A NEW HISTORY OF BATTALA BOOKS BY ANINDITA GHOSE - 2026

From the mid-1870s onwards, a new genre of literature began to figure prominently at Battala and became the target of colonial and bhadralok reformers. Published as small pamphlets costing between one and four annas, prahasans or social farces were short skits written in racy and abusive language and voiced a stringent critique of the educated and well-to-do in society. Of the known writers, most came from the urban petty bourgeoisie and lower-caste groups.