The Story of the Bichitra Project

Abstract

This is an introductory chapter, in the project director’s personal vein, describing the origins of the Bichitra project and the way it was executed. Material was provided chiefly by Rabindra-Bhavana, Santiniketan, and its processing carried out by the School of Cultural Texts and Records, Jadavpur University, with funding from the Government of India. The director narrates his negotiations with the Rabindra-Bhavana authorities, and approval of the project by the Government. He then recounts the appointment of project staff, setting up of the project site and infrastructure, and procurement of primary material from Rabindra-Bhavana and other sources. He goes on to describe the actual conduct of the project: transcription and processing of the material, and creation of various analytic programs. The chapter concludes with some observations on the distinctive approach to the task required by the location and work environment.

A personal account by Sukanta Chaudhuri.