Ganadebata o Panchagram Ekatre by Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay [Hardcover]

The story of "Panchagram" revolves around five villages – Shivkalipur, Mahagram, Dekhuria, Kusumpur, and Konkona. The "Ganadevata" (collective deity) of these villages is not any specific god or goddess, but living human beings. 

The novel Ganadevata presents a poignant portrayal of rural civilization in the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century, during the British colonial rule in India. The story highlights the struggles of villages overwhelmed by the feudal landlord system, tenant-landlord settlements, and increasing tax burdens. It vividly depicts the hardships and perseverance of people, as well as the love and hope that drive farmers to return to their fields time and again despite repeated setbacks.

In the author's own words: “The masses I knew did not live in cities – they lived in villages. … Society is their stage. At the center is the village settlement surrounding the Chandimandap (a village shrine). … With infinite care and love, people live around this shrine, which embodies their deity.”