Upanyas Samagra 12 by Sunil Gangopadhyay [Hardcover]

In the 1960s, when poet Sunil Gangopadhyay was writing his first novel, "Yuvak-Yuvatir," purely on his own whims and with no urgency to publish, the landscape of Bengali novels underwent significant changes. The characters of that era's stories sought liberation not in the shadows of romance but in introspection and self-absorption. Young men and women set out to find the meaning of life in their own unique ways. Yet, the coherence of life had broken down, and words had lost their meanings. Nevertheless, readers were not mistaken in recognizing their anguish. Sunil Gangopadhyay himself identified this backdrop as "incomprehensible restlessness." This restlessness was rooted in the profound pain of searching for self-realization. Gangopadhyay's defining self-expression as a storyteller emerged in "Atmaprakash" (Self-Revelation). His journey beyond the confines of Bengali literature's geography, which began with this novel, is a remarkable achievement. That journey has not yet stopped. In the world of Bengali novels, Sunil Gangopadhyay has become an institution in himself. His knowledge of the novel, skill in character portrayal, creation of richly detailed human figures, sense of time, values, choice of diverse stories, eagerness for existential inquiry, quest for truth, and aesthetic beauty—all these are his mastery. In every area, he is distinct and brilliant. His novels are a treasure of Bengali literature. From his first novel to those written at the dawn of the 21st century, Sunil remains equally vibrant and lively. Under his hand, the novel as an art form has gained new respect. An arrangement has been made for the publication of all of Sunil Gangopadhyay's novels in volumes. Eleven volumes of the complete novels have been published earlier. Now, Volume 12 includes "Uttaradhikar," "Bishakha," "Nyay O Nayay," "Chhobi," "Parmita," "Shakuntala," "Jai," "Kajri," "Samudratire," "Ei Prithibi," "Ekta Nadiyer Naam," "Kalpanar Nayak," "Amader Seisob Din," "Kishore O Sannyasini," "Alpana Ar Shikha," and "Shikhar Theke Shikhare."