Upanyas Samagra 7 by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

"A prominent critic of our time has aptly written: ‘Just as a river has no pretense, neither does Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay’s novelist persona. A lively childhood memory, a painful identity crisis, and a calm, detached observation—above all, a profoundly gentle spirituality have shaped his literary life.’ One of the rare writers in Bengali literature, Shirshendu’s greatest strength lies in this sense of faith. Amid all the uncertainties of life, he speaks of an unwavering transcendence with immense courage. Even when surrounded by endless confusion, he remains bold. In this, he is a unique creator. In any of Shirshendu’s stories, despite the surrounding desolation, we see the ‘relentless human anxiety for humanity.’ At this moment, life is passing through a turbulent time, yet in the midst of it, he tenderly seeks the sacred essence of humanity. He believes that there is a refuge somewhere, a place to return to. In all of his works, this ‘loving yet detached’ author is deeply intertwined with a ‘naïve and intense longing for love.’ In his own words, ‘I have tried to express this longing in many ways in my writing. Yet I feel, due to the failure of my expression, I still haven’t been able to convey the love within me to everyone... Does this world, this Kolkata, this country understand, or can they understand, my unspoken love? Can everything be expressed through language?’ Despite the author’s own doubts, his created characters carry that ‘wave of love.’ In the style and construction of his novels, Shirshendu’s calm yet detached approach and perspective have added a new dimension to Bengali literature. His entire collection of novels is now being published in volumes. This seventh volume includes six memorable novels: Hridaybrittanto, Tithi, Kapurus, Chena-Ochena, Jor-Bijor, and Parthib (Part One)."