With over 750 entries, this dictionary of Bengali people, culture, and history spans the years 1600 BCE to 2011. K. Chakrabarti and S. Chakrabarti precede the main body of the text with . . . helpful supplementary material, including an introduction that establishes the scope of the volume. They cover histories of Bengalis in Bangladesh, the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, and the diaspora. Maps of the three South Asian regions of focus lack careful identification and citation, and curiously are labeled 'sketch maps.' Dictionary entries skew heavily toward biography, with some exceptions: coverage of geography, culture, and social movements also figure in the text. Each entry highlights cross-references in boldface; sadly, no entries feature footnotes or individual lists of sources consulted. A lack of subaltern perspectives and analysis is evident; e.g., the book features an entry on upper-caste Bhadralok groups, but none on Bengali Dalit people. Even as a lengthy, conclusive bibliography opens up a trove of research sources to readers, tracing the connections between that body of work and the authors' own research and writing processes is difficult. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice Reviews

This volume opens with a necessarily brief introduction to the history of the Bengalis who are located in the northeastern part of South Asia, more specifically Bangladesh, West Bengal, and Tripura. Its authors, a professor of ancient Indian history at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and an associate profess of history at Dayal Singh College in New Delhi, review the history, begin with an introductory essay discussing how the Bengalis have influenced culture within their region, particularly in the areas of political consciousness and cultural accomplishments. With sections on current political trends and economic mapping along with a discussion of the cultural fabric of the people, the reader gains a solid background for use of the dictionary itself with its hundreds of cross-referenced entries. These entries range from very short to several pages long and include discussions of many specific individuals from the full range of the history to consideration of movements and other topics, such as places, events, institutions, economy, politics, and culture. Of particular interest to some may be the many entries about the Bengali's contributions to the arts, political thought, and religious thought. The volume also includes a chronological outline, maps, and a very extensive topical bibliography. This historical dictionary can thus serve as an excellent starting point to learn about this people. Furthermore, its accessible language makes it easily comprehensible to the interested lay public. Ultimately, the volume will make an excellent addition to academic libraries, both colleges and larger high schools, as well as to general library systems.

American Reference Books Annual

A helpful chronology concentrating more on the modern period; an excellent general introduction. . . .[T]he dictionary proper. . . .containing a vast amount of . . . information, arranged in an English alphabetized order, [and] a well-organized 70-page bibliography. . . .I would warmly recommend this book as a useful resource for all libraries catering to readers who wish to extend their knowledge of a major grouping in the world's population.

Reference Reviews