Upanyas Samagra 3 by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

A prominent critic of our time has rightfully written: "A river has no pretense—neither does the novelist persona of Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. A vibrant childhood memory, a painful crisis of identity, and a calm, detached observation—above all, a pervasive, gentle belief in spirituality have shaped his writing life." One of the rarest strengths of Bengali fiction, Shirshendu's main power lies in his sense of spirituality. Even amid life's uncertainties, he speaks of "a certain, unwavering transcendence" with immense courage. Standing amidst endless confusion and directionlessness, he remains brave. In this, he is a unique creator. In any of Shirshendu’s stories, we see that despite the overwhelming perils all around, there is an "indomitable human concern for humanity." At present, life is crossing through a troubled time, but even in this, he lovingly searches for the sacred nature of humankind. He believes that somewhere, there is a refuge, a place to return to. This sense of spirituality is intricately tied to this "loving yet ascetic" writer’s entire body of work, imbued with "an innocent, overwhelming yearning for love." In his own words, "I have tried in many ways to express this yearning in my writing. Yet, I feel, due to the failure of my expression, perhaps I have not yet been able to make everyone understand the love within me... Does this world, this Kolkata, this country, understand my unspoken love? Can everything be expressed through language?" Despite the author's personal doubts, his created characters carry the "wave of that love." Shirshendu's composed yet detached style and vision in the craft and construction of his novels have added a new dimension to Bengali fiction. A compilation of his complete novels is now being published in multiple volumes. This third volume contains eleven memorable novels: Rokter Bish (Poison of Blood), Kagojer Bou (Paper Wife), Shunyer Udyan (Garden of the Void), Lal Neel Manush (Red Blue Man), Fazal Ali Aschhe (Fazal Ali is Coming), Kshoy (Decay), Neelu Hazrar Hotyarohosso (The Murder Mystery of Neelu Hazra), Phoolchor (The Flower Thief), Shiuli'r Gondho (The Scent of Shiuli), Bhool Sotto (False Truth), and Chhayamoyi (The Shadowy Woman).