Beneath Kolkata’s vibrant sky, Abasar stands as a testament to Bengali culture. Abasar is more than just a location. It’s a dream realized by Bengali immigrants. Let’s explore the story behind Abasar.net a unique web magazine.
Abasar.net was conceived in 2000. It formally launched in 2002. Sujan DasGupta from New Jersey created it. The goal was ambitious. He wanted to create an encyclopedic resource. It would be for Bengali-speaking people everywhere.
Unlike typical webzines, Abasar chose a different path. It didn’t focus on literature alone. Instead, it aimed to provide in-depth information. The information covered a wide range of topics. The format was easy to understand. The font was accessible to all Bengalis.
Back in 2000, internet technology wasn’t mature. Creating web magazines was experimental. Yet, Abasar was born amidst this uncertainty. The inspiration came unexpectedly. It was from the great Indian epic Mahabharata.
Sumit Roy, based in New Jersey, wanted to build Bengali fonts. Fonts are crucial for computers to display a language. Sujan DasGupta ensured the Bengali characters looked good. Together, they created the Haraf font. They also produced a Haraf parser for Microsoft Word. This allowed users to transform English text into Bengali. It was like magic.
They used the font to write letters and emails. The print quality was far superior. They wrote stories and essays for magazines. A monthly magazine was even produced in New Jersey using the Haraf font. Publishing houses in Kolkata also used the technology.
Years later, Sujan felt a strong urge to study Mahabharata. He had a five-volume edition. It was written in old formal Bengali. Reading it was challenging. There were countless characters. It was easy to lose track of them. He created a list of characters in Microsoft Word. He gathered information about each character. Then he hyperlinked the names to their fact pages.
He showed this to everyone. People asked if he could post the information online. That way others could access it easily. This idea led to the launch of Abasar. The initial challenges were significant. The font needed to be available on the visitor’s computer. Otherwise, the text would appear as gibberish. Many users didn’t know how to download fonts.
Microsoft’s embedded fonts technology offered a solution. The fonts would download automatically. They would disappear when the visitor left the page. However, this required using Internet Explorer.
Sujan couldn’t get Sumit interested right away. After Sujan’s attempts, Sumit finally joined in. They fixed the problems with certain characters. Sujan posted his Mahabharata Bestiary online. Soon, search engines discovered the site. People started visiting.
This fueled Sujan’s ambition. He proposed launching a fact-based website. He suggested facts about Kolkata and Dhaka. Sumit wasn’t convinced. Sujan started collecting data. He chose the name Abasar. It means opportunity, vacation, or respite.
Sujan realized he needed help. He needed more than just Sumit. He designed the site. He used Dreamweaver and Photoshop.
Sumit suggested making the site more colorful. He also suggested adding poems and stories. Sujan refused due to bad experiences as an editor.
Sujan’s wife, Shamita Das Dasgupta, suggested focusing on women’s issues. Sujan noticed that men used the internet more than women. He thought a Bengali site would appeal to women. He prepared brochures on domestic abuse and health issues. He translated and paraphrased content.
Sumit suggested adding entertainment. Sujan created a section for riddles. Sumit then proposed a section on Bengali movies. Sumit’s father was involved in the Bengali film industry. Sumit designed the database. Sujan populated it. The list of players grew. It became overwhelming. He only managed to cover 1932-1960.
Visitors to Abasar increased. Sumit suggested posting entries from Bharatkosh. This is an encyclopedia in Bengali. Sujan obtained permission. Dr. Shankar Sen and Dr. Dipak Sengupta joined the project. They updated the old data. Shankar-da focused on environmental issues. A children’s section was started. Others contributed on music, travel and personal essays.
Abasar became the first Bengali website primarily presenting facts. It had over twenty thousand pages. Despite the challenges, Abasar continues to thrive. It stands as a testament to the dedication. It shows the vision of its creators. It’s a valuable resource for Bengalis worldwide.
As you leave Abasar remember the journey of Abasar.net. It began with a font. It became an online encyclopedia. It connects Bengali speakers across the globe.