Sekaler Goyenda Kahini Vol-4 by Arindam Dasgupta [Hardcover]

This passage discusses the significant yet often overlooked role of women in the early history of Bengali detective fiction. It highlights how, in the early 20th century, women were enthusiastic readers of detective stories, as these narratives provided them with a glimpse into the outside world. Whether educated young women or homemakers, many were captivated by detective fiction. However, despite their active engagement as readers, their contributions as writers have largely remained unrecognized.

One reason for this neglect is the lack of historical documentation, but another is the prevailing mindset of the time. Women were primarily seen as consumers of literature, not creators. Yet, by the late 1910s, they began writing detective stories themselves—a role that was neither easy nor widely accepted. They faced resistance, criticism, and difficulties in getting published. Publishers often withheld opportunities from them, attempting to suppress their works. Still, between 1918 and 1942, approximately thirty detective novels by women were published as books.

Faced with challenges in traditional publishing, many female writers turned to magazines, where their detective stories and novels found a readership. They also proved their skill in translation, matching their male counterparts in adapting English detective fiction into Bengali. Most of the novels included in this anthology were initially serialized in periodicals, with only a few later published as books.

A common argument against women’s authorship in detective fiction has been the claim that men ghostwrote these stories for them. However, given that there was no established market for female detective writers, there was little incentive for publishers to falsely attribute male-authored works to women. If anything, the reverse scenario—women’s work being published under male names—was more likely.

The process of compiling this anthology has raised many questions about the history of women’s contributions to Bengali detective fiction. While not all mysteries have been resolved, this collection serves as a valuable acknowledgment of female writers’ presence in the genre. It offers detective fiction enthusiasts a rare opportunity to explore the works of largely unknown yet significant women authors.