| 8 BENGALI CLASSIC BOOKS |
ITS REALLY DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE 7 CLASSIC BOOKS WRITTEN BY BENGALI WRITER .
From Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s ANANDAMATH which inspired Indians to stand up against the British, to Mahasweta Devi’s AFTER KURUSHKHETRA . which gave a voice to the hitherto MERGINALISED SECTION OF SOCIETY .
Through this list, we invite you revisit classic Bengali literature, which has influenced and entertained generations of Indians.
1 . ANANDAMATH :
BANKIM CHANDA CHATTOPADHAYA ,
Set during the Bengal famine of 1770, ANANDAPATH played a crucial role in the INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE. The story follows a married couple, Mahendra and Kalyani, who are separated after leaving their famine-affected village.
2.GORA
RABINDRANATH TAGORE
Rabindranath Tagore’s GORA is an unprecedented classic set against the backdrop of PRE -INDEPENDENCED Bengal when religious unrest between Hindu nationalists and the Bramho Samaj was at its peak. GORA is a story about the turbulent religious awakening in Bengal through the eyes of a young man. When certain events affect their personal life, two young men, Gora, a staunch orthodox, and Binoy, his best friend, find themselves rethinking their religious beliefs.
3. AFTER KURUSHKHETRA :
MAHESWETA DEVI
Set in the aftermath of the Mahabharata, THIS is a short collection of three stories that centers around some of the female characters from THE MAHABHARATA. ‘The Five Women’ tells the tale of five lower-caste widows who become the companions of Uttara, Abhimanyu’s pregnant widow, while ‘Kunti And The Nishadin’ acts a reminder of a sin from Kunti’s past.
4 .PADMA NADIR MAJHI
MANIK BANDHOPADHAYA
THIS is the story of Kuber, a fisherman who lives in Ketupur and whose livelihood depends on the fish he catches from the river Padma. However, when a storm hits, many of the fishermen’s houses are destroyed and Kuber is forced to shelter his sister-in-law who becomes another mouth for him to feed. Soon, Kuber gets involved with Hossain Mian, a wily businessman who trades in opium, and while his financial troubles may be over, his life is changed forever. THIS is a powerful tale on the perils of poverty and of survival.
5 . CHOWRONGEE :
MANI SHANKAR MUKHERJEE
1950s Calcutta and is narrated by Shankar, an ambitious young man working at Shahjahan, one of Calcutta’s largest hotels. Shankar tells us the stories of the various guests, entertainers and visitors who come to the Shahjahan as well as its hotel staff and shows us the seamy underside of the city in the process.
6. PATHER PANCHALI
BIBHUTISHAN BANDHOPADHAYA
one family’s struggle to survive first in their village in rural Bengal and later in Varanasi, through the eyes of Opu and his elder sister, Durga. The book paints a vivid picture of village life – its simple beauty as well as what it means to be poor. It also highlights how differently Durga was treated by virtue of being a girl but how it didn’t dampen her spirit or her dreams. This poignant book is filled with raw emotion and simple yet layered writing that showcases the power of human will to overcome obstacles.
7 . PROTHOM PROTISHRUTI
MAHESWETA DEVI
it tells a story of Satyabati who was given away in marriage at the age of eight to maintain the social norms, and was kept under strict surveillance of brahmanical regulations
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