Issue 1 — October 2023

The world we inhabit—its customs and traditions, writers and institutions, and our individual memories—lies on a foundation of the past.  The past—be it a person or an ideal, a beloved dish, an ever-resurfacing motif, or a notion of tradition—is ever present; consistently shaping the currents of our lived moments and the experiences to come in due time. Each of these essays chosen for our inaugural issue provides a unique window to the past.   With striking visual imagery, Razia Sultana Khan’s essay recollects growing up in Communist China  and her father’s passion for collecting Chinese antiques. Sayani Sarkar explores the fascination which writers and artists have felt over centuries about grass, as an entity or an abstract concept. S. B. Shams gives a detailed overview of the subcontinent’s educational framework—from the antiquities to the present day—and ponders upon the current challenges riddling Bangladesh’s education system. Sarker Hasan Al Zayed writes about his delightful childhood memories of wedding feasts and offers a quaint and evocative portrait  of Bangladesh’s countryside. There is a lot to talk, read and write in this world. For people whose lives cater to reading i.e. a way to make sense of the world we live in, one cannot help but hold onto something tangible that will help anchor their ideas, thoughts, despairs and visions. Our little magazine, Littera, hopes to provide a home for readers and writers—to express and engage with the world around us.