Prabandha Sangraha by Krishna Basu

Krishna Basu (1930-2020) was a "bookworm" from her teenage years. She would often immerse herself in the library of her scholarly father, Charuchandra Chowdhury, surrounded by books from both India and abroad. It was from this environment that Krishna's journey as a writer began.

Her first essay was published in The Statesman in 1951. In 1954, her first Bengali essay appeared in Desh magazine, on the topic of modern art. After marrying Dr. Shishir Kumar Basu, the son of Sarat Chandra Basu, in December 1955, Krishna became deeply inspired by the life and ideals of Subhas Chandra Bose. Her first essay on Subhas Chandra Bose was published on January 23, 1962, in Jugantar magazine, titled "A Story Told by Basanti Devi."

Over the span of seven decades, Krishna Basu authored twenty books and hundreds of essays. Her final essay was published in February 2020 in Anandabazar Patrika.

This essay collection includes 106 of Krishna Basu’s writings. It contains several of her invaluable essays on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army). However, Krishna’s range of writing was vast. The collection also includes essays on modern art, literature from both India and abroad, pieces written for the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, memories of the Bangladesh Liberation War, and many more. Additionally, there are several profound essays on the present-day politics, governance, and society of West Bengal and India, reflecting Krishna Basu’s deep thoughts.