Aadarsha Hindu Hotel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay [Hardcover]

Hajari Thakur is the male protagonist of the Bengali novel, portrayed as a middle-aged Brahmin who works as a cook at a hotel owned by Bechu Chakraborty, located near the Ranaghat railway station. The hotel is notorious for its dishonest practices, where customers are often cheated, and Padma, a maid at the establishment, frequently steals food. Hajari disapproves of these actions, but being just a cook, he feels powerless to intervene. He endures constant mockery and insults from Padma, who, despite her lower status, is the owner's mistress and wields significant influence.

Hajari harbors dreams of opening his own hotel, but he needs Rs. 200 to get started. He has a close relationship with Kusum, a young widow he considers like a daughter. After a series of unfortunate events, including the theft of utensils from his shop and subsequent arrest, Hajari loses his job.

With the help of loans from Kusum and Atashi, a girl from his village, Hajari fulfills his dream and establishes his own hotel. Through hard work and dedication, he quickly gains popularity, turning his hotel into the most sought-after dining establishment in the area. In contrast, Bechu Chakraborty’s hotel and that of Jadu Banerjee face closure due to the rising competition.

Hajari's success allows him to secure a contract to manage a government-run hotel at the railway platform. By the end of the novel, he signs a contract with a Gujarati company to oversee large railway hotels and prepares to move to Bombay. In an unexpected twist, he appoints Bechu Chakraborty as the manager of the market area hotel, despite Bechu's earlier disdain for him. Hajari also offers Padma a job, showing his capacity for forgiveness and growth, even towards those who have wronged him.