"আলাওলের লেখা, দৌলত কাজীর লেখা খুব আকর্ষণীয় আমার চোখে" - মিহাউ পানাসুক | "Alaol's writings, Daulat Kazi's writings, are very much interesting in my eyes" - Michal Panasiuk

Abstract

Michal Panasiuk is a lecturer at the Department of South Asian Chait in the University of Warsave. He achieved Master degree from the same department of the same university on the autobiographies of Sreemoti Binodini Dasi, the early stage bloom performer of Bangla urban theater, Amar Abbumetri Jiban (My life as actress) and Amar Kathe (My story) and her poetry. Michal later achieved his PhD by writing dissertation titled Tiv Body-Centric Songs Sabeblhani and Baul Songs. He teaches modern Bengali, Bengali literature and culture of Bangladesh and West Bengal. Presently, he is doing research on the Middle Bengali poet Bharat Chandra Kay Gunakar and his poetry. Michal has deep interest in diverse components of the popular folk literature and culture of Bangladesh and the ancient and Middle- Bengali literature. At the beginning of his teaching career at the department of South Asian Chair in the University of Warww, he visted Bangladesh in 2015-2016. Dr. Saymon Zakaria, the editor of Babamagana: Laternational Journal of Bengal Studies took the following interview of Michal Panasiuk on 23 January 2016 at an apartment of Banani. From the interview date till today, a few of the professor, researchers and translators of the University of Warsaw mentioned in the interview have passed away and/or retired. This is why the interview is getting pablished here in an updated form. The interview explores the history of the study of Bengali language and literature in the University of Warsaw, the research works of Michal Panasiuk and those of the other professors and researchers there on Bengali, literature and the respective translation works. This interview may guide us to establish an academic institute to inspire overseas students and scholars to be engaged in researching and translating Bangladeshi literary resources for their global exposure. It also pushes us face the question why are the local scholars not interested in looking into own literature and culture!