Nissanga Maharaj by Ujjwal Chattopadhyay [Hardcover]

Nandakumar returned home to Bhadrapur from Dhaka, burdened with deep hurt, frustration, sorrow, and humiliation. By the time he arrived, evening had descended, and the sounds of temple bells and conch shells from the evening worship echoed in the distance. As he stepped into the courtyard with his bag, he saw Khemankari lighting the evening lamp at the basil altar. Trying to avoid her gaze, Nandakumar walked ahead, but Khemankari noticed him. She finished her prayer, adjusted her veil slightly, and asked, "You didn’t face any trouble there, did you?"

Without replying, Nandakumar placed his bag down. Seeing his desolate face, Khemankari grew worried. “What happened? Why do you look so down?” she asked.
With a faint smile, Nandakumar responded, "Nothing, nothing happened."
“‘Nothing happened’? But your face tells a different story! Didn’t you get the job?” she insisted.
Lowering his head, Nandakumar silently admitted the truth.
"But why?" Khemankari asked, perplexed.
"I don’t know. Maybe I wasn’t qualified for the job. Or maybe someone else was more..." he began.
Before he could finish, Khemankari snapped, "How could they judge you without seeing your work? And how could you just walk away without saying anything?”

Nandakumar smiled faintly. He thought to himself—what else could he do? He had no choice but to endure it. The humiliation he suffered that day was unbearable, as if they had thrown him out with a shove. Even if not in words, their attitude conveyed clearly: You don’t deserve this job. Leave.

The most painful blow came from Rajballabh, who could have easily helped a friend. Ramgopal was right: Rajballabh’s real intent was to secure the post of principal for his eldest son so that he himself could become the dewan of Dhaka. That would have been fine, but he could have said it directly. Why pretend and twist words? People will do anything for their own interests!

This passage is from Ujjal Chattopadhyay's novel, a compelling work that revives the story of Maharaja Nandakumar from the depths of historical obscurity. While contemporary narratives portray Nandakumar as an unfortunate man executed on charges of forgery, the novel argues otherwise. It highlights Nandakumar as the first martyr of India, a victim of a vile conspiracy.

Upon closer examination, Nandakumar emerges as a rare figure—a patriot, skilled administrator, public welfare advocate, conscientious revenue officer, and man of integrity. Despite repeated misfortune and betrayal, he fought his battles alone with unwavering spirit.

The author relies heavily on historical facts, dusting off the forgotten pages of history to present the lonely and ill-fated Nandakumar to readers. This novel is not only a captivating read for the general audience but also an intriguing resource for students and scholars of history.