EDITED BY- PINAKI MANDAL & PALLAB DAS COVER DESIGNED BY - ABIBRATA TOTAL PAGE-248 The genesis of Bengali Goyendas The modern detective characters in Bengali literature began to appear about fifty years after similar figures emerged in European literature, showing a notable delay in the develop-ment of this genre. It started in the late 19th century during a time of intellectual upheaval in colonial Bengal. The genre evolved through a mix of Western influences, local storytell-ing, and the social and political context of the area. From its early days, which featured serialised accounts by retired po-lice officials, it grew into a more complex form by the 20th century with well-known detectives like Byomkesh Bakshi, Feluda, and Kiriti Roy. Bengali detective fiction has engaged readers with its complex plots and thoughtful exploration of human behaviour.