Prothom Porosh by Aditi Ghosh [Hardcover]

The novel "Pratham Parash" by Aditi Ghosh is set in the early 19th century and revolves around the life of Kanakchampa Roy, an extraordinarily beautiful, intelligent, and sharp-witted woman. The story not only follows her personal journey but also serves as a reflection of the stark socio-economic divides between elite, aristocratic women and those from ordinary or lower-class families during that era.

Kanakchampa, born in 1890, exemplifies a woman navigating the challenges of societal expectations and personal ambitions. Through her story, the novel provides a lens into the contrasting lifestyles and privileges experienced by different social classes of women in that period. Ghosh vividly portrays how aristocratic women enjoyed certain luxuries and education, while lower-class women lived under severe restrictions and hardships, emphasizing the era's social inequalities.

This nuanced historical narrative offers insight into the evolving roles and status of women in pre-colonial Bengal society, making it a significant contribution to Bengali literature.