Founding Members
The idea of forming a common platform for scholars and researchers of Bengal Studies took shape through interaction between scholars of Bengali Language, Literature and Culture. It found a concrete shape in a gathering of some scholars of Bangladesh and India during an International seminar on Buddhadeb Basu at Assam University, Silchar. They met on 13thNovember, 2008, to give a formal shape to the idea of holding Antarjatik Banglabidya Sammelan on regular basis. Following scholars were present in that meeting:
Dr. Bela Das, Head of the Dept. of Bengali, Assam University, Silchar.
Professor Hayat Mamud, former professor of Bengali, Jahangirnagar University
Professor Rafique Ullah Khan, Professor of Bengali, University of Dhaka
Professor Begum Akhter Kamal, Professor of Bengali, University of Dhaka
Professor Bhismodeb Choudhury, Professor of Bengali, University of Dhaka
Professor Manjari Choudhury, Head of the Dept. of Bengali, Tripura University.
Professor Mrinal Kanti Mandal, Head of the Dept of Bengali, Vishwabharati, Shantiniketan.
Professor Achintya Biswas, Dept of Bengali, Jadavpur University.
Professor Uday Chand Das, Dept. of Bengali, University of Burdwan
Professor Mahabub Sadik, Rtd. Principal, Sadat University College and Fellow, Bangla Academy)
Dr. Santanu Sarkar, Dept of Bengali, Assam University, Silchar
Dr. Amitava Chakraborty, Department of Modern Indian Languages & Literary Studies, University of Delhi
Dr. Sharmistha Dey Basu, Fellow, Asiatic Society, Kolkata
Ms. Jinia Ray, Fellow, Asiatic Society, Kolkata
The first meeting was followed by another meeting held on 17th June, 2009, at the Dhaka University. That meeting was attended by representatives of the Bengali Departments of the Universities of Bangladesh and of other disciplines. Following scholars were present in that meeting:
Prof. Rafique Ullah Khan, University of Dhaka
Prof. Bhismadeb Choudhury, University of Dhaka
Dr. Amitava Chakraborty, University of Delhi
Prof. Shafiqunnabee Samadi, Rajshahi University
Prof. Khaled Hossain, Jahangirnagar university
Prof. Shouren Biswas, Chittagong University
Prof. Mahabub Sadik (Rtd. Principal, Sadat University College and Fellow, Bangla Academy)
Prof. Chanchal kumar Bose, Jaghannath University
Prof. Soaib Jibran, Bangladesh Open University
It was decided that the first international Congress of Bengal studies would be held in February, 2010. It was further decided that the purview of the conference be broaden from language and literary studies to include other disciplines as well, thus forming a platform for “Bengal Studies”.
Following this, the Department of Modern Indian Languages & Literary Studies, University of Delhi, took the initiative to organize the 1st International Congress of Bengal Studies with Prof. Nandita Basu as the Advisor of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Amitava Chakrabory as the Convener of the Conference, Eminent Litterateur and the Fellow of Bangla Academy, Prof. Hayat Mamud as the Academic President of the conference, and, Prof. Pabitra Sirker, former Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University, India and Prof. Anisuzzaman, Professor Emeritus, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, as advisors of the conference.
International Society of Bengal Studies was formed in the Nilratan Sen Plenary on the last day of the conference, 28th February, 2010. Dr. Amitava Chakraborty and Dr. Hanna Ruth Thompson became the Founding Life Members of the Society.
Prof. Tsuyoshi Nara, Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan, was nominated as the Founding President of the Society and Dr. Amitava Chakraborty, Convener of the 1st Congress, was nominated as the Founding General Secretary of the Society. The First Executive Council of the Society was also nominated with following office bearers and members:
Advisors
Prof. Anisuzzaman, Professor Emeritus, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Prof. Alokranjan Dashgupta, Heidelberg University, Germany
Prof. Pabitra Sarkar, former Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University, India
Prof. Barun Kr Chakravarti, Professor Emeritus, Rabindra Bharati University, India
Vice Presidents
Prof. Hayat Mamud, former Professor, Jahangir Nagar University, Bangladesh
Prof. B. B. Bhattacarya, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Prof. S. Das, Vice Chancellor, University of Calcutta, India
Dr. Hanna Thompson, SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom
Joint Secretaries
Prof. Rafique Ullah Khan, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Prof. Sanat Naskar, University of Calcutta, India
Treasurer
Prof. Bela Das, Assam University, India
Members
Prof. Mohammad Yusuf Siddiq, The University of Punjab, Pakistan
Dr. Elzbieta Walter, University of Warsaw, Poland
Dr. Hans Harder, Heidelberg University, Germany
Dr. Martin Hribek, Charles University, Czech.