Upanyas Samagra 2 by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

A prominent critic of our time has rightly written: "The river has no pretense—there is no facade in Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay’s novelist persona either. A vibrant childhood memory, a painful existential crisis, and a calm, detached observation—all these have shaped his writer's life with a profound sense of belief." One of the rare writers in Bengali fiction, Shirshendu's main strength lies in this belief. Amid all life's uncertainties, he speaks with immense courage about "an unambiguous transcendence." Even in the face of endless aimlessness around him, he remains brave. Here, he is a unique creator. In any of Shirshendu’s stories, we see that despite all the vulnerabilities, "the human anguish for humanity remains indomitable." At this moment, we traverse through a tumultuous time of life. Yet, within it, he seeks the sacred essence of humanity with deep affection. He believes there is a shelter somewhere, a place to return to. This ‘lover yet renunciant’ writer is imbued with "a profound yearning for an innocent, powerful love." In his own words, "I have tried to express this yearning in various ways in my writing. Yet, it seems I have still failed to convey the love within me to everyone... Does this world, this Kolkata, this country understand the unspoken love within me? Can everything be expressed through language?" Despite the author’s own doubts, the characters he creates carry "the waves of that love." Shirshendu's distinct yet detached style and observation in the novel have added a new dimension to Bengali fiction. All his novels are now being published in parts. This second volume includes six memorable novels: "Noyonshyama," "Ferighat," "Ashchorjo Bhramon," "Jaow Pakhi," "Jibonpatra," and "Shyowla.