Upanyas Samagra 4 by Bimal Kar [Hardcover]

In his fifty-year-long literary career, Bimal Kar has written a significant body of work. From these writings, a selection made by the author himself is being published as his "Collected Novels". Like the other volumes, the fourth volume includes a few older works along with some from later periods. The novel "Phanus-er Aayu" was written around forty-two years ago. The story of this lonely, neglected, and melancholic teenager is one that became even more painful and filled with despair as he grew into adulthood. His perception of life has become one of meaninglessness, leading him to believe that this existence is pointless and therefore unnecessary. "Dawnson" attempts to analyze the relationship between two young people in a different light. Both of them are mature adults, but neither love nor natural attraction binds them together. What brings them together is an addiction—though it is medicinal in nature, once it mixes with their blood, it numbs their pain, suffering, and mental instability. It is through this addiction that they become necessary companions and partners to each other, and also, in a sense, the support of one another's lives. "Alas Bhraman" tells the story of a group of young men who, although adults, are mentally immature, or rather, they are not yet fully aware of themselves. Whether due to family or social reasons, they live in a way that makes them seem like "sleepwalkers", wandering unconsciously, as if in a trance. "Dwandwo" narrates the complexities of a married couple’s relationship in modern lower-middle-class life. Sometimes there appears to be a good relationship, sometimes irritation, dislike, and even hatred. Yet, they cannot separate from each other in married life, nor can they be completely indifferent. "Kaler Nayak" is a two-part novel. It is a nearly perfect work of art, telling the story of the breakdown of an esteemed middle-class family in Kolkata. The dynamics of family life are extremely complex. It is expected that the writings in the fourth volume of the "Collected Novels" will be interesting due to their diversity.