Bidyanondo Publication: The Unwritten Stories

This is the story of how people who cannot write became authors
24% of Bangladesh’s population cannot read or write
The storytellers among them share stories orally
These stories are rooted into our culture,
But it can all be lost when their tellers pass away.
Since no one publishes their stories.
On the other hand, many educated authors steal and appropriate their stories.
They receive no credit, no renumeration, no recognition.

Bidyando Publication wanted to break this tradition
with The Unwritten Stories,
A platform to turn storytellers who can’t write into published authors.
Stories were collected from every corner of the country
by a team of writers and volunteers.
Stories were then selected and compiled
Books were designed, published and launched
at the largest book fair in the country.
(Interview:)

Within the first 2 days, books were out of stock.
Half of the money generated from sales
continues to be given as royalties.
And the other half goes to educational charities
to help the future generations read and write.

This is how stories were allowed to live and a culture was preserved.