The 9th book by teacher, writer and organiser Pranab Kanti Deb, Jana Pathe Ajana Prantare, has been published by Abhra Prakashan, with the cover designed by acclaimed artist Dhruba Esh.
Rather than a conventional account of places and journeys, the academic travelogue traces Deb’s experiences in education, research, international conferences, professional networking and his continuing pursuit of knowledge.
The book offers an account of the professional and intellectual journey of a teacher whose travels have been closely connected with learning, research and academic exchange.
Deb is currently an associate professor in the Department of English at Sylhet International University. Since the beginning of his career, he has regularly participated in seminars and symposia, seeking to bring new ideas and perspectives into his teaching.
He has attended nearly 50 conferences at home and abroad and presented his research at many of them. In the book, he revisits those journeys, bringing together experiences, observations, personal reflections and insights from conferences, seminars and other academic events.
The book’s contents reflect the range of his academic travels. They include his first BELTA conference at the beginning of his teaching career, his first international conference in Nepal and academic visits to various universities in India.
It also recounts his participation in IATEFL, the world’s largest conference for English language teachers, held in England, and the TESOL Convention in the United States.
Among the other experiences documented in the book are his participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) at the invitation of the US government and his observations on Bangladesh’s education system.
The book presents travel writing through the lens of education and intellectual inquiry. While conventional travel writing often focuses on places, landscapes, people and cultures, Deb’s narrative connects travel with academic experiences and knowledge-seeking.
By placing personal experiences within broader academic and cultural contexts, he offers a different perspective on the familiar genre of travel writing.
Deb has long been involved in higher education, English language and literature, research and various academic and organisational activities.
Alongside teaching, he has encouraged students to engage with knowledge and creativity and sought to connect them with the wider international academic community through his writing and organisational initiatives.
With the publication of the book, his total number of published books in Bangla and English has reached nine.
Apurba Sharma, publisher of Abhra Prakashan, said the book is both an addition to Deb’s work as a writer and a record of his long academic journey as a teacher.
According to Sharma, the book reflects a spirit of curiosity — a desire to move beyond familiar paths in search of the unknown, learn from new experiences and share knowledge with others. He said that spirit is reflected in both the title and the substance of the book.
The publisher expressed hope that the book would appeal to teachers, students, researchers and readers of travel literature.