… And when old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders.

Ashram, a Sanskrit word adopted into Bangla, means a hermitage where sages and ascetics pursue enlightenment. Inspired by this idea, the Ashram magazine was founded in 2009 as a platform for Bangladeshi-Canadian writers to explore creativity and celebrate cultural identity.

It was originally published as a monthly print magazine in Bangla and distributed mostly in Ottawa and Montreal. Since 2017, it has been published online in both Bangla and English to help bridge the linguistic divide between Bangla-speaking and other Canadians.

Ashram is dedicated to promoting inclusive literary conversation by showcasing fiction and nonfiction by established and emerging writers from Canada and elsewhere. Through this platform, writers are encouraged to push boundaries and present ideas that inspire readers to question and collaborate.

Ashram also acknowledges that its virtual home in Ottawa is on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, and will honour this recognition by actively building relationships with Indigenous writers.

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