Patamanjari by Avik Sarkar [Hardcover]

Going back several years to a tumultuous time in Bengal’s history when anarchy raged on, famine and starvation left people in hunger, mass brutality and torture was the royal order of the day; we are transported to an era bathed in darkness and anguish. A collective voice rose against this atrocity: the voice of the common man joined forces with the leadership of Shaiva and Sahajiya clan to bring in an unprecedented revolution in the heart of Bengal. Raja Gopal, first king of the Pal dynasty, was elected to the throne by the masses, a major historical milestone. Avik Sarkar’s unique visual narrative takes us through the death of King Shasanka, the lawlessness and desperation following his death, power dynamics among various factions and finally the rise of Pal dynasty restoring Bengal’s glory. Patamanjari is an expansive novel set against the backdrop of Bengal’s past where treachery, envy, conspiracy, mutiny, valour and love imbue each page with a heart-stopping excitement and thrill ! An extraordinary read.