Path Pronami: How Bangladeshi writers monetise ‘reader’s gratitude’ through social media

Illustration: TBS

On 5 September this year, Akhtaruzzaman Azad, a Bangladeshi author and columnist, published an article on his Facebook page about the proposed change to Bangladesh's national anthem, a topic under discussion in the country at the time.

In the 3,600-word article, Azad asked for Pathok Sommani, or reader's gratitude, a practice he started in April 2020. He provided the number of a mobile finance service account where readers could send money.

Azad reported receiving Tk92,000 for that single article — the highest he has received for a single article through this model. Over the past four years, Azad has published more than 120 such articles.

"When I started this, many told me it was an internationally recognised performance model, already widely used by musicians and artists. After I began, I noticed Bangladeshi creators and artistes accepting it as well," Azad said.

In the last two years, Arif Rahman, another Bangladeshi writer, has posted over 80 such articles on his Facebook page, asking for Pronami. These articles typically range from 700 to 800 words. Initially,

Arif received a strong response from readers, but over time, the interest seemed to decline.

"At first, I even considered quitting my job to do this full-time," said Arif, a Dhaka-based journalist, adding, "We writers have a certain social media audience, and for them, it works like a subscription model. But eventually, readers may feel they've already 'paid' the writer, creating a barrier."

This, he says, is why interest sometimes wanes.

The social media "chain reaction," however, can also play a strong role; when an article is widely shared, people from different backgrounds tend to notice it and may send money. But this momentum typically peaks within three days, according to Arif, although it can sometimes last up to a week, resulting in inconsistent growth.

"Still, I've never posted a write-up that earned nothing. At least some amount always comes in," he added.

Arif's earnings for each article have varied, from Tk2 to as much as Tk10,000 from a single reader. On average, he has earned around Tk2,500 for each of his 80 articles. "Most readers think Tk50–70 is a respectable amount, though initially, the average was Tk100."

Like Arif and Azad, other writers, poets, and even singers have adopted this model, asking for Pathok Sommani or Path Pronami. This model allows readers to directly support creators financially via mobile payment systems as they publish their work on social media platforms.

Poet Shoikot Amin sees it as "almost like performance art".

"Writers are also performing artists, in a sense. In many countries, live performers are given tips or rewards like food. Why can't we do the same? If we pay to attend live concerts, why not pay a writer for their work?" Shoikot commented.

One of Bangladeshi writer Arif Rahman's motivations for this model was the challenges he faced with traditional publishing. "The time and expenses of writing a manuscript far exceed the royalties I earn. For Bidrohi Puran, I spent Tk50,000 on research materials, but the 10% book royalty couldn't cover even half the investment," Arif noted.

Why are writers adopting this concept?

Akhtaruzzaman Azad writes long-form articles on political issues, often criticising the government and political figures. "When I started, publishing such articles was difficult; most newspapers were reluctant due to policies and filters. So, I decided to publish on my social media page, where I alone was accountable," Azad explained.

"Additionally, Bangladeshi newspapers, on average, pay Tk500–2,000 for articles and online portals offer even less. And even then, we have to chase them for payment," he added.

Writing these pieces involves substantial research and time investment, often with risks under laws like the Cyber Security Act. "Each article takes around 10–12 hours to complete. After posting it, a few likes and shares don't feel like fair compensation. That's why I began asking for honorarium," he shared.

Azad leaves the payment open-ended, allowing readers to pay whatever amount they wish. This is how his journey with Pathok Sommani, or honorarium from readers, began. As an independent creator, he does not follow a fixed schedule; he posts articles based on relevance and context, sometimes publishing just one article every three months or two in a week.

Arif Rahman began using this model on Facebook in 2022, inspired by one of his favourite poets, Rahman Mofiz.

"However, I try to maintain certain ethics. I share political ideas and personal thoughts on my platform but only ask for support for feature articles that are unbiased, well-sourced and fact-checked," he said. Arif's focus is on comparative theology and cultural studies.

His articles on social media are often part of larger projects or upcoming books. However, when he includes them in a book, he has to make changes to create continuity.

"For example, when I wrote Bidrohi Puran, each chapter was over 5,000 words, which is too long for social media. I made adjustments to publish them as standalone articles online. For the book, I connected them more seamlessly," he explained.

One of Arif's motivations for this model was the challenges he faced with traditional publishing. "The time and expenses of writing a manuscript far exceed the royalties I earn. For Bidrohi Puran, I spent Tk50,000 on research materials, but the 10% book royalty couldn't cover even half the investment," Arif noted.

He added, "Bangladesh's publishing industry heavily favours publishers, with most authors receiving royalties of only 10–15%. As a writer, if my book is priced at Tk500, I receive just Tk50 in royalties. How can one sustain a living on that?"

Readers want a personal connection with authors, and through Path Pronami, this relationship is directly forged.

Poet Shoikot Amin shares Arif's concerns about royalties in Bangladesh's publishing industry and the need for alternative income sources.

Before launching on social media, Shoikot tested this model with his poetry book Bomar Kholoshe Buddha (Buddha in the Jacket of an Explosive), published at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2020 without a set price, instead leaving payment open-ended.

"Some paid Tk2, while one reader paid Tk2,000. It's not necessarily sustainable for the industry, but I wanted to see how readers valued poetry," Shoikot said.

Since then, he has posted 15–20 articles on social media, receiving Tk2,000–2,500 on average within 24 hours of publication. Shoikot believes Pathok Sommani can be a source of inspiration for writers.

Not all is rosy in this model though.

Copyright infringement is a common problem for these writers. While Shoikot Amin views copying as a form of flattery and has never acted against "content thieves," Azad has taken action against at least three individuals.

"Through local police stations, I held them accountable. However, I eventually stopped pursuing these cases, as it was time-consuming and led to calls from their family members saying the 'thieves' were experiencing extreme distress," Azad said.