Upanyas Samagra 8 by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

"A prominent critic of modern times has rightly written: ‘A river has no pretensions—similarly, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay’s narrative voice bears no affectation. A vibrant childhood memory, a painful identity crisis, and calm, detached observation—above all, an all-encompassing gentle faith have shaped his writing career.’ One of the rare writers in Bengali fiction, Shirshendu’s primary strength is this sense of faith. Despite life’s myriad doubts, he courageously speaks of ‘an unwavering transcendence.’ Even while standing amidst endless confusion, he remains brave. Here, he is a unique creator. In any of Shirshendu’s stories, despite all the surrounding distress, we see an ‘indomitable human anxiety for humanity.’ Currently, life is crossing through a turbulent time. Yet, in the midst of this, he searches for the sacred essence of humanity with utmost care. He believes that there is a place of refuge somewhere, a place to return to. This sense of faith is intertwined with the works of this ‘lover yet ascetic’ writer, imbued with ‘a profound and overwhelming longing for love.’ In his own words, ‘I have tried to express this longing in various ways in my writings. Yet, it feels as though, due to the failure of my expression, I have not been able to convey the inner love I hold to everyone... Can this world, this Kolkata, this country understand my unspoken love? Can everything be expressed through language?’ Despite the writer’s own doubts, his characters carry ‘the wave of that love.’ In the style and construction of his novels, Shirshendu’s calm yet detached approach and vision have added a new dimension to Bengali fiction. All his novels are now being published in volumes. This eighth volume contains eight memorable novels: Harano Moni, Padakkhep, Marich, Goynar Baksho, Pipul, Gharjamai, Haatbar, and the final part of Parthib."