swayambor), sambedana (not sambedana), sambalita (not sambalita)]
As if a whole courtyard fits between the fingers! (As if a whole courtyard fits between the fingers!) [Similarly: angur, kangal, kamranga, kangaroo, gongani, ghungur, tangano, danga, dingirnauka, dhenga, dhyanga, nangar, bhanga, bhenge, machhranga, ranga, rangin, langal, hangar etc.]
He defeated me with the strength of rote learning. (He defeated me with the strength of rote learning.) [-sta or -stha? Way to remember: if removing that gives a meaningful word, then it becomes -stha, like mukhstha, kanthastha, atmastha, grihastha, samadhistha etc. And if no meaningful word is obtained, it becomes -sta, like abhyasta, -grasta, nyasta, byasta, parasta etc.]
The play that was staged was about industrialization and urbanization. (The play that was staged was about industrialization and urbanization.) [Similarly: mulyan, bastobayan, bishbayan, bidyutayan, pratyayan, ashrayon, grihayan, chitrayan, brikhayan, atithiparayan [-parayan, not -parayan], uttarayan, sharayan, aggrayan, rabindrayan, chandrayan etc. After ra or ra-phala, if there's -ayan, it becomes murdhanya-na.]
The waterfall's water was sweet. (The waterfall's water was sweet.) What kind of behavior is this of yours! (What kind of behavior is this of yours!) [dharna, not dharna/dharna. dharan, not dharan.]
If you can do the job properly, you'll get a good tip. (If you can do the job properly, you'll get a good tip.) Please understand the receipt. (Please understand the receipt.) [Similarly: naksha (not naksa), phormmash (not pharmash), shagreda (not sagareda), shaukhina (not saukhina), puliha (not pulis), sharbat in modern style/sharbat in old style (not sarbat), Shakespeare in modern style/Shakespeare in old style, shirt (not sart), class (not clash), cross sign (not krash sign), pencil (not pensil) [If breaking foreign words doesn't cause pronunciation problems, it's appropriate to write them broken. At the beginning and end of words as conjunct letters, and in the middle of words they can be written broken.], taktaposh (not taktaposh), shakha (not sakha), masul (not mashul), majlish (not majlis), notice (not notis). If the original spelling of a word has -sh, it should be 'sha', not 'sa'. If English has me-, it should be written as 'me-' in Bengali, not 'mya-'. 'Messenger' is correct, not myasenjhar/myasanjhar (messenger). Similarly: mesej (message). But if there's ma-, the 'mya-' pronunciation can occur. 'Myasaj' is correct, not mesej/mesaj (massage).]
You're just in class six, what do you know about electronics! (You're just in class six, what do you know about electronics!) [If English words end in -cs, in Bengali transliteration it becomes -kas (not -kas, because in transliterating foreign words into Bengali, the hasanta sign doesn't need to be used. Like customs, established, sheet etc.), if there's -x it becomes ksa. Not UNESCO, but Unesko. Not injection, but injection. Not electric, but electric. Not X-ray, but X-ray. The words shabe, shudhu, kebal shouldn't be followed by '-matra'.]
I went there for official work. (I went there for official work.) [If English words have -ci_, it becomes 'sha' not 'sa'. Like commercial, electrician etc.]
Bangla Academy is our beloved institution. (Bangla Academy is our beloved institution.) [Any person or institution should have their name spelled exactly as they write it. Like Shamsur Rahman (not Rahaman), Humayun Ahmed, Humayun Azad, Humayun Faridi, Shilpakala Academy (not Academy), Awami League (not Lig), Sahitya Academi (not Academy/Academy/Academy) etc.]
The amount of their donations was respectively seven taka, 10 taka, 58 taka, one/1 thousand taka, 7/seven lakh 6/six thousand 519/five hundred-nineteen taka. (The amount of their donations was respectively 7 taka, ten taka, fifty-eight taka, 1 thousand taka, seven lakh 6 thousand five hundred-nineteen taka.) [If the number is between one to nine, write in words, if between 10 to 999, write in numerals, above that write in words or numerals (either one).]
He gets up at dawn. Birds fly. (He gets up at dawn. Birds fly.) He gets up at dawn to sit and study. The bird flew away. (He gets up at dawn to sit and study. The bird flew away.)
How long after the fire starts does the fire brigade arrive? (How long after the fire starts does the fire brigade arrive?) [In finite verbs: paunchay/paunchoy, not paunche.]
Don't litter here and there/everywhere. (Don't litter here and there/everywhere.)
Follow the mentioned conditions. (Follow the mentioned conditions.) [Relevant: itipurbe (not itopurbe/itahpurbe), itomadhye (not itimadhye)]
Everyone isn't the same. (Everyone isn't the same.)
But...I've organized the work somehow. [meaning 'almost'] (I've organized the work somehow.) Here I am, brother, I'm doing somehow! [meaning 'anyhow'] (Here I am, brother, I'm doing somehow!)
He said this from a kind of anger. [kind of meaning] (He said this from a kind of anger.) Are we all really of one kind? [similar meaning] (Are we all really of one kind?)
You have to become very big. (You have to become very big.)
He is a accomplished son of the country, he will live on through his accomplishments. (He is an accomplished son of the country, he will live on through his accomplishments.)
(To be continued...)