Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay [Hardcover]

This novel beautifully captures the magical, tender, and poignant world of childhood, filled with boundless joy and innocent dreams. The writing evokes a sense of nostalgia, taking the reader back to the unrestrained happiness of a childhood shaped by the nurturing hands of nature. Through Apu and Durga, we are effortlessly transported to the bamboo groves, fields, and riverbanks of their world. The moonlight, storms, and the act of collecting mangoes—all these moments bring us back to an enchanting childhood. However, this magical world cannot escape the harsh realities of life. The transition from a dream-filled world to the harsh truths of reality reveals the helplessness of a young boy in the face of life’s cruelty. By the end of the book, the reader is left with a deep yearning for those lost days, for those vanished dreams, with a longing to return to childhood once more.

The author masterfully describes not only the beauty of nature but also vividly portrays Apu and Durga's carefree wanderings in the rural landscape. Despite the poverty that surrounds their family, they still manage to enjoy the simple joys of rural childhood in their own way.

While reading, it often feels like different characters take the spotlight. Though Apu is the main character of Pather Panchali, Durga plays a significant role in shaping Apu into who he is. She introduces him to various aspects of nature, feeding him fruits they collect from trees, and nurturing him with love. There’s a memorable moment where Durga brings home a mango from somewhere and tells Apu to fetch oil and salt so they can pickle it together.

Because of their poverty, the family doesn’t get to enjoy fancy meals, and the parents can’t afford to fulfill the children’s small desires. Yet nature seems to extend its hand to satisfy their longings. They collect different fruits from trees, eating them as if blessed by nature, the sweetness of the mangoes tasting like molasses.

Sometimes they run across the village from one end to the other, losing themselves in their travels, driven by an intense desire to explore. When it’s time to return home, they struggle to find their way back, and sometimes they don’t make it back until well after dark.

There’s one occasion where both of them set out early and a heavy rainstorm hits. Their mother becomes frantic with worry, asking everyone if they’ve seen the two children. The storm worsens, and the sight of the pouring rain increases her fear. Eventually, drenched and tired, Durga and Apu return home late, not due to any fault of their own but because they had been delayed by the storm.

Soaking wet, they enter the house, and their wandering for that day comes to an end.

Life is so sweet because much of its sweetness is built on dreams and imagination. Even if the dreams are false and the imagination is devoid of reality, even if they don’t always bring fulfillment, they are life’s greatest treasures. Let these dreams and imaginations come, and let them take an eternal place in life, for trivial successes and gains mean nothing in comparison.