Maidan O Panshala by Rahul Purakayastha [Hardcover]

Not in "white-collar pubs," but in "brown-collar bars" and lower-class grounds, stories take shape. These tales often feature marginalized individuals reminiscent of Gorky's "Lower Depths," who pour the last drop of sweat-bought liquor into their throats. There are strange characters who cannot be boxed into the familiar world. There remain those poet and artist worshippers of alcohol who have always felt 'at home' in this subaltern environment. Sitting in the alley pubs, they shout, "I prefer my Khalasitola."

Laborers from Bihar, along with their families, seek a slice of the weekend in the Sunday grounds, with Ramkatha, Biraha songs, or the madari's performances. There are Suleiman, Shahjahan, and Mumtaz. At another corner of the grounds, there is a silent witness to a poet's murder.

This collection of sharp prose by Rahul Purkayastha, illustrated by Hiran Mitra, is a bit intoxicated but not incoherent. Often magical, but not imaginary. The once-obscure book has been newly rebuilt with two new writings and several new illustrations.