The idea of forming a common platform for scholars of Bengal Studies took shape through multi-phased interaction between scholars of Bengali Language, Literature and Culture. It was initiated during a seminar on Buddhadeb Basu in Assam University, Silchar. Some of the participants of that seminar met on 13thNovember, 2008, to give a formal shape to the idea of holding Antarjatik Banglabidya Sammelan on regular basis. That was followed by another meeting of leading scholars of Bengali and other disciplines from various Universities of Bangladesh held on 17th June, 2009, at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
As an outcome of such interactions, the 1st International Congress of Bengal Studies was organized by the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies, University of Delhi, India, during 25th - 28th February, 2010. As part of this endeavor, a website, www.banglabidya.org, was launched; a process was initiated to create a database of Scholars and Departments/Centers involved in Bengal Studies and upload that on the website. Prof. Hayat Mamud, renowned litterateur, former professor of Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, and Fellow of the Bangla Academy, Dhaka, was nominated as the President of the 1st Congress.
Hosted in the spacious Conference Centre of the University of Delhi, the Congress offered an intellectual and aesthetic feast for the participants. The Congress was inaugurated by Prof. Anisuzzaman, Professor Emeritus, University of Dhaka. Prof. P C Pattanayak, Head, Department of Modern Indian Languages & Literary Studies, University of Delhi, offered a hearty welcome to the participants. Prof. Hayat Mamud delivered the Presidential address and Prof. Nandita Basu tabled the Vote of thanks. Dr. Hanna Ruth Thompson, University of London, and Prof. Deepti Tripathi, Director, National Manuscript Mission, also addressed the gathering.
Apart from parallel sessions, special plenary sessions and special lectures were organized during the conference. Such special sessions included National Manuscript Mission sponsored Plenary on Bengali Manuscriptology; Plenary on Bengali Literary Studies; Rabindra Kumar Dashgupta Plenary on Schools of Comparative Literary Studies in India; Chandrakant Mehta Plenary on Translation and Reception of Tagore in Indian Languages; Nilratan Sen Plenary for formation of the International Congress of Bengal Studies; Tattvabodha Lecture on Bengali Manuscriptology
During the Congress, cultural evenings were organized by the Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi, and Punjabi Academy, Delhi. The cultural events showcased the multicultural ethos of Delhi. The evening of the 27th February was made memorable by Poet Alokranjan Dasgupta, who recited some of his poems. This was followed by a presentation by the teachers and students of Bengali from Delhi.
