Upanyas Samagra 5 by Sunil Gangopadhyay [Hardcover]

In the 1960s, when poet Sunil Gangopadhyay was writing his first novel Yubak Yubatira (Young Men and Women) purely for his own pleasure, without any compulsion to publish, the landscape of Bengali novels had already undergone various transformations. No longer set in the shadowy realm of romance, the characters in the stories of this era were seeking liberation through introspection and self-absorption. The young men and women were venturing out in search of the meaning of life, entirely in their own ways. Yet, the connection with life had fractured, and words had lost their definitions. Despite this, readers could still recognize their anguish. Sunil Gangopadhyay himself described this backdrop as one of "unexplained restlessness." This restlessness was rooted in the profound agony of the search for identity.

Sunil Gangopadhyay’s landmark debut in the world of fiction happened with the novel Atmaprakash (Self-Revelation). Through this novel, he embarked on an extraordinary journey, transcending the vast geography of Bengali fiction, achieving remarkable success. His journey has not stopped since. Today, Sunil Gangopadhyay has become an institution in the world of Bengali novels. As a successful novelist, he possesses an acute sense of setting, skill in character portrayal, the ability to construct richly textured human figures, awareness of contemporary issues, value systems, mastery in selecting diverse stories, an eagerness to explore life's questions, a quest for truth, and an aesthetic sense of form. In every respect, he is unique and brilliant. His novels are a treasure of Bengali literature.

From his first novel to the ones written at the beginning of the 21st century, Sunil Gangopadhyay has remained equally lively and vibrant. In his hands, the novel as an art form has attained new heights. A plan has been made to publish all of Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novels in volumes. Four volumes of his complete novels have already been published, and now comes the fifth volume, Upanyas Samagra 5 (Collected Novels 5). This volume contains twelve novels: Ami Shei, Boker Modhye Agun (Fire in the Chest), Prakashya Dibaaloke (In Broad Daylight), Sotyer Arale (Behind the Truth), Songsare Ek Sannyasi (A Monk in the World), Kothay Alo (Where is the Light), Bhalobashar Dukkho (The Sorrow of Love), Abhiman (Pride), Keu Jane Na (No One Knows), Mone Mone Khela (Playing in the Mind), Bondhubandhob (Friends), and Bhalo Hote Chai (I Want to be Good).