Aesthetics of Gandhi
Gandhi’s thoughts are studied around the globe. He time and again confessed that one of the major elements that transformed his life is literature. Gandhi's ideas on aesthetics is an important part of his philosophy. It is also true that a part of his philosophy has grown up through his taste for art and literature. This book deals with the Gandhian understanding of art, literature and beauty and his interpretation of genres of art and literature including architecture, painting, music, theatre, folklore, craft, etc. The readers will also be acquainted to Gandhi's remark on a large number of artists and literateurs which include such varied icons as Kabir, Gorky, Bankim, Tolstoy, Tulsidas, Ruskin, Swift, Tagore, Bidyasagar, Keats, Tennyson, Iqbal, Carlyle, Valmiki, Kipling, Kalidas, Wordsworth, Russel, Shakespeare, Aesop, Bethoven, Milton, Tchechov, Rolland, Bernard Shaw, Rumi, etc.
Syed Mohammad Shahed is currently Professor of Bengali at the University of Dhaka. He was awarded Ph.D. in 1986 by the same university for his thesis Chadai Bangali Samaj O Samscrity (1988). He was post-doctoral visiting research scholar (1990-93) at the Nagoya National University, Japan and has done research on Comparative Study of Bengali and Japanese Folk Rhymes (1993). His other publications include history of Modern Bengali Rhymes (Chadar Ishkul); life of Ramesh Sheel and his works (Agrathita Gitiguccha, Aprakasthita Kabitabali & Ramesh Sheel Rachanabali); life and works of Fani Barua etc. Dr. Shahed was Director-General, Bangla Academy (2007-09); Trustee, Bangladesh National Museum and Member, National Commission for UNESCO. He has been actively associated with a number of reputed orgaizations including Khelaghar, Bangladesh Council for Child Welfare, UN Association of Bangladesh and World Federation of UNAs (Geneva). Dr. Shahed has participated in a number of seminars in South Asia, North America, Europe, South-East Asia and China.