Sujan Harbola by Satyajit Ray [Hardcover]

Satyajit Ray has written many books over the years, but he has not written a book quite like "Sujan Harbola." Until now, his primary focus had been on adolescents. For the first time, he has picked up his pen for a younger audience. He has invited them into a wondrous fairy tale kingdom, proving that, just as his achievements in other areas are undisputed, his legacy in Bengali children's literature is equally magnificent and assured.

"Sujan Harbola" contains four fairy tales, each as captivating as eternal fairy tales but without the monotonous clichés. While kings, queens, and princesses are present, none of the stories begin with the traditional "Once upon a time there was a king." Each story features characters from ordinary backgrounds, yet each is very talented—one sings well, another is generous, another is resolute, and one is a "Harbola," a person who mimics the sounds of various birds and animals perfectly.

Sujan was such a Harbola. He wasn't particularly bright in studies; instead, he would mimic animal sounds. Hence, he earned the name "Sujan Harbola." However, due to this unique talent, Sujan Harbola eventually found his fortune. The book's title story details how this happened. Similarly, Gangaram also found his fortune. Honest, selfless, and altruistic Gangaram discovered a strange stone while playing, and the story of how this stone changed his fortune is another tale titled "Gangaram's Fortune."

The book also includes two more fairy tales. One is "Ratan and Lakshmi," about a boy who turns into a demon, and the other is "Kanai’s Story," which describes how Kanai accomplishes the impossible with the help of two multi-colored fruits and a large shell given by the old man Jagaibaba.