Battala by Shripantha [Hardcover]

"Madhuras kotha bhai janibe tahate, bandha Bottolay tare diyachhi chapite…"

In the 19th century, North Kolkata’s Battala was a thriving hub for Bengali printed books. But was Battala confined only to Kolkata’s boundaries? The author argues otherwise—Battala was present elsewhere too. In every major city across the world, alongside elite high culture, a distinct and spontaneous stream of popular folk culture flourished—parallel and equally dynamic. Whether in Dhaka, London, or Paris, no city was exempt from this cultural divide.

Was Battala literature merely about crude sentimentality and sensationalist books? Certainly not. While often dismissed as frivolous, true pornography was rare in Battala’s vast collection. Instead, its literary wealth was diverse, significant, and rich in creative expression. The author asserts that Battala played a historic role in mass education. There was also a regular exchange between elite courtly literature and this urban folk literature. Many writers contributed to both—the refined, highbrow audience with one hand and the Battala press with the other.

Moreover, the engravers and printers of Battala played a remarkable role in shaping the artistic taste of the masses. This book offers, perhaps for the first time, a meticulously researched and detailed discussion on the much-discussed and often maligned Battala books and illustrations. SriPantha’s unique perspective and engaging narrative style add further value to this work, making it a must-read for those interested in the history of Bengal’s popular print culture.