By Zura.hell

SOPHIE MARGOLIN

Must Read Bengali Books

This list is not exhaustive and I have missed out on a lot of gems while writing this so please feel free to add few more books in the comments. So here it goes:

Chander Pahar(Mountain of the moon) by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay is a novel based on the adventures of an ordinary young man named Shankar who gets a job at the Uganda Railway services. The story talks about Shankar’s encounter with dangerous creatures and his search for the mountain of the moon along with his companion Alvarez. It is a short and enthralling read. The descriptions are so vivid that you’ll feel as if you’re watching it all unfold in front of your eyes. If you want to start with Bengali literature, you can begin with this one. (English translation is available)

Shei Shomoy and Prothom Alo(Those Days and First Light) by Sunil Gangopadhyay. Read these books for the language, for the beautiful storytelling and to know more about Bengal Renaissance. These books are non-fictional ones but written in a fictional style, the way the story sprawls out is captivating, it offers a detailed picture of the evolution of culture, religion, society and education during the Renaissance. All the main characters in these books are important historical figures and through their story, you get a glimpse of the past. You have to read these two books as they are both fine pieces of Bengali literature. (English translations are available)

Srikanta by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is a story named after its protagonist who happens to be a young man drifting aimlessly from one place to another, experimenting new things. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is known as the wordsmith of Bengali literature, and he knew how to weave enigmatic stories. Through his story, we meet various characters and how the characters greatly influence Srikanta’s life. The story also highlights the flaws of our society and the need for radical changes. It is an exceptionally beautiful story written lucidly with lots of layers.

Padma Nadir Majhi (Boatman of the river Padma) by Manik Bandyopadhyay is a heart-touching novel about the people whose livelihood depended on the river Padma. The river plays a pivotal role in the story as the lives of the characters are completely dependent on it. Manik Bandyopadhyay has built up a beautiful story around a small community of people, the characters are simple yet lead very diverse lives. All the characters have different challenges in life and their own way of going about their problems. While reading this, we are all transferred to the small village of Moynakhali beside the Padma and the small world over there. This story is again one of the finest Bengali stories and will break your heart. (English translation is available)

Pratham Pratishruti (The first promise) by Ashapura Debi is a path-breaking novel narrating a story of a child bride, Satyabati and her struggle to survive in a patriarchal society. The story unfolds in the backdrop of the nineteenth century colonial Bengal where women’s conditions were pitiful, in such a situation a young girl aspires to educate herself in a society which weds off young girls and sends them to their in-laws to produce children. In that glorious time, this young girl was brave enough to learn to write, to speak her mind and take her first step to women liberation. This book will stir your soul, especially if you are a woman. It is a beautiful work, please do give this a read. (English translation is available)

Golpo 101 by Satyajit Ray is a collection of short stories written by the legend himself. The topics vary from sci-fi to dystopia. Ray is an amazing storyteller even through his writing. I highly recommend this book to slow readers and people who have just started with Bengali literature, as it is extremely engrossing and written lucidly, you’ll finish this book in no time. (The English translations of these stories are available)

Anandamath by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is a story set in the backdrop of the pre-independence struggle and the plight of the people of that time. It is one of the most remarkable stories written in Indian literature. It has different dimensions- nationalism, scarcity of food and hunger, rebellion, women’s contribution towards the movement. The origin of the song “Vande Mataram” is this book, which became the slogan for the freedom struggle in the coming years. Despite this being a fictional story, it holds up the essence of the struggle for independence, the exploitation under the British Raj and will remind you about the duties of the people to their motherland (English translation is available).

Gora by Rabindranath Tagore is a story set in Calcutta during the British Raj and covers the political, cultural and religious scenario of that time. This book is fictional and philosophical at the same time and will leave a profound mark in your mind. It is a bit difficult to read this story because of its complex language and its length, but it is a beautiful piece of work. Tagore’s characters are strong and have a diverse way of thinking. They demolish rigid societal norms and prejudicial way of thinking by their rational approach in life. There is a lot to learn from these characters and the story revolving around them, I am sure you’ll enjoy reading this (English translation is available).

These are few go-to lighthearted Bengali books you can read for a good laugh. Narayan Debnath is the creator of some of the best Bengali comics namely, Handa-Bhonda, Nonte-Fonte and Bantul-the great. Tenida Samagra is a collection of stories written by Narayan Gangopadhyay about a group of four boys and their small pursuits. The stories are hilarious because the protagonist Tenida is a very peculiar person who talks about doing great things but does nothing other than eating good food and whiling away his time with his friends. The stories are written in a comical style and are mostly conversations between friends.

“What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul.”

Neil Gaiman

College Street, Kolkata

“The eleventh way to be noble: collecting precious things for the needs of a high and fastidious soul to possess nothing in common; one’s own books, one’s own landscapes.”

—F. Nietzsche, The Will to Power, §943 (edited excerpt).

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