Upanyas Samagra 2 by Jyotirindranath Nandi [Hardcover]

Jyotirindra Nandi holds a distinctive place in fiction as the proponent of a new style. Besides his remarkable mastery in short stories, he was also unparalleled in writing novels. His unique perspective on life and intensity often made him seem isolated. In an interview, Jyotirindra Nandi remarked, “In a way, my writing is my autobiography.” Indeed, with careful, sometimes even ruthless, strokes, he wove the essence of his time—a period marked by the allure, dazzle, greed, sin, and exhaustion of expanding urban civilization. His sharp eye repeatedly captured the collapse of old values and the breakdown of minds. This is evident across his numerous short stories and novels.

The second volume of this exceptional storyteller’s collected novels, published by Ananda, includes eight novels: Nishchintopurer Manush, Samudra Onek Dur, Alor Bhuban, Hridayer Rong, Nissongo Joubon, Bonjotsna, Swargodyan, and Akashleena. In these novels, Jyotirindra’s relentless experimentation explores the mysteries of life. Nishchintopurer Manush offers a sharp portrayal of the lives of countless refugees displaced by Partition. Samudra Onek Dur tells the story of the unspoken tension between two friends upon the arrival of a woman, portraying intense, mysterious desires. Alor Bhuban is steeped in desire and yearning, while Hridayer Rong delves into the complexities of the human heart, and Nissongo Joubon unfolds the story of the extraordinary man Amiya. Jyotirindra Nandi’s work frequently reflects the various hungers of a class-divided society. In Bonjotsna, the naive, rustic desires of a simple man are depicted with profound emotion. Swargodyan explores a hidden, unspoken relationship, while Akashleena is clearly a tale of class conflict, emerging from the clash between a new, ambitious city and a fading old neighborhood. These once-discussed novels continue to bear the deep convictions of a solitary literary figure.