Bahanlipi by Goutam Kumar Dey [Hardcover]

Whenever we step out on the streets, we often come across fascinating words and pictures written on the backs of buses, trucks, taxis, and auto-rickshaws. These words are referred to as "Bahanlipi" (vehicle writing), and the pictures are called "Bahanchitra" (vehicle art). In his book "Bahanlipi", Gautam Kumar De has tirelessly collected countless examples of these writings and artworks, presenting nearly six thousand samples.

The author analyses and demonstrates that the social value of Bahanlipi is significant. Each word is a crafted expression, a form of communication that conveys a message. It’s evident that, as time progresses, the perspectives on the writing and the style of illustration evolve as well. Such an effort in the Bengali language is undoubtedly quite rare.

Through this book, Gautam Kumar De not only catalogs the creative expressions seen on the streets but also brings attention to the changing dynamics of communication in a rapidly transforming society.